Pop Cultures of East Asia

Allyson Aranez, Michael Casim, and I decided to study the Korean Wave. With this topic, we facilitated a discussion amongst our classmates on one of the most popular Korean Dramas, Winter Sonata. The show is centered around the dynamic relationship amongst these teens in an academy when a student enters the school in search of his long lost father. When discussed with the class, we asked several questions based upon the theme of the show, and how Korean Dramas related to other dramas around the world.

 

Specifically, the question I asked the class was “How does academics influence the actions and motives of the main characters, and how does it compare to western culture’s view of academics?” Most of my classmates were very surprised at how studious and driven by school. Although school and academics is important anywhere in the world, the characters in Winter Sonata were much more serious about their education than most other countries. For example, one classmate compared the Korean portrayal of academics to classic American shows and movies about school, such as Ferris Bueller’s Day Off or The Breakfast Club. In America, most of my classmates agreed that students are portrayed through films to be focusing on fun and partying. In Korean culture, it is much more attractive and desirable to be academically successful and motivated, which is why the characters in the show were frequently trying to compete with each other. In general, the class and I came to the agreement that this portrayal of school and education is very important to the Korean culture, and was an interesting perspective from our own biases on dramas and school.