Blog #1

1. How were you introduced to Asian popular culture?
Well when I was in high school there was a friend of mine that would listen to Korean music, which artist in particular Se7en, she loved listening to him so I asked her to make me a copy of his album and I’ve been addicted ever since. I would also watch on Channel 18 at the time a Taiwanese drama named Mars and I just fell in love with watching dramas too. Also when I was younger I would watch those cartoons on Saturday mornings and they would be the dubbed English Japanese ones and there really enjoyable to watch then and even now when I get stressed out. Then my Eastern Asian Club in high school let us watch Windstruck and there continued on my obsession of all things Asian.

2. What aspects of Asian popular culture do you enjoy? For example, what are some of your favorite films, dramas, groups, etc., etc.?
I would say I love watching My Sassy Girl and Windstruck and The Lake House (which pissed me off when they made an American version of it) movies. There are too many dramas for me to name that I love. I enjoy watching my favorite drama of all time Save the last dance for me (마지막 춤은 나와 함께), it’s an oldie but I love it. I was complaining to my friend at the time that when I was watching sad dramas that they’re always sad and the ending pissed me off since it wasn’t that happy and I watched this and it’s still sort of the same but I loved it anyway. Groups as in like Korean groups like the boy/girl bands there are so many name that I listen to. Anh listed a couple of them and I’ll continue on with the same list-ish, I listen to Kara, SS501, Rainbow, A’st1, 2PM, 2AM, Wondergirls (so sad on what happened, same with 2PM), Big Bang, MBLAQ, YounHa and so on (too many to name). I love listening to other languages, I like listening to some Thai stuff too.

3. What happens to you in the process of watching/listening/engaging in (different types of) Asian popular culture? How is it different from watching/listening/engaging in American popular culture?
Funny this question is asked, I actually was talking to Anh about this in class. In Korea they usually have performances from each group when they’re promoting a song to come on and sing. Fridays usually air Music Bank, Saturdays are usually Music Core and Sunday is Inkigayo (sorry if I mixed them up, I tend to forget a lot). So every week we get about 3 new performances from a group and it’s really different from American culture besides the music videos and radio I can’t just tune in regularly every week to see the artist perform again. So that’s one of things that I like the best about when watching and engaging Korean music because it gives us a chance to see how tired they are (if the company is letting them rest and so on), it also gives us a chance how they improve (especially if it’s from a rookie group to someone who’s been in the industry for a while) and so on. For watching dramas and what not they difference and the thing that I like the most would be that a drama stops eventually and it’s just like an after thought later on. In America so many seasons can be in one show. It’s nice to have a change once in a while.

4. What are some Asian popular culture blogs and sites you have found fun, helpful, or informative? Please provide links if possible.
As Anh and Dennis discussed I go to Dramabeans.com for dramas and any updates with actors and so on. I usually go to soompi.com/forums for music and when I can’t find any links to dramas I go here too. Music is public viewed so you don’t need to register for that. I will have to agree with Anh and somewhat disagree with Dennis; Allkpop.com is a good source as Dennis mentioned but as Anh mentioned they biased comments (which kills me and I want to yell someone about them sometimes). I don’t know if this was posted earlier but also a good place to go too for Kpop updates would be http://sookyeong.wordpress.com/, K bites as everyone knows by too. She usually has the stuff Allkpop.com post but usually with no bias added. There are a couple of more sites I know but too much bias and I’ve stopped going there. As for watching dramas I too go to mysoju.com, viikii.net and my usually place that encourages my addiction would be YouTube, one would be so shocked if you can find the links (since they usually get suspended off YouTube).
Sorry for the long post. I hope I didn’t offend anyone. ^_^