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burmese, dancing, ellen, gangnam style, grace ji-sun kim, idols, korea, Korean, kpop, myanmar, psy, rap, saturday night live, singing, today show
By now many of you may have seen Psy’s music video “Gangnam Style”. You may have also read articles about Psy and his music video. No? Good. Mine will be your first.
When I first watched the music video “Gangnam Style”, I was embarrassed by this not-so good looking Korean man rapping and dancing.
However, the more I watched it, the more I enjoyed it and appreciated the genuine creativity that went into the song, the choreography, and the music video.
However, there was more than that which intrigued me enough to continue watching.
It was the huge extent to which the North American audience embraces his music and video. I am amazed and find myself searching for an answer.
Celebrities like Britney Spears are tweeting about the song, Simon Cowell says Psy is brilliant and Psy even made an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show.
In my own lifetime, Korea and its culture has come from obscurity to become a national phenomenon.
My family immigrated to Canada in 1975.
At that time, people only knew it as a place where a war was fought before we and “the commies” settled down to the grim poker game of the Cold War. They had no idea where Korea was or who Koreans were. Kids at school asked me, what are you? I would reply, “Korean”. They said that Korean wasn’t even a real word and I was making it all up.
Now by 2012, Korea has emerged on the world stage. People all over the world use Samsung phones, computers and other household items. People all over the world drive Hyundai cars and Kia cars advertised with Hamsters dancing to hip-hop music. People all over the world are eating Korean food and enjoying kimchi. They are watching Korean dramas and movies and listening to Korean music. This is a dramatic change in 35 years, matching the equally dramatic changes in neighboring China in the same time. The difference is that 35 years ago, everyone knew about China.
When I travelled to Myanmar this past January, something strange happened to me. Everywhere I went people thought I was a Korean actress. I preached at a church, I lectured at a seminary, I taught a class, I spoke at a theological professors’ gathering….and everywhere I went, the Burmese people introduced me as a Korean actress. I enjoyed the attention.
Of course they knew I wasn’t a Korean actress, but that is the image from Korea with whom the people in the audience associated. They did not introduce me as a Korean actress because I am attractive or anything like that. It had nothing to do with my appearance or my ability to act. It was just the mere fact that I am Korean and the Burmese love Korean actors/actresses. So they were able to identify with me using what they already knew about Korea.
People in Myanmar watch Korean drama daily, and go to Korean movies at the theatre. They also listen to Korean music. The Korean entertainment business is infiltrating Asia.
Noticing the impact of Korea in Asia, I became proud to be born a Korean.
Now with Korean music coming into the mainstream U.S. media, I have never been so excited to be a Korean. So here is a shout out to my motherland. Yay Korea!
here is my second “Gangnam Style” posting for EthicsDaily.com
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Grace Ji-Sun Kim is Associate Professor of Doctrinal Theology and the Director of the MATS program at Moravian Theological Seminary in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. She is the author of The Holy Spirit, Chi, and the Other: A Model of Global and Intercultural Pneumatology (Palgrave Macmillan) and The Grace of Sophia: A Korean North American Women’s Christology (Pilgrim Press).
Grace Kao said:
Grace – love this post! Have you read this? http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/08/gangnam-style-dissected-the-subversive-message-within-south-koreas-music-video-sensation/261462/
I, too, haven’t quite understood the North American fascination with Psy or his “Gangnam Style.” But I do appreciate his subtle subversive message and critique of materialism.
gracejisunkim said:
thanks Grace. Yes I have read this article and it really does give a good analysis of the song. Thanks for sharing the link!
If you ever visit Korea, you must visit Gangnam. Psy does a good job of critiquing Gangnam lifestyle -which is excessive and over the top. I can’t really figure out the North American fascination with Psy either….but he is now #1 on iTunes.
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gracejisunkim said:
Many thanks to my minister friends, John Borthwick and Bruce Reyes-Chow for including my blog in their own blogs. To read their blogs, click on the “Pingback” links above.
Sam Thomas said:
Very interesting, insightful post! Good to see this point of view, thanks for sharing 🙂
gracejisunkim said:
Thanks Sam!
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Elvera Winford said:
The horse dance is becoming famous in over the world and the singer named Psy is known as a worldwide idol. Psy’s ‘Gangnam Style’ video has more than 300 million YouTube views and counting.Millions of people imitated this dance. A teacher teaching math danced ‘Gangnam Style’ in his period to make it less boring and his students are very interesting in his new way of teaching. A teacher teaching physical education did the same thing in the physical class. In recent days, people told about this song and its dance had proved as an internet sensation when almost 1000 inmates of a Philippine prison burst into the famous horse-riding dance.-
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