"Defensive nationalism" versus "colonialism."
"Cultural pride" versus "cultural imperialism."
One of my favorite old school peeps, Pak Jin-young (I have "날 떠나지마" in my iPod to this very day), was speaking on the Korean Wave and got all critical of the excessively nationalist way the "Korean wave" is boasted about overseas.
I love the fact that the local papers were crowing on and on about how he was speaking at "Haaaah-vahd" and all, which made everyone perk their ear up all the more.
Nice, Jin-young!
And for those who don't see how some of the tone in which the "hallryu" is written about can irk, irritate, and even anger, let me do another one of my favorite little rhetorical experiements:
The 'American Wave'
Spanning decades in its global reach, the 'American Wave' continues to crash upon the borders of all countries it encounters. With the Department of Culture's grant of $150 billion dollars to support Hollywood's continued penetration deep into the cuntries [sic] in which American movies, music, and food have enjoyed most fluid and fervent consumption, the wave is expected to get even wetter, enjoying a faster and more furious flow across any cultural dams it encounters.
After last year's premiere of the immensely popular drama "Winter Lambada" and the runaway popularity among Korean women of hunky, all-American Alec Baldwin, whose manly lines and chiseled chin has women in the Land of the Morning Calm behaving as anything but, the power of America's deep thrust into that peninsular nation has been felt by many.
Kim Joo-yeon, a Korean housewife in her early 40's, is typical of the many women now who make a yearly pilgrimage to the United States with the mere hope of catching a glimpse of the stars who have stirred much more than merely their innocent hearts.
"When I see an American man, I just can't control how romantic they make me feel. Compared to Korean men, American men are just so...dreamy," she noted in an interview with Fox News. "Compared to Korean men, who seem so conservative and Confucian, American men like Baldwin just lift my spirits away. If I could marry a man like him, I would!"
Even younger women are falling under the thrall of America's unique kind of magic. Applications to attend ESL schools in the US went up 24% the year after "Winter Lambada" finished its run on Korean televisions.
Pak Seon-yeong, a 24-year-old university student studying in Santa Barbara from late last year, told the story of how, "right after I saw that series end, I knew I had to go find my true self, as well as my 'dirty dancing' lambada partner for life, one just like Alec. So I decided to come here. I've been dancing ever since."
Her story is not unusual, nor is it unique in form.
One industry analyst noted that, "the world is finally starting to realize the true power of our culture. Our country invented the steam engine, automobile, airplane, telephone, radio, television, computer, cellphone, refrigerator, washing machine, cash register, VCR, CD, and DVD players, and stuff like that – isn't it time for the world to recognize our country's true cultural power?"
In response to criticism that American penetration into foreign markets was tantamount to "cultural imperialism," most industry insiders agreed that such statements miss the point. "We don't force people to drink Coke, watch 'Survivor,' or listen to Britney Spears. If people just think they're better, what's the problem? We're just trying to promote the wonder of our culture. What's wrong with that?"
Ah, it's so interesting when the tables are turned isn't it? Oh, but the Korean media never sounded like that at all. No way, man.
