As Korean pop music continues to grow in popularity and exposure around the world, it has faced quite the backlash from international communities. One of the criticisms of the genre focuses on the quite often blatant cultural appropriation that occurs. Music videos often feature clothing from a specific culture, which are donned to emulate stereotypes of that culture. This is often seen when Kpop groups attempt to do a music video full of "swag" or to emulate black culture, and imitate what they see in American hip-hop/rap culture. However, we can't expect them to change over night. Korea itself is an extremely homogenous culture, where people are rarely exposed to cultures in their own daily lives. Due to this, it's incredibly difficult for them to even comprehend the idea of cultural appropriation. Other than their culture, what other obstacles stand in the way of preventing culture appropriation in Korean Popular products? Are there ways to solve it?
I think the whole appropriation thing can go a bit overboard. It’s one thing to borrow from another culture in order to stereotype, mock, or degrade it in some way. It’s another thing to borrow from another culture in order to appreciate or celebrate it. If “cultural appropriation” is simply about borrowing from a culture that isn’t our own, then we’re all guilty. Culture isn’t something that can be owned by anyone and nothing is original or exists without any outside influence. As far as South Korean media goes, it has definitely had issues with the use of blackface in the past. That’s definitely a problem. As you mention, it is a mostly homogeneous culture, meaning blatant racism is more likely to occur. It’s a serious issue worth remedying. However, if a K-pop artist likes hip hop simply because he or she likes hip hop and is respectful about it, what’s the problem with that? – aprosaicpintofpisces8 years ago
Hey, thanks for your note! I see where you're coming from! Especially with the advent of technology and the globalization that comes with it, it's hard to define culture as a single stagnant thing. In fact, culture should be spread and shared. But I think in regards to this, it's how they do so. To a lot of the many members of the K-pop community, Hip-Hop is view more as an artistic style of expression and an aesthetic. And so their products show this, by reflecting the use of that culture through the use of the culture as costumes and props. There is a general lack of awareness and overall it skirts a very dangerous line because you'll find kpop artists who drop the n-word, without ever realizing that they are skirting a very dynamic and often dangerously racist topic. It's more of an ignorance issue more than anything else. – eugeneleec8 years ago
You're welcome. Yeah, I definitely agree. It can be a case by case situation. Whether it's the use of blackface or the "n" word or whatever else, there can be a lot of ignorance about what's considered offensive. I just think it's important to distinguish between what's genuine racism and what isn't. – aprosaicpintofpisces8 years ago
I don't understand Korea nearly as well as I would like to. This is probably a pretty common problem in the west. We're familiar with Japan, and maybe China a little bit, but not much awareness of Korea as a nation or culture. I'd like to see this topic start out with some case studies or examples of what is and isn't actually Korean, just to get a sense of it. – albee8 years ago
Besides the homogenous culture, Koreans aren't ignorant. They have wide access to social media, and they do know what's going on in terms of racism and cultural appropriation. There was a user who published this article: http://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/66971666.html. After the aforementioned article went viral, Koreans did respond to it on their own forums and message boards. It's not ingrained in their culture for Koreans to be ignorant. Some obstacles: Western media does the same thing. So why do some people think Korean pop culture isn't going to be affected by this? Another obstacle is that, even though many kpop fans refuse to accept it, kpop is a rehash of American hiphop/R&B. – seouljustice8 years ago
Many episodes of each Star Trek series feature emergent political conflicts. What can the examination of these stories teach us about the principles of diplomacy relevant to our own political struggles? Take one or two episodes and relate them to active conflicts in the real world today.
Cool topic. I think the original Star Trek series, especially, touched on some very interesting political issues. One episode that comes to mind - off the top of my head, anyway - is "The Cage" ("Wrong thinking is punishable; right thinking will be rewarded"). – OBri8 years ago
As writers, we ground ourselves in the do's and don't's of writing and study those who come before us. But, if you strip every fiction story ever told to the bare, bare bones, you'll find that stories all move in a similar way. One of two things happens: Someone leaves town to go on an adventure, or a stranger comes to town. What does this mean to us as writers? Do we write the same stories or do we refine the same stories as time passes?
This topic looks like it may also want to reference The Hero's Journey (a nice summary available here: http://www.movieoutline.com/articles/the-hero-journey-mythic-structure-of-joseph-campbell-monomyth.html) What additional insight could this topic contribute to the discussion started by Joseph Campbell regarding storytelling? Maybe a look at other incarnations or types of journeys? – Kevin8 years ago
Research into Post-Modernism would be useful for this topic as well. – Matt Sautman8 years ago
Is there a contradiction between coming to town and leaving town? After all, when someone arrives someplace it's only because they've left somewhere else. – albee8 years ago
To strengthen this article, I believe you could compare and contrast two stories, analyze their plots, and conclude that most plots are formulaic based on the two stories you compared and contrasted. – Sjohnida8 years ago
For this topic I recommend looking at old myths and legends, I believe that it would be beneficial since myths were some of the first stories ever told and recorded – RSison938 years ago
In Reference to Stacy Wolf author of "Changed for Good,"in the late 1960's-1970's- a political movement for women's liberation was at stake. Women fought and gained legal, social, and cultural rights. In fact, John F. Kennedy in 1961 came up with the President's Commission on women studying women's role, gender differences, equality, and equal pay.
Good topic! You should also compare women of that time to women of today or of an earlier period. Are you taking a stand with women of the 60's and 70's or just informing us about it ? And you should also include why women acting/were treating a certain way during this time. That would be pretty cool. – myeshae238 years ago
There are many reflections of the changing times in the arts in the 1960s. I suggest narrowing it down, for whoever picks this up. – Christen Mandracchia8 years ago
Revision
In the late 1960’s-1970’s- a political movement for women’s liberation was at stake. The image of a women in television has ever changed since the 1960's; for example women were portrayed as being housewives and mothers upbringing children; cleaning and cooking. Women fought and gained legal, social, and cultural rights. In fact, John F. Kennedy in 1961 came up with the President’s Commission on women studying women’s role, gender differences, equality, and equal pay. – hwm52118 years ago
E-sports have been growing in popularity in recent years. Under branches like Major League Gaming (MLG), competitive video game tournaments fill entire arenas and are broadcast complete with play-by-play and color commentary. Its players compete for major prize money. Outlets like ESPN now dedicate reporting coverage to e-sports. Top video game players even have exercise routines and diets to ensure they remain at the top of their game. Many of them consider themselves to be just as much an athlete as any traditional professional athlete in sports such as baseball. However, well-known sports analysts regularly laugh in the face of this kind of thinking. Is competitive video gaming a sport? What qualifications must an activity meet to be considered a sport?
I believe MatPat of Game Theory has addressed this topic in one of his videos, if you haven't seen it yet. It would be a great source to start with. – kiahrhea8 years ago
That would depend on the definition one has of 'sport.' Argumentation on this can be interesting. However, I am not sure topic is a right fit for this magazine. – T. Palomino2 years ago
Sherlock Holmes has had many renditions, but BBC's Sherlock and CBS's Elementary came out about the same time. BBC's Sherlock takes the stance that Sherlock is a high functioning sociopath while CBS's Sherlock is a recovering addict. These renditions affect how other characters in the series were represented as well as how they interact with him. How do these differences compare to the books and do both versions show a strong representation of a version of Sherlock Holmes in their own right?
Interesting topic however I would urge the writer to tread carefully. When examining multiple editions and origin stories things can get messy. A focal point (perhaps characteristics all the renditions share? what is it that makes Sherlock "Sherlock" ?) is very important to execute this successfully. – Mela8 years ago
You've misspelled elementary in the title. – Tigey8 years ago
Analyze the media's excessive purging of sequels to the public. Are sequels more or less becoming strictly a financial gain, as opposed to continuing a beloved story to audiences that is worth value? Why is it that sequels are generally deemed disappointing?
Another thing to consider would be "reboots" of certain films. For instance the Spiderman movies (how many origin stories does he have at this point?). Other interesting areas would be Disney's insane sequealing habits vs. Pixar (who has a substantially small amount of sequels with Toy Story being the only one with such a high amount of them). Do these films need the sequels? Nonetheless something I would like to see in this topic/article is a compare and contrast. Have their been successful sequels? Why so? – Mela8 years ago
I totally think that sequels are a financial gain, a story line could truly come off as brilliant and beyond great. However once it ends that should be it, but I suppose instead of making a total different story line and different characters it's somewhat easier and cost efficient to use that same story line, revamp it and drag it on a little bit more. Besides, from a writers stand point it is easier to use the same characters that the audience has already known and gotten to love. – Karolyn118 years ago
I agree with the "reboots" comment. The obvious example is Harry Potter, both Cursed Child and Fantastic Beasts. I'm a huge Harry Potter fan, but I'm really not sure whether to be happy about the spin-offs. But I'm still paying to see/read them! Maybe you could go into that - the extent to which potentially bad sequels to a good movie still can make a profit. – jonese198 years ago
In the art world the "sublime" is the quality of greatness beyond calculation. The difference between feeling emotions about a piece of art and having a sense of sublimity is that for something to be sublime you must be able to remove yourself from the situation, step back, and mentally assess what and why you are feeling certain emotions. Is the feeling of sublimity still relevant in today's art? Are there certain components of society that might heighten or dull someone's sense of sublimity?
Absolute music (music without lyrics) is a wholly non-representational art and thus is a form of pure sonic aestheticism. Perhaps that is sublime? – Brandon T. Gass8 years ago
Must the sublime be considered only as a "sense" or "feeling"? Why no sublime-in-itself? – albee8 years ago
Yes. But I think this discussion of the sublime needs more context. This is a great starting point: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/kant-aesthetics/#2.7 – arianalayla8 years ago
Do you believe that writers stray away from addressing metal illness/disabilities of any kind when writing for television? Seeing the trailer for "Speechless" (ABC, fall 2016), there must have been an enormous amount of research poured into the writing, but in general, do you think there is too much room for making mistakes or receiving backlash when addressing these topics? Do writers fear this type of work?
I truly agree, I think mental illnesses are becoming such a sensitive subject that it's not really touched by writers. Although as we become further into a generation or time period where mental illness is making itself known, As a society we have to be more aware of the many types of illnesses that follow and the only way to make these known during this time period is by television shows and social media. – Karolyn118 years ago
Addressing mental illness and disabilities is a sensitive topic that should be treated with care. I think if writers do their proper research, create accurate portrayals (not stereotypes) of characters with disabilities or mental illness, and cast proper actors, it's fine. Some writers might hesitate to create shows depicting these topics because they might not have too much experience with it, or they think it's not profitable, but these stories matter too. Mainstream television should make room for more diverse stories like these topics. – seouljustice8 years ago
We've read the Hunger Games, The Divergent Series, and The Maze Runner series, but what's next? What new adventures are in store for young adults? Essentially this will just be an article listing some recently published Young Adult novels that people can add to their reading lists. Preferably it'd be nice if the writer has read these books.
There are many similarities between these series, and I do believe that the next generation of Young Adult Books cannot come soon enough. I am a 20 year old who has a different taste in literature, and am working on some books that also are different from the trend of today. The differences are simple. Less focus on the romance, or a rinse and repeat story line, and more focus on what I can contribute as future inspiration for other aspiring authors. I am not writing a book, I am creating a universe. And I create this universe with the hope that it will inspire someone else to do the same. – Thomas8 years ago
After watching Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, a big part of the movie centered on this safe space for these extraordinary children to live in peace. How do spaces like these Loops come about in our own society? Are they still part of society when they are in these safe spaces?
Interesting topic, but it might be stronger for whoever chooses to write it to focus on a variety of literary and/or filmic texts for inquiry, rather than this vague question about "our own society" with one text as its jumping-off point. In inverse approach may prove to be more effective, perhaps looking at Miss Peregrine's Home, as well as Hogwarts, Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, Narnia, Terabithia, even Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, and any number of other examples, which can then be followed by a coda about "our own society" as a real-world application of the fantastical motif. I'd also recommend including some examples in which spaces that were initially perceived as safe prove to be quite the opposite upon further scrutiny (such as Lord of the Flies and Coraline). – ProtoCanon8 years ago
K-dramas are internationally becoming more and more popular these days. Along with K-pop, K dramas have gained popularity from fans outside of South Korea over the years. What is it about K-dramas that international fans find fascinating? Does the growing number of people that watch K-dramas start out as K-pop fans?
The series "Dramaworld" might also be worth mentioning. It deals with an American girl's obsession with Korean dramas that literally sucks her into those fictional storylines. – aprosaicpintofpisces8 years ago
Thank you very much for that tip! this is my first time using The Artifice, so I am happy to recieve any tips and constructive criticism in order to help me improve as I write more topics/articles. – Nickskey238 years ago
You're welcome! I'm fairly new to The Artifice myself. Based on my personal experience, I'd say interest in K-pop can certainly lead to interest in K-dramas. Whenever you're learning about a different culture, you tend to explore as many avenues as possible whether it's movies, music, books, etc. I think it also might have something to do with the fact that K-drama stars, like many K-pop idols, tend to present audiences with ideals of beauty and character. People gravitate toward pretty, well-dressed people. I personally like how funny and heartfelt K-dramas can be. With the romances, the ones that aren't too clichéd or melodramatic, I like that the relationships tend to take their time and are built up slowly. K-dramas, like a lot of K-pop, doesn't tend to get too dark in its subject matter or at least in its portrayal of difficult subject matter. That can be a little off-putting, but it can also be a refreshing quality since it isn't as common in gritty, American dramas. – aprosaicpintofpisces8 years ago
K-pop probably does play a role! However, I think it definitely raises awareness of the Korean dramas more than anything else. I think Korean dramas retain viewership from cultures outside of Korea due to often their unique storylines and the fact that Korean dramas aren't afraid to be quite silly and funny at times. It definitely has its own merits that keeps it strong. – eugeneleec8 years ago
Coming from a Hispanic culture where we have novellas, Spanish soap operas, there are a wide range of events that can happen within one episode. However, a difference that I have noticed between these two mediums is that they differ in what they show the audience. In my opinion, K-dramas tend to be more on the traditional side of things, where any kind of physical interaction is taboo. However, in novellas all kinds of action take place, from murder to partial sex scenes. K-dramas tend to keep a innocent kind of love alive in which novellas depict differently and therefore gain different audiences. – rubym8 years ago
I really want to thank all of you for your opinions on my topic. I'm gaining a lot of insight from you all and I'm glad. I will work on writing more topics and articles in the near future. – Nickskey238 years ago
I think because most K-pop lovers who aren't Korean are just fascinated with it's uniqueness because its a sum of Korean culture and pop culture influence. – petronellarisita8 years ago
K-pop most definitely raises awareness to the culture in Korean media! K-dramas are completely different from those made in America, making it interesting to an outsider. The gender roles are different, leading to a different "cliche" plot than those in the United States or the UK. – Miranda McClellan8 years ago
One of the first shared themes I find connecting K-pop and K-dramas is heightened fantasy. In K-pop, the beautiful boys and girls are unattainable but seemingly forever single to appeal to audiences and let them fill in the blanks. In K-dramas, the love and tragedy are fantastically over the top while still emotionally accessible for audiences. It's having tangible images and scenarios but presented in a way that is so aestheticized that it plays out as fantasy. – bluishcatbag8 years ago
The Purge Movies (The Purge, The Purge: Anarchy, and The Purge: Election Year) are a collection of dystopian horror films that have drawn in millions of viewers. Analyze the popularity of the films and relate them to today's reality (the US government, government officials, corrupt leaders, etc.) Discuss the fantasy that the films illustrate and why they are so popular in today's society.
I think people find so much interest in the Purge movies because they present a legitimately plausible dystopic future. The Hunger Games could be a nice comparison. Although "it could happen" too, there are a lot more steps that would need to be taken. Is the Purge more realistic than most other American dystopias? – Slaidey8 years ago
I think this is a very interesting topic. It would be even more so if you could address the link between the opposing components of American culture of "law and order" and "breaking the law". Noam Chomsky and Howard Zinn both wrote a lot about law and justice conflicting and anarchism. How does this translate into the popularity of The Purge? Are these movies's popularity symptomatic of a wind of rebellion? Why does society opposes anarchism so much, and yet loves these movies? There is something really interesting to do with this idea. – Léandre Larouche8 years ago
I believe that society; well American society has become so addicted to this survivor of the fittest ideology that if you are not fit to survive you are just a waste. I am slowly starting to see more Tv shows and movies portray this idea that everyone needs to get into fighting shape. For instance The Walking Dead. This show is produced by AMC, although like every other zombie/ virus movie this show truly teaches to the value of keeping in shape and illustrating the importance of knowing how to survive. – Karolyn118 years ago
More and more television showrunners are pulling double duty as directors of their shows, foregoing the practice of bringing in guest directors. Alec Berg and Mike Judge alternated writing and directing episodes of season two of Silicon Valley. Sam Esmail took over directing duties for the second season of Mr. Robot. Does the lack of guest directors help or hurt a show's quality?
Interesting topic, but I don't necessarily agree with it. In most cases, the showrunner is the head writer, and is therefore not necessarily someone with sufficient directorial talent, experience, or inclination to bring their shows to life. An example that comes to mind is Vince Gilligan directing the final episode of Breaking Bad, which (despite being a thoroughly satisfying conclusion to an objectively perfect show) if viewed on its own, is one of the weaker episodes of the series. It begs the question as to how much better it might have been if he had let Michelle McLaren or Rian Johnson take the helm. – ProtoCanon8 years ago
What are the duties of showrunners? Are they too different from director's? Maybe these are questions that should be addressed first. However, this topic doesn't fit quit right with this magazine's themes. – T. Palomino2 years ago
According to NBC news, Yahoo recently confirms of a new whopping number in the 2014 security breach that took place hacking 500 million users personal information. Analyze the importance of personal Information in the different companies that require you to submit all your sensitive data. Do you think companies should pay the extra dollar for tighter security, or wait til they endure a massive breach and risk having to pay out as a consequence.
This is a very important topic to consider given the many breaches that have happened in the past few years. Millions of online users have been violated after taking a huge risk of trusting these big companies with their personal information. Would tighter security ensure safety from hackers? – Jai Modo8 years ago
Analyze the understanding of American cultural values in todays' shows and how they relate to the general public opinions and beliefs. Shows like "Notorious" is a perfect example where one can analyze the impact of media in our everyday lives. Gather data from the 60s shows and compare to the shows of today. Or even pick two different time periods to compare American cultural values across different genres of shows.
Even a selective chronology over the decades might form a useful comparison. How have views evolved? – Munjeera8 years ago
Examining the evolution of representations of gender/race over time is a current issue. Comparative analysis from a cultural standpoint would be a great addition to the material here. – DanielRobertKelly8 years ago
For me there is a big difference between the UK and US sitcoms, both have some great shows but for me as a whole I prefer UK sitcoms but some of the US shows are my favourites. What do you think?
I would advise editing your topic to include a more focused approach. Just what about the sitcoms do you think makes UK ones better? Filming? Writing? Ect. I would suggest maybe looking into the shooting styles and the humour styles between the US and UK. They are actually quite varied. – LondonFog8 years ago
A agree with @Christien ^^ I believe that a more direct analysis would be necessary- Perhaps try taking some shows that have both US and UK counterparts and comparing and contrasting them would create a better piece. What social issues do US/UK sitcoms seem to present more? What is "funnier" to their respective audiences? Do these TV shows have any success in the opposite market? – AndyJanz8 years ago
Elvis Aaron Presley was an amazing talent in his own right. He took the black sound of the South, which he grew up listening to and singing in Church and made it his own. Elvis was working as a truck driver and went to Sun Studios in Memphis and cut a record for his mother's birthday. Sam Phillips liked Elvis' sound and wanted him to cut more records and Elvis got airtime. Colonel Tom Parker became his business agent and marketer. The Colonel was amazing at his job, although Elvis suffered greatly due to the demands of his touring schedule. It was at this point of his life he was introduced to the uppers to get him through the performances and the downers to sleep.The big question is would Elvis have become "The King" without the guidance of the business savvy and not so caring Colonel? And was it worth it? The extreme fame, the reclusive lifestyle, and the drug use eventually costs Elvis his life.
Great topic. Colonel Tom was a piece of #$@%; Presley was a gift. And thank you for reminding us that Presley's sound was black. I recently bought his complete gospel recordings and there was at least one denial of that fact in the liner notes. When I read that garbage I thought of Sam Phillips' famous quote - "If I could find a white man who sounds black I'd be a billionaire" - and Elvis running home from school to hear Sister Rosetta Tharpe on the radio. Black and white American music have been tied together for a long time. – Tigey8 years ago
In the world, there are two kinds of pain: the natural, everyday pain that is emotional, physical, and mental, which effects our everyday lives. The second pain, and the focus of this paper, is the moral evil, the pain of magnitude—pain which wipes out significant numbers of the population, without any evidence of divine intervention. The greatest example is the Holocaust. In Elie Wiesel’s 'Night', a record of the ordeals he endured at the Nazi death camp Auschwitz, one gets a true sense of the evil which flourished in the Nazi death camps. In response to the terror of Auschwitz, Richard Rubenstein in his 'After Auschwitz', details the theological responses to the Holocaust and death of God theology. The problem of pain continues to compromise religion. However, there are ways to reconcile faith, with the presence of evil in our world. To the harsh reality of pain, C.S. Lewis will present his theodicy in his 'The Problem of Pain'. The topic question is, is religion a human need to overcome suffering? How do these theologians attempt to understand the problem of pain and suffering with the concept of an all good and loving God? What conclusions do they make?
This is being replayed present tense with Assad's Genocide in Syria. And where are the actions, not just empty PC rhetoric, of the great theologians of our times? Did any learn anything? Did anyone really mean Never Again at all? https://freesyriantranslators.net/2012/09/28/michel-kilo-to-pope-benedict-xvi-extend-your-hand-in-the-name-of-god-the-most-gracious-the-most-merciful/
– AriOrange8 years ago
The new movie "Bad Moms" starring Mila Kunis and Kristen Bell focuses on the many pressures of mothers in today's society and how hard it is to be a so called "good mom". The characters struggle to keep up with work, keeping a house, the PTA and raising their kids. Analyze the characters in the film and how or if the movie accurately represents the role of mother's in today's society. Discuss the many pressures on mothers today and how a mother's role is very different than it had been in previous decades.
Very good topic! In today's society there is an increase in divorce rates as well as single mothers who have to provide food, emotional, mental support for the family, and provide financial support as well. There is a strain on the mother especially if she is alone and does not have any additional support. I would not call it bad mothering but how has the expectations of a mother today differ than in the 1900's-1980's. – hwm52118 years ago
This is definitely a relevant topic in today's age, especially given the many double standards mothers and women, in general, face. – padmatat8 years ago