Thoughts of the Times

I was reading a newspaper named "Korea Times" and I stumbled across a very interesting article in the Opinion section. Although I had the same thoughts in my mind, I wasn't courageous enough to point them out. I praise this writer and express my most sincere gratitude for doing what I couldn't. He is not of Korean nationality so I believe that he provides a neutral perspective on things. Tell Me I Didn't See That By Van A. Sanders, III I was livid with anger; desperately trying to maintain my composure in the face of blatant bigotry, and extreme ignorance on the verge of stupidity. There I was, sitting with my friend, a white guy, in South Korea, watching a Korean music group wear black faces along with stereotypical hairstyles associated with blacks in America. Both of us were staring at the TV in disbelief. Not one Korean saw what we saw. This music group "Bubble Sisters" had just officially sanctioned the continuation of openly dehumanizing American blacks. Up until this point I was only partially bitter at how I, a black man, have been treated in Korea. This was absurd and had to be addressed. The Bubble Sisters, along with Korean production of the musical Fame, have revived the comedic use of black face. The black face _ once used in minstrel shows (musicals depicting blacks in comically demeaning ways, such as cowardly, uneducated, self-abasing slaves during the 19th century in America) _ are being used as a tool to sell more records. Teenagers cheer and laugh at the outrageous gestures and costumes with which the group adorns itself. Afros, braids, and even one member with hair rollers, tickle the audience. But I fail to see what’s so funny. Korean artists sample, copy, dress and emulate everything black without given any royalties, recognition or in depth study to the hip-hop artists who influenced them. But the Bubble Sisters are not to blame for this gross error in judgment. It’s the cultural gatekeepers _ the educators, music producers, and the entertainment media _ who are the most accountable. The so-called Korean academics are to blame. The Korean media is letting Korean people down. Scholars do nothing to expose and solve the overwhelming ignorance that Koreans have about the world and other cultures, besides those of Europe and America. Africa and South America are looked at as primitive cultures in comparison to Korea. Other Asian countries, with the exception of China and Japan, are also looked down upon as being less than worthy of study. Comedy documentaries are made and shown on TV as sources of insightful information pieces, starring entertainers going abroad to experience other cultures. Yet nothing really insightful comes out of these programs. Viewers and entertainers are shocked by the nudity, food, attire, games and education of the people they happen to be dissecting with their observations. After watching the entertainer struggle with cultural differences and show overt disgust at some of the culture, we have other entertainers and MCs to comment with expertise on what happened. Where are the anthropologists, sociologists, historians and others to explain with some authority on what has been viewed? Where are the scholars demanding that these media outlets be held responsible for this demeaning primitivism of other people’s culture, which only enforces stereotypes already held by a lot of Koreans? I’ve seen middle school English textbooks showing African caricatures with big lips, bone in nose, and a loincloth being the only girding they wore. Video games, stationary, comic books and cartoons all showing that same big pink-lipped, black, bone-wearing savage. I’ve even taught English classes where a student has mentioned that he would like to travel to Africa and the whole class busted a gut in laughter. Yet, there’s not one single outcry in any institution of higher learning in Korea on the perception that these textbooks, cartoons and jokes are sending Korean children. Why is that? Maybe the Bubble Sisters are nothing more than a direct reflection of Korean society and it’s warped perception of the world. African Americans look at a black face as a symbol of all the exploitation and oppression that has occurred to them in America, and they passionately condemn all those who wear them. I hope someone tells those so-called sisters to take that paint off, because some of us foreigners here in Korea and abroad are getting upset. ** Van Sanders is residing in Korea. Epyon: I'd like to add... What this writer wrote did not specify on how Koreans copied and plagerized foreign music. For instance, the singer "Psi" who became famous for his "Champion" song copied off of a theme song from the movie, "Beverly Hills Cop" starring Eddy Murphy. Another singer copied off of a song titled "Tears" by "X Japan". Another thing... The reason I didn't call these singers "artists" was because they haven't a bit of art in them. Most of them don't even write their own songs and their personal profiles are manipulated to gain more fans. They buy music, copy it, practice it, buy some matching dance moves, get plastic surgery and perform it using their name. Where is the originality in that? No creativity? No wonder every single song sounds the same. From boy band to girl band ranging from 3 to 5 members, ballad singers, rappers. All except Bbong Jjack (뽕짝). I can really respect that. Disposable singers... Every month a star rises and fades. Who knows where they end up when their 15 minutes are up. I wasn't going to say this but I'll say it anyway, Louis Sebastian, aka Ddang Guh Ji (땅거지) (In literal translation, "Ground Beggar") from "Gag Concert" is another example of cultural discrimination, prejudice and idiotic racial stereotyping manipulated to make Koreans feel better about themselves and encourage the overly dogmatic idea of cultural superiority. By doing so, they not only committed a crime against intercultural ethics, but made a fool of themselves as well. One word... I shall repeat... One word... Shame Shame Shame... ===================================== ▷◁ 대구지하철 희생자를 추모합니다!