Aloha!
I have created this blog to study the effect that Hallyu, the Korean Wave, has had on the people of Singapore and their culture. I am currently in an Anthropology class that is studying the effects of globalization and a major presence in modern globalization is Hallyu! I recently returned from serving a 2-year LDS Mission in the nations of Singapore and Malaysia and I could not help but notice the Korean influence there. As I have begun to study globalization and its effect on culture, I have become interested in the hybridization of culture and how globalization changes people's views of the world. In this case I am particularly interested in how Korean culture affects the Singaporeans.
As I was pondering about this project I went to sign up for the Singapore/Malaysia Chapter Club on my University Campus and there I met a friend from Singapore. This friend told me that he was enrolled in a Korean Language class and was currently on his way to sign up for the Korean Club! I realized then that this hybridization of culture is a reality!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sT7yfX6ufuY
I have attached a link to a video outlining Hallyu and it's growing popularity. I feel that Hallyu is an especially influential trend in South Eastern Asian countries, like Singapore. What do you think? From this blog I am hoping to receive a lot of feedback from the digital world concerning their thoughts and observations on the globalization of Hallyu. Please invite your friend to follow and comment!
Mahalo!
Madison
I hope this falls under what type of feedback you're looking for! But I think it's so intersting how invaluable music seems to be in playing a part in globalization of Hallyu. This is just a testament to how powerful and influential music actually is! In the video you provided as a link, it gave stats on how 95% of 100 CEO's of Korean corporations accredited K-Pop as one of the largest contributors to promotion abroad. Additionally, students studying in Korea also gave credit to K-Pop as the number one aspect they enjoyed most about Korean culture. I believe, if I understood correctly from the video, that about half of the students studying abroad (Korea) were influenced through Hallyu. Thus, indirectly, music had a great influence on their educational persuits.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I have had a taste of Korean culture through joining the Korean chapter last year for culture night. Walking by their practices, previously unexposed to much Korean culture, I watched and heard that of k-Pop. I was so intrigued by the movements and music that I decided to join and it was a so much fun! To think, that music and a dance style all the way from a far away country could travel all the way to this small island of Hawaii and have such a huge influence, creating a whole club and performance full of many non Korean members, is amazing.
This whole subject of globalization makes me wonder about how much control a country has on their "image". They mentioned in the video about how positively the globalization of Hallyu has effected Korea. Not only economically or academically, but also perception wise. The video talks about a common prejudice that Korea is known as an isolated or backward country. But the effects of globalization of Hallyu have helped to change that. How calculated and how intended is there globalization of one's country?
And if it is intentional, you start to wonder how other countries of not such popular world wide opinion, could do to learn from this. One major thing would be to start mass producing and spreading music. It seems to have done well for the Koreans.
Thank you so much for your feedback! This is exactly what I am looking for and I am so excited that you are the first person to post anything! Please keep coming back! haha
ReplyDeleteYou are right, music plays a huge role, especially in the globalization of Korea. It also made me think when you pointed out that K-pop has a great influence on students educational pursuits in Korea. I wonder what effect that could have on their education in contrast with another country.
I also love that you brought up the idea o f"image" because I really feel that that is something that is entirely in the control of any nation state. As long as they become global, then there is the opportunity for scrutiny from the rest of the world and there really is no way to control other cultures and groups opinions.
Also, to comment on your question of how calculated the globalization of one's country is. I believe that in the case of the Korean Wave it is extremely calculated. Alluding back to the concept of "image", Korea put themselves out there to change the world's image of them. I believe that Hallyu has been successful in spreading a more positive and welcoming image of Korea (at least South Korea) to the world.
Also, may I ask where you are from?