2012...

2012 becoming 1984

- SOPA sponsor has another Internet bill that records you 24/7

Sexual jokes.

''Sexist jokes favour the mental mechanisms
that justify violence and battering against women''

- University of Granada in Spain

Times of India

JYJ - In Heaven

I'm planning on buying this album for my love of one song - In Heaven. It's so beautiful and amazing. I'm definitely forever in awe of Jaejoong's composition skills. It's such a lovely song and it's made even more heart-breaking when I think of his reasoning for this song. (It's a song written for his deceased actor friend Park Yong Ha)

I'm so proud whenever I think of the obstacles they've had to go through to get to this stage. To the point where they can finally release an album in their own country and the high possibility that they'll actually be able to perform live. If they do, I swear I will watch EVERY.SINGLE.PERFORMANCE. Who knows when something might happen and they won't be able to perform again?

Also, because this shows just how much they've grown during their time apart from SM Entertainment. Comparing it to their compositions in The Beginning and Their Room, you can tell that they've taken the knowledge and experience they've gained and created something even better. I think they've finally been able to use their strengths to the fullest and worked out how to fully compliment their compositions to their vocal abilities. I've only really heard two songs, so I can't be confident that they've nailed it, but they've got time to and progress has already started.

While I've been spazzing over the potential possibility that I will pre-order this, I've started questioning why I wasn't this enthusiastic about HoMin's album. Why didn't I feel this urge to buy their album too. Sure, Junsu is my bias but I love every member. My answer is that because I've been given a chance to listen to their released album, I've realised that despite how much I may like them, the material they released doesn't feel... right. I felt as if they're still experimenting and getting used to the fact that they're a duo now. When you've been working as a group of 5 and suddenly you're only left with 2, everything changes. The dynamics, the distribution of lyrics and of the notes. The album doesn't sound right which is probably why I never felt the urge to buy the album. I liked a couple of songs but they weren't what I needed them to be so that I would spend $50 bucks on it.

It's been pretty much 2 years since the lawsuit fiasco hit. And after everything that has happened, I truly believe (and hope) that JYJ is getting the most out of this. Sure, they've lost the backing of one of the most powerful music houses in Korea, but they might've lost this after returning from the military anyway. They've even lost their right to claim the songs that they've sung throughout the years - let me tell you, that's ALOT of songs. JYJ has lost their roots and history. But in exchange, they're given creative freedom and the freedom to do what they truly want. You should never underestimate this creative freedom - it's the driving force why JYJ has been able to (and continue to) grow as artists. Following this trajectory, they'll (probably) be able to have a lasting career in the music industry. If not as singers then as composers, lyricists, songwriters etc. The point being is that they have a career in music after their life as idols end because they've taken a major risk. They're essentially starting their careers again, only differently. And this is what I'm most excited to see - how they're changing kpop history. One step at a time. Painful as it may be, but the rewards that they can reap is profound.

I don't think the same can be said for HoMin. They may occasionally be given the opportunity to participate in their songs, but it's not to the same degree as JYJ. What will happen to them when they come back from the military? Will SM Entertainment still be backing them if the DBSK name is not as profitable as it once was? I don't know the answer to any of these questions but there's something I know very well. The life of an idol is short. So far, the only idols that are still promoting after their military service are some members of the legendary kpop idol groups (ie. Kangta, Minwoo etc.) Even with their fanbase in Korea, they're still not making much of an impact on the charts like they used to and honestly, the general international kpop population could care less. I'm scared that this is the fate for HoMin. I'm worried that when they do return they'll no longer have a place in the music industry - after all, the music scene moves fast and makes no apologies for any casualties. Case in point, BoA's comeback for her 10th year in the music industry.

Sigh, I think I've written about stuff that's really not even related to what I wanted to say in the first place. Anyway, another reason why it's taken so long for me to actually pre-order this CD is because I'm not exactly sure which cover I should buy (blue, red or brown) and where. I want my purchase of this CD to C-O-U-N-T. I want it to effect the music charts, I want it to help JYJ get the recognition they deserve. I want this album to be one of the contenders for The Album of the Year award. I want it to matter. I already know that they'll benefit from the money I'm spending on them - afterall, they're able to purchase these gorgeous houses/apartments with their activities as JYJ - but I need to know that my purchase will aid their way to performing freely in their own country.

Also, it pains me to think of the monetary gains they're making as JYJ. I have this feeling that they're earned more promoting as JYJ in this short amount of time compared to the years spent as DBSK. I know they got paid working as DBSK, but was it a fair and just amount? Especially for the amount of time and suffering they had to exchange it with. I just hope that HoMin is getting a more just wage for the hard work they're putting in.

I would like to end with a quote from the blog - callmepatrica. I find that she's able to eloquently express everything that I can't. A lot of what she writes has been a thought of mine but I was never able to coherently express it.

To be honest, I think that the only ones who will emerge victorious from this ordeal is Jaejoong, Yoochun, and Junsu – because they risked it all to pursue their dreams of being artists, not idols. They realized the power of time and popularity working against them, and they decided to fight for what they loved. And right now, they’re succeeding.

I spent nearly 2 hours writing this =="

The Last Airbender

Rathbone told MTV News earlier this month that, "I think it's one of those things where I pull my hair up, shave the sides, and I definitely need a tan. It's one of those things where, hopefully, the audience will suspend disbelief a little bit."

Yes, because doing all the things above will help you achieve the "Asian look". Don't forget the sticky tape so that you'll achieve the slanty eyes!

Via CARTOON BREW, comic book artist Derek Kirk Kim is protesting as well: [AVATAR is] wholly and inarguably built around Asian (and Inuit) culture. Everything from to the costume designs, to the written language, to the landscapes, to martial arts, to philosophy, to spirituality, to eating utensils! -- It’s all an evocative, but thinly veiled, re-imagining of ancient Asia."

He continues, "Imagine if someone had made a “fantasy” movie in which the entire world was built around African culture. Everyone is wearing ancient African clothes, African hats, eating traditional African food, writing in an African language, living in African homes, all encompassed in an African landscape...but everyone is white. How offensive, insulting, and disrespectful would that be toward Africans and African Americans? How much more offensive would it be if only the heroes were white and all the villians [sic] and background characters were African American?

"My top choices for Aang were all young Asian-American actors. All of them had more talent and experience than Noah Ringer. But, Aibel and the producers had the final word. I am very disappointed with the cast that was chosen. My daughter hates me, now that her only hero (Katara) will not be an actress with a complexion close to our own. Mike and Bryan are also disappointed and feel that all the blood and sweat developing the Asian heroes was for nothing."

SOURCE: http://www.awn.com/news/films/avatar-last-airbender-casting-controversy-continues


Here is the original casting calls for The Last Airbender. I doubt they had any real intentions of casting any Asians for the lead roles. And well, I feel quite sorry for people who are aspiring to be actors, but aren't physically attractive enough :/

AANG: 12-15 years-old, Male, Caucasian or any other ethnicity. We are looking for a young man to play the lead role in a motion picture franchise. He must be athletic and graceful with an ability in Martial Arts (not necessarily extensive experience, but at least an aptitude for it). Kids with experience in gymnastics, dance, or sports could also be good. He is a young adventurer and should seem like the type of young man who will grow up to be heroic.

KATARA: 14-17 years-old, Female, Caucasian or any other ethnicity. She is Sokka’s younger sister. She is a headstrong and determined girl with a real sense of idealism. She believes in herself and feels that she can play on the same team as the boys. She is beautiful, intelligent, passionate, feisty, and has a real sense of adventure.

SOKKA: 16-20 years-old, Male, Caucasian or any other ethnicity. He is Katara's older brother. He is intelligent but awkward, and very funny (although not necessarily intentionally so). He aspires to greatness, but he tends to doubt himself. He is always one to be swayed by a pretty girl.

ZUKO: 16-20 years-old, Male, Caucasian or any other ethnicity. He is a brooding, intense young man who wrestles - not always successfully - with being good. Regaining his honor is a driving impetus for him. He is extremely handsome and is the type of dangerous boy every girl falls in love with. Athletic and/or martial arts experience is a plus.

There is no way I can word my feelings towards this subject better than Derek Kim has done above. I feel uneasy when I watch a film that has been adapted from a story where the characters are Asian but are replaced by Caucasian actors.

To constantly have Asians being denied the chance to play a role which are "designed" for them is just upsetting. There are many Asians out there who could play these roles, but instead, they are offered to Caucasian actors. Maybe its because the producers believe that Asian actors aren't box office draws or because they don't have the experience...but that's just because they're constantly denied any work. The only place where Asian actors can shine is in martial arts films or as the antagonist. And honestly, we're more diverse than that. Not every Asian is awesome at martial arts and we aren't all planning on ruling the world.

The main reason why I dislike whitewashing is that it underlies the notion of white/Caucasians being morally superior, or just superior in general, compared to people who are coloured. Well, that's what I get out of it anyway, not sure about anyone else.

Now, if I can make a tangent...let's talk about Avatar. The storyline of Avatar is similar to many events throughout history, where European colonizers are determined to obtain certain valuables or resources from the land in which indigenous people inhabit. So, it's not surprising that the notion also applies to Avatar. It takes a Caucasian male to save an entire civilisation, an entire nation if you will.

So, I'll just end this with something I found a while ago.

A good read about this topic from Derek Kim's blog: http://derekkirkkim.blogspot.com/2009/01/new-day-in-politics-same-old-racist.html and http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/01/28/DDMU15ICE4.DTL
Below are just some quotes that I wanted to highlight for myself...so take no notice of this :D

Or even worse, having our hearts broken over and over going after roles that specifically call for Asian Americans like "Avatar, The Last Airbender" only to see them go to white actors.

Back in my Drama days in high school, I used to dream of being white so I could pursue acting.

"The Last Airbender" has the potential to be something like "Star Wars"—something with lasting value that could give new heroes to your average household in America. And to have something for Asian American kids, and ethnic kids in general, to look up to. To let them know heroes can also look like them and speak fluent English like them.

African Americans kids can finally, realistically dream of being president one day. Can't Asian American kids—perhaps my kids—at least dream of being something as relatively insignificant as central characters in some escapist Hollywood movie where everything is stolen from their heritage?




"What frustrates us most is that you had this amazing opportunity - you've got a nation of fans who love this quintessentially Asian story," Kim says. "This could have broken down every barrier in the business, proving you can have an all-Asian cast and score three blockbuster successes. Instead, we just get three more chances to cringe."

B.E.S

BROWN EYED SOUL
IS OUT WITH A
NEW
ALBUM.

THAT IS ALL.

South Korea and Homosexuality

Union of mothers create anti-gay ad because of drama “Life Is Beautiful”

With SBS’s drama, “Life Is Beautiful“, showing a gay couple as part of the story plot, mothers worried about the futures of their children, created a union and released a newspaper ad on September 29th through Chosun Journal.

The ad stated, “If my son becomes gay and dies from Aids after watching ‘Life Is Beautiful’, SBS must take responsibility!”

The union that released the ad stated, “‘Life Is Beautiful’ has glamorized the culture of gays against what is realistically, healthy and proper for the citizens of Korea.”

The ad became highly controversial immediately after its release, and more so after tweets by popular gay TV star, Hong Seok Cheon.

On the afternoon of the 29th, he tweeted, “‘Take responsibility for my son becoming gay because of the drama?’ What a funny ad, but also quite disappointing. Soon they will be putting out an ad saying don’t hang out with Hong Seok Cheon if you don’t want to be gay. This was the exact reason I was fired from ‘BboBboBbo‘ 10 years ago when I first came out. All of those calls made to the broadcast company asking to take me off the show. If such logic was true, all of those children that were on a part of the show with me should be gay by now, but they aren’t.”

He went on to write, “The gay couple that is shown on ‘Life Is Beautiful’ is so beautifully and realistically drawn. If there really is a son out there that becomes gay after watching the drama, it is not because he became gay but because he actually was gay and finally earned enough confidence to come out. It could be the drama that gave him that strength to come out to his parents and ask for understanding. How unfortunate for the children that live under the parents that put out such a trashy advertisement. Aids is not a disease specific to gays. How is it that I found out that I was gay 25 years before I saw the drama ‘Life Is Beautiful?’ What kind of dramas did the gays in the 50s, 60s, and 70s watch in order to become gay? Being gay is not a contagious disease, you fools.”

Hong concluded his series of tweets by stating, “The people that put out this ad not only demolished the human rights of gays but of Aids patients as well. This is such an amazing country, allowing such ads to be put out. This ad being released is a more severe problem than the fact that gays are shown on a public broadcast drama. Anything can be released as long as money is involved, I suppose.”

He received much support for his tweets and stated again on the 30th, “I thank everyone that has sent me support mail. Compared to the hate mail I received 10 years ago, there is so much support that has made me cry and feel endlessly thankful. I feel as if my loneliness and sorrow during the past 10 years has finally been delivered. I’ve now earned the confidence to live on even harder for the next 10 years. I’ll become a Hong Seok Cheon that satisfies everyone not only as a businessman but as an actor as well. Thank you.”

Hong was one of the first celebrities in the Korean entertainment industry to come out 10 years ago and is now the father of two adopted children.

source: allkpop

[10.10.02] Dongwan’s memolog: The view towards homosexuality [Selfishness of the majority]

This is probably the typical Korean “My child is precious” syndrome.

Homosexuals are also children of parents.

There isn’t any life that isn’t precious.

This advertisement is as good as using a knife to stab the parents of homosexuals who are somewhere out there,
As good as driving the homosexuals, who want to be under daylight, towards darkness.

I’m heterosexual and can’t fully understand homosexuality.
But I know for sure homosexuality is not an illness, nor is it toxic.
It does not need treatment or medication.
Homosexuals are people who, since they were born, have been living difficult lives that others cannot understand.

What we should do is not to persecute or drive them out,
But to help them not to live the wrong way in darkness, and to give them our understanding.

The problem with this incident is not the union’s ignorance,
Just like what the writer Kim Soo Hyun said
The problem lies with the media, where even major newspapers can accept absurd advertisements as long as they are paid.
As always…

Credits: Dongwan’s Naver blog + Absolut Shinhwa

Dongwan, one of my favourites in SHINHWA. See, I always knew thew there was a reason why he was near the top of the list. Putting aside his adorableness and bromance with Minwoo, I love reading his blog entries. I feel as if I know him better than the other members because of it. But what I really admire is that he isn't afraid to state his opinion. He's a celebrity, an idol. He's actions are scrutinsed. So, for Dongwan to have the courage to openly express his opinins, which is quite unpopular, to a society like South Korea...

...

He's perfect a good man. I'm proud of my fondness for him :D

He's got my love, support and respect.

But honestly, I want to find a guy like Dongwan.