Introduction: Culture is a design for living. The culture of a society is a way of life of its members. Culture is a learned behaviour shared by and transmitted among the members of a group or society. According to E. B. Tylor, culture is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society.
The process of spread of cultural traits is termed as cultural diffusion. Cultural traits are the individual acts and objects, which constitute the overt expression of a culture.
Since 1990s a major course of cultural diffusion has been gaining ground in India. There has been a major makeover in the cultural life of the Indian society after its policies on liberalization and globalization. The North Eastern States of India are not an exception.
The wave of globalization and information and communication technology revolution has also been felt in Manipur, one of the North Eastern States of India.
In such a setting, this paper specifically tries to explore the nature of diffusion of Korean popular culture and also its impact on North East India, particularly Manipuri society through Korean satellite channel and movies. The present article illustrates that a new wave of youth culture has surfaced in recent years in Manipur with the diffusion of Korean popular culture known as 'Korean Wave'.
Korean Wave in Manipur: An Appraisal
Hallyu is a term coined by the Chinese media which literally means "Korean Wave". It is a collective term used to refer to the phenomenal growth of Korean popular culture encompassing everything from music, movies, drama to online games and the Korean cuisine. Its roots are traceable to democratization, which kicked off with the South Korean elections in 1987 and the Seoul Olympics in 1988.
Korean wave was first introduced in the late 1990s in China referring to the popularity of Korean culture in foreign countries. It was initiated when the exported Korean TV dramas and remakes of pop music became popular in China and Hong Kong.
From well-packaged television dramas to slick movies, from pop music to online games, South Korean companies and stars are increasingly defining what the disparate people in Asia watch, listen to and play.
Before we delve into the assessment of Korean wave in Manipur, let us briefly examine its nature in India in general. The phases of Korean wave in India can be divided into two. The first may be referred to as Korean economic wave.
It came in India with the liberalization of Indian market in the beginning of 1990s. There was essentially growing association with the Korean companies like Hyundai, LG, Daewoo, and Samsung. In following years, these companies further expanded and diversified the range of their products and became household names in India.
The second phase may be termed as Korean cultural wave. It has reached the Indian shore very recently as compared to some of the other Asian countries. In May-June 2006, a Korean delegation visited India, as part of its efforts to spread the Korean Wave in this country.
For the very first time in India the Korean drama "Emperor of the Sea" was introduced by DD-I (National TV Channel) on 23rd July 2006. In another move to make Indian audiences aware about the Korean cultural richness, the MBC hit drama "A Jewel in the Palace" began to be aired on DD-I from 24th September 2006.
There has been growing demand in India for not only Korean language but also Korean studies in general with the growth of Korean companies in India. It is significant to note that the two phases are complementary to each other.
However, in the case of Manipur the nature of diffusion of the second phase of Korean wave in India gives a different picture. Manipur felt the tide of the emerging Korean wave more or less at the same time as experienced by other Asian countries like China, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan etc.
What made it possible? Many factors facilitate the foray of the phenomenon. Some of them may be discussed as follows:
o Introduction of cable television network
The introduction of cable television network has played a significant role in the dissemination of culture to other societies. Manipur has experienced this process of cultural diffusion mainly through this medium. The Korean satellite channel Arirang is the harbinger of Korean wave in Manipur.
Its popularity began largely due to the ban on Hindi satellite channels, which used to be the favourite channels of the Manipuris. They started to look for an alternative channel, which could give them wholesome entertainment. The search was fruitful. The popular Korean Channel, Arirang has been instrumental in bringing closer home the rich Korean culture, tradition and cuisine.
o Ban on Hindi satellite channels and movies
Hindi films and Hindi television channels, except national channel Doordarshan (which is under the state control), were banned by one of the underground revolutionary organizations of Manipur in the year 2000. Then forth, it had been a gloomy scene for movie lovers here as cinema halls owners were forced to convert their halls into schools or shopping malls.
No doubt, there has been a digital film revolution in Manipur to bridge this gap, it has been left to the films from Korea, especially South Korea and Thailand brought in through Myanmar border to win the hearts of the enthusiast crowd here with their youthful romances, thrillers and action-packed movies.
o International border trade
India's Look East Policy has opened new vistas in terms of trade between South East Asian countries and India through Manipur, an international border state with Myanmar. This has not only encouraged trade in various items but also smuggling of pirated music and movie CDs.
Socio-cultural implications of Hallyu
o New movie cult
The 'Hallyuwood' movies are gradually replacing the Bollywood and even the Hollywood ones. Instead of current Bollywood favourites, it is movie names like "The Classic", "Windstruck", "You are My Sunshine", "A Moment to Remember", "Love so Divine", "My Sassy Girl" etc., that are on the lips of the teenagers.
Stairway to Heaven (2003-2004, SBS drama special)
Picture Courtesy: http://www.koreanfilm.org
The posters of Korean actors and actresses like Gweon Sang-woo, Cha Tae-hyun, Jeon Ji Hyun, Jung Da Bin and Song Seung Hun have replaced that of Shah Rukh Khan, John Abraham, Rani Mukherjee, Aishwarya Rai, and others.
"Mostly young guys come to rent the Korean film CDs from us," says Naoba, who is a salesman in a CD parlour at Imphal. "I like watching them as they are so cool," says 15 year-old Marina, a Class IX student who loves watching Song Seung Hun. "It's easy to understand the film as they've English subtitles," she further adds. Even the local cable network ISTV has been cashing in on this new fad by telecasting these films through their network on prime time.
o New youth culture
With the arrival of Arirang, its impact upon the Manipuris, especially among the youngsters has been felt in myriads of ways. For example, after watching the various Korean serials on Arirang, there is an earnest desire by the youngsters to imitate and copy everything from language, to food habit, to dress style, even the body language and some Korean manners.
They have started using some common sentences used in the day to day life by the serial stars. For instance, anna saiyo (halo), sarange (I love you), watuke (what to do), waju waju (yes) etc. They begin to wish each other through Korean style.
In fact, there is competition among the sibling about the knowledge of language competence. Before, hardly the youngsters knew about 'chopsticks', but now they have learnt to use it and some of them have food with it. Now, the traditional plate for having rice is being replaced by bowl.
They have become so familiar with the Korean actors, actresses and singers that most of them know Kang-ta, Kang-Sang-Hyun, Baby Box, Boa, Jang- Nara, Che-in-Fio, Jyun-Sung etc. Some of them can even sing some of their favourite Korean singers' songs.
Bijen, an undergraduate, says "There are many things in Korean cultural life that are shown in serials and movies, which we can relate with our own life and society. I like Korea".
Like most of the Korean heroes, many youngsters in Manipur are growing their hair. By Ganji's skirt, they mean the style of skirt worn by a Korean serial character called Ganji. By Kangta's earring, they mean a particular earring worn by the singer Kangta.
Among school kids and teenagers, Korean movie is one of their hot topics. Bollywood movies had once occupied a colossal space in the lives of the Manipuri cinegoers. However, with their ban it is the Korean movies along with the Manipuri movies (digital format), which have filled the void.
America was a dream for every Manipuri youth before, but now is slowly shifting towards Korea. "I want to learn Korean so that I can know more about their culture", echoes Thajamanbi, a class XII student. The youths have also started sleeping on the floor of their room instead of on the bed. They feel that it is so fashionable.
o New business trends
These pirated films, which can be rented for as low as five rupees or ten rupees for a night are a rage with the audience. These movies come in special DVD formats consisting of around eight to nine movies in a DVD.
"We make copies and either sell them or rent them out", says Manglem, a video parlour owner at Imphal. However, there are also some dissident voices against the flooding of these movies asking for censorship.
The markets at Imphal, generally known as Moreh (referring to one of the towns of Manipur in Indo-Myanmar border where most of the international trade takes place) markets, which deal with imported items from South East Asian countries through Myanmar, are flooded with pirated movie, television serial and music CDs mainly from Korea. There are also trends of making music videos of Manipuri songs using clippings from Korean movies and are then sold.
Conclusion
The conclusions that we can draw from the above evaluations are Korean wave stormed Manipur more or less at the same time it started spreading to other Asian societies. It was only on 23 July, 2006 that the first ever Korean drama was aired on India's national television channel, DDTV. The Manipuri experience of the Korean popular culture was not under the direct initiative of the government.
It is mainly through cable television network (Arirang) and pirated music and movie CDs that Korean cultural wave entrenches the heart of Manipuri society. Factors that facilitate the foray of Korean wave in Manipur are introduction of cable television, ban on Hindi satellite channels and Hindi films and opening up of international border trade between India and South East Asian countries through Manipur.
The key factor that abets the popularity of Korean wave is the cultural proximity of Korean and Manipuri societies in terms of both being of Mongoloid stock; both societies being based on clan communities; sharing similar traditional religious structures in Sanamahism and Shamanism; similar streams of philosophy in traditional music and dance; and similar forms of folk games.
Moreover, it is the kind of theme and character that the Korean movies and drama depict which touches and melts the heart of the viewers. Not only the younger but also the older generations of Manipur share the same sentiments while watching hallyu dramas and films; and also identify with its dance and music.
The younger generation in particular seeks to learn more about the Korean culture, traditions, language and fashion. Hallyu can help to develop broader cultural exchange and cooperation between Korea and North East India.
- By Otojit Kshetrimayum *
------------------------------------------------
Otojit Kshetrimayum, a Research Scholar of Sociology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, contributes regularly to e-pao.net . The author can be contacted at otojit(at)gmail(dot)com
Source: E-PAO.NET
==========================================
The influence of Korean TV dramas
Oliver Intoate Hmar *
Of all the TV dramas produced by Korea film-makers every year, the top-ten rated shows constantly include seven or eight play sequences. In 2006 alone, over 100 play-series were produced representing one of the world most creative outputs of this kind. What must be the causes behind the immense popularity of TV dramas among Asian viewers?
Certainly, the remarkable exaltation of drama programs in Korea has helped to crypt Korean TV dramas to all-new heights, in terms of quality and variety, which have also captured the attention of fast-growing audiences around the globe. As such, the Korean TV dramas which have been a corner-stone of the Korean wave phenomenon, have swept across Asia, and also have come to exert far-reaching influences on North East India's cultural and entertainment scene.
My niece who studied at Nirmalabus School, while writing her exam paper was asked by her teacher "What TV programs do you guys watch these days mostly?" The answers from the entire students was none other than ARIRANG TV.
Nevertheless, people who didn't get the chance of watching Cable network mostly talked about Manipuri's film and its actors like Kamala, Devita, Maya, Sadananda, Kaiku, Dinesh and the like. What step should our film makers take in order to spread out dramas and films as it's greatly influencing the life of the society and the youth in particular?
Kamala, popular Female Lead Actress in the Festival of Manipuri Cinema
Of the Korean films, Kang Myoung Seok (Cultural critic) said: "Ever since Korea's first TV drama was aired in 1962, Koreans have displayed an unwavering love for all manner of drama programs. As for the factors behind this fanatic popularity of TV dramas among viewers in Korea, much can be explained by the socio-historical characteristics of Korean society".
While "Love and Ambition" (Saranggwa Yamang), a very well-liked drama series broadcast by MBC-TV. The use of water would decrease nationwide, and there was no traffic on the streets. Even phone call at this hour was out of question. There was a speculation that this was because curfew was imposed and everyone must be at home after dark.
However, the fact is that people could not stand to miss a single episode of these episodes "Love and Ambition" This was one example which a hit drama program could influence the life of people. Nowadays, with the technology advancements and a diversified media environment, people can watch TV dramas wherever and whenever they want.
Cable networks are accessible to all district towns in Manipur as well. Film makers are to be well aware of the fact that the type of dramas or films they made is going to influence the society. Here I must say as an oriental, our films should also focus on our culture and tradition.
In Korea, TV dramas have long been dominated by melodramas with family-centered story lines, while history-theme series have also begun to gain growing popularity recently. Programs related to science fiction, suspense and mystery thrillers have been rarely produced.
However, this doesn't mean that the dramas only provide a mirror image of the Korean life style. The producers of Korean dramas strive to offer encouragement to viewers, many of whom prefer to have a brief break from a demanding day's work.
Consequently, Korean dramas will often feature fanciful plots of a rather ordinary person who encounters a life-changing experience. In large part, the basic formula for successful TV dramas in Korea calls for lead character, a kind of regular person that Korean viewers can commiserate with, and actors who wind up having an out-of-the-ordinary romance or whimsical experience, and in the end, lives happily ever after. Though there are a number of tragic ending dramas such as "Stairs to Heaven, Autumn in my Heart etc".
Because viewers can strongly identify and sympathise with these ordinary characters, the Korean dramas seem to invariably end with the triumph of good over evil. Although these dramas might be criticised for their tendency to moralies and oversimplify, they have enjoyed wide appeal across all ages and classes in Korea, and more recently have captured the fancy of viewers all over Asia.
For viewers in Asia, who share Confucian principles and place a strong emphasis on family values and true love, they can readily embrace the common themes of Korean dramas, such as rewarding the virtuous and punishing the wrongdoers.
The Korean dramas have gained popularity among Asian viewers by weaving scenes about traditional Korean cuisine into its main good-versus-evil plot line, and without passing judgment on cultural differences. In this way, Korean TV dramas have enjoyed a unique and universal appeal, which heretofore was hardly imaginable.
Nevertheless, Korean dramas are now venturing into new territory, while moving away from real-life experiences of the ordinary world to fantasy adventures that unfold in mythical or supernatural realms. Korean dramas can broadly be categorised into melodrama and historical drama. Due to the mixed results of various suspense-thrillers, crime-story, and comedy programs, the dominance of the melodrama and historical drama nevertheless appear destined to continue for some time in Korea.
Korean TV dramas have rapidly gained noteworthy popularity among viewers in several countries around the world. Over the past few years, the Korean dramas have been at the forefront to the Korean Wave pop culture phenomenon, along with becoming one of the most far-reaching cultural influences of the Asian region.
Through the establishment of the close relations with the film, showbiz, tourism, and publishing industries, Korean dramas have in fact moved well beyond the realm of TV. How can you explain the ability of Korean TV dramas to appeal to viewers in countries with a historical background, political environment, and traditional values which are so different from that of Korea?
For this, it would be helpful to reflect upon the insights of local specialists from Chile, Japan, China, and Vietnam, who have been tracking viewer reactions to the broadcast of Korean drama series.
There are many dramas that realistically depict love and personal relationship, but not many that deal with romantic love, as in the Korean melodramas. The most distinctive of Korean dramas is their visually striking depiction of romantic love, while the fashion and accessory items featured on screen add to the aesthetic enjoyment.
One of the main reasons that the dramas have been received so passionately by viewers across the universe is that the dramas need not be preoccupied with worldly interests or real-life problems, and therefore viewers can easily become emotionally attached to fanciful experiences.
Family relations is another time-honored theme to which viewers of all age groups can relate. In fact, other countries also produce its own family-centered dramas, of which many are excellent but they do not hesitate to reveal negative aspects of the family and society.
In contrast, Korean dramas tend to project a society that is caring and benevolent. The Korean "Men of the Bath House" deals with the mundane life of ordinary people, while at the same time attaining a high level of artistic refinement.
This drama does not resort to indecency of exaggeration, nor does it indulge viewers with special effects or picturesque landscapes. It simply tells the story of an ordinary family that operates a public bathhouse. But this quaint charm is what makes the program so appealing to viewers, who invariably enjoy a sense of genuine warmth from the personal interactions.
"'Men of the bathhouse' also reveals the traditional customs of Korea through a family's life story. It is noteworthy that traditional culture can be so deeply ingrained in the daily life of ordinary people. In particular, this drama made me realise the extent to which traditional culture is steadily disappearing from Chinese daily life" said by Li Sheng Li. (The Korean TV Drama from a Chinese Perspective)
Many get to know about Korea and develop favorable impressions of Korea. This awareness encourages viewers to purchase Korean-made product, clothing and hair style. Korean TV dramas are generating not only economic benefits in Asia and North East India but are also promoting positive social and cultural values as well.
Our State, Manipur, known as a land of insurgents, but bountifully rich with beautiful cultural and social values should also attract the world through our documentary films and dramas
------------------------------------
* Oliver Intoate Hmar wrote this article for The Sangai Express . This article was webcasted on June 02, 2008.
Source: E-PAO.NET
.::. All my articles can be view here: MELTED HEARTS .::.
The process of spread of cultural traits is termed as cultural diffusion. Cultural traits are the individual acts and objects, which constitute the overt expression of a culture.
Since 1990s a major course of cultural diffusion has been gaining ground in India. There has been a major makeover in the cultural life of the Indian society after its policies on liberalization and globalization. The North Eastern States of India are not an exception.
The wave of globalization and information and communication technology revolution has also been felt in Manipur, one of the North Eastern States of India.
In such a setting, this paper specifically tries to explore the nature of diffusion of Korean popular culture and also its impact on North East India, particularly Manipuri society through Korean satellite channel and movies. The present article illustrates that a new wave of youth culture has surfaced in recent years in Manipur with the diffusion of Korean popular culture known as 'Korean Wave'.
Korean Wave in Manipur: An Appraisal
Hallyu is a term coined by the Chinese media which literally means "Korean Wave". It is a collective term used to refer to the phenomenal growth of Korean popular culture encompassing everything from music, movies, drama to online games and the Korean cuisine. Its roots are traceable to democratization, which kicked off with the South Korean elections in 1987 and the Seoul Olympics in 1988.
Korean wave was first introduced in the late 1990s in China referring to the popularity of Korean culture in foreign countries. It was initiated when the exported Korean TV dramas and remakes of pop music became popular in China and Hong Kong.
From well-packaged television dramas to slick movies, from pop music to online games, South Korean companies and stars are increasingly defining what the disparate people in Asia watch, listen to and play.
Before we delve into the assessment of Korean wave in Manipur, let us briefly examine its nature in India in general. The phases of Korean wave in India can be divided into two. The first may be referred to as Korean economic wave.
It came in India with the liberalization of Indian market in the beginning of 1990s. There was essentially growing association with the Korean companies like Hyundai, LG, Daewoo, and Samsung. In following years, these companies further expanded and diversified the range of their products and became household names in India.
The second phase may be termed as Korean cultural wave. It has reached the Indian shore very recently as compared to some of the other Asian countries. In May-June 2006, a Korean delegation visited India, as part of its efforts to spread the Korean Wave in this country.
For the very first time in India the Korean drama "Emperor of the Sea" was introduced by DD-I (National TV Channel) on 23rd July 2006. In another move to make Indian audiences aware about the Korean cultural richness, the MBC hit drama "A Jewel in the Palace" began to be aired on DD-I from 24th September 2006.
There has been growing demand in India for not only Korean language but also Korean studies in general with the growth of Korean companies in India. It is significant to note that the two phases are complementary to each other.
However, in the case of Manipur the nature of diffusion of the second phase of Korean wave in India gives a different picture. Manipur felt the tide of the emerging Korean wave more or less at the same time as experienced by other Asian countries like China, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan etc.
What made it possible? Many factors facilitate the foray of the phenomenon. Some of them may be discussed as follows:
o Introduction of cable television network
The introduction of cable television network has played a significant role in the dissemination of culture to other societies. Manipur has experienced this process of cultural diffusion mainly through this medium. The Korean satellite channel Arirang is the harbinger of Korean wave in Manipur.
Its popularity began largely due to the ban on Hindi satellite channels, which used to be the favourite channels of the Manipuris. They started to look for an alternative channel, which could give them wholesome entertainment. The search was fruitful. The popular Korean Channel, Arirang has been instrumental in bringing closer home the rich Korean culture, tradition and cuisine.
o Ban on Hindi satellite channels and movies
Hindi films and Hindi television channels, except national channel Doordarshan (which is under the state control), were banned by one of the underground revolutionary organizations of Manipur in the year 2000. Then forth, it had been a gloomy scene for movie lovers here as cinema halls owners were forced to convert their halls into schools or shopping malls.
No doubt, there has been a digital film revolution in Manipur to bridge this gap, it has been left to the films from Korea, especially South Korea and Thailand brought in through Myanmar border to win the hearts of the enthusiast crowd here with their youthful romances, thrillers and action-packed movies.
o International border trade
India's Look East Policy has opened new vistas in terms of trade between South East Asian countries and India through Manipur, an international border state with Myanmar. This has not only encouraged trade in various items but also smuggling of pirated music and movie CDs.
Socio-cultural implications of Hallyu
o New movie cult
The 'Hallyuwood' movies are gradually replacing the Bollywood and even the Hollywood ones. Instead of current Bollywood favourites, it is movie names like "The Classic", "Windstruck", "You are My Sunshine", "A Moment to Remember", "Love so Divine", "My Sassy Girl" etc., that are on the lips of the teenagers.
Stairway to Heaven (2003-2004, SBS drama special)
Picture Courtesy: http://www.koreanfilm.org
The posters of Korean actors and actresses like Gweon Sang-woo, Cha Tae-hyun, Jeon Ji Hyun, Jung Da Bin and Song Seung Hun have replaced that of Shah Rukh Khan, John Abraham, Rani Mukherjee, Aishwarya Rai, and others.
"Mostly young guys come to rent the Korean film CDs from us," says Naoba, who is a salesman in a CD parlour at Imphal. "I like watching them as they are so cool," says 15 year-old Marina, a Class IX student who loves watching Song Seung Hun. "It's easy to understand the film as they've English subtitles," she further adds. Even the local cable network ISTV has been cashing in on this new fad by telecasting these films through their network on prime time.
o New youth culture
With the arrival of Arirang, its impact upon the Manipuris, especially among the youngsters has been felt in myriads of ways. For example, after watching the various Korean serials on Arirang, there is an earnest desire by the youngsters to imitate and copy everything from language, to food habit, to dress style, even the body language and some Korean manners.
They have started using some common sentences used in the day to day life by the serial stars. For instance, anna saiyo (halo), sarange (I love you), watuke (what to do), waju waju (yes) etc. They begin to wish each other through Korean style.
In fact, there is competition among the sibling about the knowledge of language competence. Before, hardly the youngsters knew about 'chopsticks', but now they have learnt to use it and some of them have food with it. Now, the traditional plate for having rice is being replaced by bowl.
They have become so familiar with the Korean actors, actresses and singers that most of them know Kang-ta, Kang-Sang-Hyun, Baby Box, Boa, Jang- Nara, Che-in-Fio, Jyun-Sung etc. Some of them can even sing some of their favourite Korean singers' songs.
Bijen, an undergraduate, says "There are many things in Korean cultural life that are shown in serials and movies, which we can relate with our own life and society. I like Korea".
Like most of the Korean heroes, many youngsters in Manipur are growing their hair. By Ganji's skirt, they mean the style of skirt worn by a Korean serial character called Ganji. By Kangta's earring, they mean a particular earring worn by the singer Kangta.
Among school kids and teenagers, Korean movie is one of their hot topics. Bollywood movies had once occupied a colossal space in the lives of the Manipuri cinegoers. However, with their ban it is the Korean movies along with the Manipuri movies (digital format), which have filled the void.
America was a dream for every Manipuri youth before, but now is slowly shifting towards Korea. "I want to learn Korean so that I can know more about their culture", echoes Thajamanbi, a class XII student. The youths have also started sleeping on the floor of their room instead of on the bed. They feel that it is so fashionable.
o New business trends
These pirated films, which can be rented for as low as five rupees or ten rupees for a night are a rage with the audience. These movies come in special DVD formats consisting of around eight to nine movies in a DVD.
"We make copies and either sell them or rent them out", says Manglem, a video parlour owner at Imphal. However, there are also some dissident voices against the flooding of these movies asking for censorship.
The markets at Imphal, generally known as Moreh (referring to one of the towns of Manipur in Indo-Myanmar border where most of the international trade takes place) markets, which deal with imported items from South East Asian countries through Myanmar, are flooded with pirated movie, television serial and music CDs mainly from Korea. There are also trends of making music videos of Manipuri songs using clippings from Korean movies and are then sold.
Conclusion
The conclusions that we can draw from the above evaluations are Korean wave stormed Manipur more or less at the same time it started spreading to other Asian societies. It was only on 23 July, 2006 that the first ever Korean drama was aired on India's national television channel, DDTV. The Manipuri experience of the Korean popular culture was not under the direct initiative of the government.
It is mainly through cable television network (Arirang) and pirated music and movie CDs that Korean cultural wave entrenches the heart of Manipuri society. Factors that facilitate the foray of Korean wave in Manipur are introduction of cable television, ban on Hindi satellite channels and Hindi films and opening up of international border trade between India and South East Asian countries through Manipur.
The key factor that abets the popularity of Korean wave is the cultural proximity of Korean and Manipuri societies in terms of both being of Mongoloid stock; both societies being based on clan communities; sharing similar traditional religious structures in Sanamahism and Shamanism; similar streams of philosophy in traditional music and dance; and similar forms of folk games.
Moreover, it is the kind of theme and character that the Korean movies and drama depict which touches and melts the heart of the viewers. Not only the younger but also the older generations of Manipur share the same sentiments while watching hallyu dramas and films; and also identify with its dance and music.
The younger generation in particular seeks to learn more about the Korean culture, traditions, language and fashion. Hallyu can help to develop broader cultural exchange and cooperation between Korea and North East India.
- By Otojit Kshetrimayum *
------------------------------------------------
Otojit Kshetrimayum, a Research Scholar of Sociology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, contributes regularly to e-pao.net . The author can be contacted at otojit(at)gmail(dot)com
Source: E-PAO.NET
==========================================
The influence of Korean TV dramas
Oliver Intoate Hmar *
Of all the TV dramas produced by Korea film-makers every year, the top-ten rated shows constantly include seven or eight play sequences. In 2006 alone, over 100 play-series were produced representing one of the world most creative outputs of this kind. What must be the causes behind the immense popularity of TV dramas among Asian viewers?
Certainly, the remarkable exaltation of drama programs in Korea has helped to crypt Korean TV dramas to all-new heights, in terms of quality and variety, which have also captured the attention of fast-growing audiences around the globe. As such, the Korean TV dramas which have been a corner-stone of the Korean wave phenomenon, have swept across Asia, and also have come to exert far-reaching influences on North East India's cultural and entertainment scene.
My niece who studied at Nirmalabus School, while writing her exam paper was asked by her teacher "What TV programs do you guys watch these days mostly?" The answers from the entire students was none other than ARIRANG TV.
Nevertheless, people who didn't get the chance of watching Cable network mostly talked about Manipuri's film and its actors like Kamala, Devita, Maya, Sadananda, Kaiku, Dinesh and the like. What step should our film makers take in order to spread out dramas and films as it's greatly influencing the life of the society and the youth in particular?
Kamala, popular Female Lead Actress in the Festival of Manipuri Cinema
Of the Korean films, Kang Myoung Seok (Cultural critic) said: "Ever since Korea's first TV drama was aired in 1962, Koreans have displayed an unwavering love for all manner of drama programs. As for the factors behind this fanatic popularity of TV dramas among viewers in Korea, much can be explained by the socio-historical characteristics of Korean society".
While "Love and Ambition" (Saranggwa Yamang), a very well-liked drama series broadcast by MBC-TV. The use of water would decrease nationwide, and there was no traffic on the streets. Even phone call at this hour was out of question. There was a speculation that this was because curfew was imposed and everyone must be at home after dark.
However, the fact is that people could not stand to miss a single episode of these episodes "Love and Ambition" This was one example which a hit drama program could influence the life of people. Nowadays, with the technology advancements and a diversified media environment, people can watch TV dramas wherever and whenever they want.
Cable networks are accessible to all district towns in Manipur as well. Film makers are to be well aware of the fact that the type of dramas or films they made is going to influence the society. Here I must say as an oriental, our films should also focus on our culture and tradition.
In Korea, TV dramas have long been dominated by melodramas with family-centered story lines, while history-theme series have also begun to gain growing popularity recently. Programs related to science fiction, suspense and mystery thrillers have been rarely produced.
However, this doesn't mean that the dramas only provide a mirror image of the Korean life style. The producers of Korean dramas strive to offer encouragement to viewers, many of whom prefer to have a brief break from a demanding day's work.
Consequently, Korean dramas will often feature fanciful plots of a rather ordinary person who encounters a life-changing experience. In large part, the basic formula for successful TV dramas in Korea calls for lead character, a kind of regular person that Korean viewers can commiserate with, and actors who wind up having an out-of-the-ordinary romance or whimsical experience, and in the end, lives happily ever after. Though there are a number of tragic ending dramas such as "Stairs to Heaven, Autumn in my Heart etc".
Because viewers can strongly identify and sympathise with these ordinary characters, the Korean dramas seem to invariably end with the triumph of good over evil. Although these dramas might be criticised for their tendency to moralies and oversimplify, they have enjoyed wide appeal across all ages and classes in Korea, and more recently have captured the fancy of viewers all over Asia.
For viewers in Asia, who share Confucian principles and place a strong emphasis on family values and true love, they can readily embrace the common themes of Korean dramas, such as rewarding the virtuous and punishing the wrongdoers.
The Korean dramas have gained popularity among Asian viewers by weaving scenes about traditional Korean cuisine into its main good-versus-evil plot line, and without passing judgment on cultural differences. In this way, Korean TV dramas have enjoyed a unique and universal appeal, which heretofore was hardly imaginable.
Nevertheless, Korean dramas are now venturing into new territory, while moving away from real-life experiences of the ordinary world to fantasy adventures that unfold in mythical or supernatural realms. Korean dramas can broadly be categorised into melodrama and historical drama. Due to the mixed results of various suspense-thrillers, crime-story, and comedy programs, the dominance of the melodrama and historical drama nevertheless appear destined to continue for some time in Korea.
Korean TV dramas have rapidly gained noteworthy popularity among viewers in several countries around the world. Over the past few years, the Korean dramas have been at the forefront to the Korean Wave pop culture phenomenon, along with becoming one of the most far-reaching cultural influences of the Asian region.
Through the establishment of the close relations with the film, showbiz, tourism, and publishing industries, Korean dramas have in fact moved well beyond the realm of TV. How can you explain the ability of Korean TV dramas to appeal to viewers in countries with a historical background, political environment, and traditional values which are so different from that of Korea?
For this, it would be helpful to reflect upon the insights of local specialists from Chile, Japan, China, and Vietnam, who have been tracking viewer reactions to the broadcast of Korean drama series.
There are many dramas that realistically depict love and personal relationship, but not many that deal with romantic love, as in the Korean melodramas. The most distinctive of Korean dramas is their visually striking depiction of romantic love, while the fashion and accessory items featured on screen add to the aesthetic enjoyment.
One of the main reasons that the dramas have been received so passionately by viewers across the universe is that the dramas need not be preoccupied with worldly interests or real-life problems, and therefore viewers can easily become emotionally attached to fanciful experiences.
Family relations is another time-honored theme to which viewers of all age groups can relate. In fact, other countries also produce its own family-centered dramas, of which many are excellent but they do not hesitate to reveal negative aspects of the family and society.
In contrast, Korean dramas tend to project a society that is caring and benevolent. The Korean "Men of the Bath House" deals with the mundane life of ordinary people, while at the same time attaining a high level of artistic refinement.
This drama does not resort to indecency of exaggeration, nor does it indulge viewers with special effects or picturesque landscapes. It simply tells the story of an ordinary family that operates a public bathhouse. But this quaint charm is what makes the program so appealing to viewers, who invariably enjoy a sense of genuine warmth from the personal interactions.
"'Men of the bathhouse' also reveals the traditional customs of Korea through a family's life story. It is noteworthy that traditional culture can be so deeply ingrained in the daily life of ordinary people. In particular, this drama made me realise the extent to which traditional culture is steadily disappearing from Chinese daily life" said by Li Sheng Li. (The Korean TV Drama from a Chinese Perspective)
Many get to know about Korea and develop favorable impressions of Korea. This awareness encourages viewers to purchase Korean-made product, clothing and hair style. Korean TV dramas are generating not only economic benefits in Asia and North East India but are also promoting positive social and cultural values as well.
Our State, Manipur, known as a land of insurgents, but bountifully rich with beautiful cultural and social values should also attract the world through our documentary films and dramas
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* Oliver Intoate Hmar wrote this article for The Sangai Express . This article was webcasted on June 02, 2008.
Source: E-PAO.NET
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