Cloud USA

[Cloud USA] Well, Terri — it really has arrived!

Way back at the beginning of the year, around February or so, we were surprised to run across THIS page on Amazon.com: a serious study by a Victoria University researcher on the effects of three far-reaching fandoms — that of actor Bae YongJoon, of the horror film Oldboy, and of mega-icon JiHoon.  We were intrigued, but couldn’t find much more about it at the time, much less anything more explanatory.  We weren’t certain if the 232-page hardcover book would actually hit around December 2010, as announced.  We didn’t even have a cover to judge it by.

And so we decided to wait and see what happened.

Well, here we are now in December, and thanks to a freshly released article by Asian news source Nate, we see that the study in question — Korean Masculinities and Transcultural Consumptions: Yonsama, Rain, Oldboy, KPop Idols, by author/professor Sun Jung is indeed ready for release from Hong Kong University Press this month.

Here is a brief blurb from the book’s HKU Press page:

“This is a highly original, clearly written, and well-argued study that examines how Korean masculinity is being reconstructed through its regional and global circulation as part of the Korean Wave, producing new forms that negotiate local Korean creative energies and regional and international consumer forces.”

— Chris Berry, Goldsmiths, University of London

And what an unexpected treat — RAIN (his Full House character “Lee YoungJae”, rather) is gracing the cover of Professor Jung’s study.

» The Korean Masculinities and Transcultural Consumptions product page on HKU Press is HERE.

We can’t help wondering exactly what Professor Jung’s findings were, and what conclusions he came to by the end of the book.  (We’ll let you know when we read it!)  And we are extremely proud to find JiHoon in what looks to be an intellectual piece of work on the effects of the Korean Wave on the rest of us.  Very cool.

— Stephe @cloudusa.wordpress.com ^@@^

www.cloudusa.org

°     °     °

10asia 12/9/2010 —

Book on Korean Wave adopted as textbook for universities abroad.

A new book on the ‘Hallyu,’ or Korean Wave, has been adopted as a textbook for universities abroad.

The English book titled “Korean Masculinities and Transcultural Consumption: Yonsama, Rain, Oldboy, K-Pop Idols” was selected as one of the main textbooks for the media classes at Goldsmiths, University of London in England and the University of Melbourne in Australia.

Written by Sun Jung, a research fellow in the School of Communication and Arts at Victoria University, the book explores into several cultural phenomenons revolving around South Korean stars including the Singaporean fandom of singer and actor Rain, the middle-aged Japanese female fandom of actor Bae Yong-joon, the Western online cult fandom of thriller pic “Oldboy,” as well as the emerging versatile masculinity represented by K-pop idol boy bands.

“This is a highly original, clearly written, and well-argued study that examines how Korean masculinity is being reconstructed through its regional and global circulation as part of the Korean Wave, producing new forms that negotiate local Korean creative energies and regional and international consumer forces,” Professor Chris Berry of film and television studies at Goldsmiths was quoted as saying in a press release by Hong Kong University (HKU) Press that published the book on December 1.

The book, sporting singer and actor Rain on the front cover, is available at various online bookstores.

Rain, whose real name is Jung Ji-hoon, is arguably one of the most successful Korean stars in the Asia region who has achieved a phenomenal level of success in both singing and acting, paving the way for his acting debut in Hollywood with a supporting role in the Wachowski Brothers’ pic “Speed Racer,” followed by a lead role in martial arts film “Ninja Assassin.”

Bae, 37, is one of the first Korean actors to make a major breakthrough into Japan and the Asia region. He shot to stardom after starring in 2002 hit TV series “Winter Sonata” alongside actress Choi Ji-woo and has since been promoting himself and Korean culture in Asia.

“Oldboy,” helmed by critically acclaimed director Park Chan-wook, has received high praises from critics since its release in 2003 and won the Grand Prix at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival.

Starring Korean actor Choi Min-sik, “Oldboy” is about a man who is locked in a hotel room for 15 years without knowing why. He plots revenge upon his release and finds himself trapped in conspiracy, violence and falling in love with an attractive young chef.

Reporter : Heidi Kim heidikim@
Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@
<ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved>

~ by Cloud USA on December 9, 2010.

Posted in Bi Rain, Bi Rain News, Cloud USA, Hallyu Korean wave, Jung Ji Hoon, Korean Culture, Rain stuff, Rain Topics
Tags: & Kpop Idols study, Bi Rain book covers, Bi Rain News, Cloud USA original article, Jung Ji Hoon, Korean pop, Oldboy, Rain, rain bi, US alert