tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12946845.post8369417429514914525..comments2024-02-23T23:53:54.842+09:00Comments on Gusts Of Popular Feeling: Three decades of blackface in Koreamatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10296009437690229938noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12946845.post-25036779448947063972020-12-12T13:51:32.224+09:002020-12-12T13:51:32.224+09:00If this video is what you're referring to, the...If <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2byX01Gv74&ab_channel=%EB%9F%B0%EB%8B%9D%EB%A7%A8-%EC%8A%A4%EB%B8%8C%EC%8A%A4%EA%B3%B5%EC%8B%9D%EC%B1%84%EB%84%90" rel="nofollow">this video</a> is what you're referring to, then no, since his face is not painted.matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10296009437690229938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12946845.post-22075929250098724482020-12-12T12:03:06.928+09:002020-12-12T12:03:06.928+09:00This comment has been removed by the author.pandabearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09365987107818218217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12946845.post-63894238862910046752015-04-01T16:59:05.697+09:002015-04-01T16:59:05.697+09:00As for cartoon depictions, there was also this Mun...As for cartoon depictions, there was also this Munwha Ilbo article: <br />http://www.munhwa.com/news/view.html?no=2007071301034827033006<br /><br />You have it here: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JFnCfZzgZo0/Tp2FLwIvURI/AAAAAAAAHjg/EHeNLdIxYQ0/s1600/20070713%2Bmunhwa%2Bfraud%2Bphone%2Bteachers.jpgAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12946845.post-49019809942101379872014-05-14T16:55:01.335+09:002014-05-14T16:55:01.335+09:00Thanks for pointing that out. Apologies for the ca...Thanks for pointing that out. Apologies for the carelessness - it's been removed.matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10296009437690229938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12946845.post-10687401312399898962014-05-13T00:16:22.889+09:002014-05-13T00:16:22.889+09:00I wish you would have done more research. That pic...I wish you would have done more research. That picture you are accusing Eric of being in blackface is a REAL screencap of Eddie Griffin from "Undercover Brother". <b>It's not even Eric.</b> The korean article is talking about how they look so alike that people thought it was Eric in the picture.<br /><br />If you don't believe me, google Undercover Brother, go to images and if you scroll down a few pages, you'll see that screencap.Carmenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15773774290797668837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12946845.post-15200803417998219782013-10-25T07:44:14.299+09:002013-10-25T07:44:14.299+09:00Hi Matt,
Just came upon this because of a frien...Hi Matt,<br /><br /> Just came upon this because of a friend's recent posting about someone he saw on the street in Daegu wearing blackface. It was very informative and even though I know this posting is from a while ago obviously it is still an issue that has no easy answers. <br /><br />Thank you again for doing so much research into the history of it!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12946845.post-4178473739860384172013-04-01T16:35:09.069+09:002013-04-01T16:35:09.069+09:00Great post, thank you! If you don't mind, I&#...Great post, thank you! If you don't mind, I've linked it to a blog I maintain for students; they will be expected to have read and understood the history of black face in Korea as part of a larger elective assignment. As for a fairly comprehensive overview of the subject, this is by far the best I've found on the internet. Thanks again!El Generalissimohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10920525203352533486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12946845.post-87617207376026391882012-11-08T13:53:12.588+09:002012-11-08T13:53:12.588+09:00Stereotypes are stereotypes. They only widened the...Stereotypes are stereotypes. They only widened the gap between people and people believe this misrepresentation as being true. Just stop it!!! For once, put yourself in someone else's shoes. Would Koreans think this was innocent humor if it was done in the US? I doubt it. Obviously, Koreans had to think of this blackface was offensive because they stopped it for the Olympics! If it had no ill intent, why stop? Also, why Black people? I don't see any whiteface parodies or Hispanic parodies! That why this is so wrong! One sided and hypocritical. I'm really hurt because I enjoy South Korean culture immensely. If Koreans want others to love and respect their culture, you should do the same for other people and their culture. No one is greater than the next to be in a position to poke fun at anyone else. Make light of things in your community. When i read this i was like "God, why do the world hate black people? We are butt of EVERYONE'S joke?" But I'm glad to see that things are changing. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08227791852929220195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12946845.post-52139147012602576802012-10-31T14:12:37.121+09:002012-10-31T14:12:37.121+09:00I know this is a dead topic, but for anyone who st...I know this is a dead topic, but for anyone who stumbles upon this in the future, I just want to point out that most comedy/acting in Korea is very overdone. The style doesn't appeal to foreigners at all (save for Psy....), nor is it understood (including Psy). If you've ever watched a variety show in Korea, you know what I'm talking about. Yes, Koreans give themselves a tan and exaggerate what they think it is to be black to an offensive level, but they're also doing that for any other character (nerd, model, hobo, mother-in-law...). I truly believe it's not meant to be malicious and we should take it in the spirit it was intended.<br /><br />However, I am aware that Koreans are overwhelmingly racist as a body, and that it is not okay. Much of that is fear-based and with increasing education and exposure, that is slowly changing. America has had maybe a 150 yr head start and the great leaders in the NAACP to help them along. <br /><br />As a side note, many European countries are similarly homogeneous and close-minded. As an example, the majority of my Russian friends believe that all Chinese people are cheap and smell like fish. They hail from a diverse collection of cities and socio-economic classes in Russia. Why don't people get upset about that mentality? I'm not sure I understand the outrage at Koreans being racist but not liking it thrown back at them, but then not jumping on others for being racist.... it's all so confusing to me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12946845.post-21584952140587767952012-03-07T12:54:02.486+09:002012-03-07T12:54:02.486+09:00@Matt:
I switched to Disqus when blogger came up ...@Matt:<br /><br />I switched to Disqus when blogger came up with the stupid comment verification stuff... it even let me import all comments from previous blog posts. That was cool. I'm generally happy with it, and it's a lot more customizable than blogger comments, which don't have many options.<br /><br />Best of all: it gives me IP addresses of commenters, and the option to ban commenters, or put IP addresses on a "moderate" list, which blogger doesn't.<br /><br />I'm not sure if it's possible to get your comments OUT of disqus once you're in... it looks like I might be in for the stay now... but disqus has been pretty good so far.Roboseyohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06308196436612993379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12946845.post-28046569341720140152012-03-06T10:43:55.076+09:002012-03-06T10:43:55.076+09:00Also: Fred Armisen doing Obama on SNL doesn't ...Also: Fred Armisen doing Obama on SNL doesn't bother me because it's a straight impersonation, whereas the whole point of blackface minstrelsy was to reinforce racial stereotypes.<br /><br />A tricky line, but not the sort of circumspection I could attribute to many of the examples of blackface in SK.Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06064650519726133050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12946845.post-90651188940343098122012-03-06T09:01:45.320+09:002012-03-06T09:01:45.320+09:00A friend asked me to post this:
A Kyopo teacher I...A friend asked me to post this:<br /><br />A Kyopo teacher I work with excused Korean black face on TV etc...by saying "This is Korea" which is basically what most people over at EatYourKimchi probably mean to say and which I've heard so many other times about most any other criticism of S. Korea. So, I don't expect change for a LONG LONG time just like most anything else in S. Korea. BTW, has anyone seen that Billy Crystal just last week or so as the host of the Academy Awards appeared in a bit of black face (minus the big lips and bone through nose)? He was imitating Sammy Davis Jr., he was criticized but it was justified by saying he was imitating someone. So, maybe the Korean Dream Girls get a pass?<br />Sammy Davis Jr.'s daughter says the late 'Rat Packer' wouldn't have been offended... [<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/01/billy-crystal-blackface-oscars-sammy-davis-jr-daughter_n_1312942.html" rel="nofollow">Link</a>.]matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10296009437690229938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12946845.post-58922666752119543582012-03-05T23:13:26.978+09:002012-03-05T23:13:26.978+09:00James:
Thanks. Not sure what could be done with th...James:<br />Thanks. Not sure what could be done with the comments. Changing from Blogger would be a nightmare, since so many of my posts have several links to my own older posts... Links within links within links...matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10296009437690229938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12946845.post-60944366677538080062012-03-05T23:04:45.906+09:002012-03-05T23:04:45.906+09:00Matt McLellan:
Thanks for reminding me of that. I&...Matt McLellan:<br />Thanks for reminding me of that. I've posted that in an update above. <br /><br />Kushibo: <br />I'd agree that black face in Korea does not carry the weight of the past it does in the US.<br /><br />In <a href="http://pdf.joinsmsn.com/article/pdf_article_prv.asp?id=DY01198102200067" rel="nofollow">the 1981 Joongang Ilbo article</a> I linked to in an edit above, there is a complaint that a KBS detective show with an episode titled 'Nigerian dream' was done with too little effort, because the actor only had black on his face on not on his hands, which were white, which I think that gives some insight into what was expected of actors portraying black people - that in order to appear authentic, the actor had to be in (full) black makeup.<br /><br />Thinking about that and that some of the examples above are not out to deliberately ridicule black people - though, of course, many of them (along with the cartoons) are - I would say that outright condemnation might not always be the most effective way to go, especially since it tends to lead to a 'circle the wagons' effect. <br /><br />Though it has been fallen back on a lot by defensive Korean netizens, it probably is worth noting that the worst examples which look so much like stereotypical black face (other than the atrocity that is the Bubble Sisters) with the unpainted giant lips and clown features are modeled after Maikol, himself a racist cartoon character. I think most cases of black face in Korea don't quite reach the level of offensiveness as the Maikol clones or the bubble sisters, as the latter to appear to outright modeled on traditional black face.<br /><br />Oh, and since the reason for sikeomeonseu's retirement wasn't apparently known until 2010, I'm not sure if the institutional memory argument works. I'm not sure there was much black face in the 1990s or before the Bubble Sisters, though. I haven't found any evidence so far, but then the pre-internet age doesn't lend itself to television preservation very well (especially considering a lot of pre 1990s shows were not preserved in Korea).matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10296009437690229938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12946845.post-49720966301521628642012-03-05T19:39:57.007+09:002012-03-05T19:39:57.007+09:00"yet they don't come with a set of direct..."yet they don't come with a set of directions for why those are okay"<br /><br />Agreed, but why is this still an issue for certain SK tv execs, writers, and performers after 1988?<br /><br />"How many people under thirty remember when Ted Danson got in trouble for doing blackface in a sketch with Whoopie Goldberg, for example?"<br /><br />Blackface minstrelsy "peaked" if you will in the 19th century in America. I wasn't alive then, but I know I'd catch hell if I performed in grease-paint.<br /><br />And again, every time you bring up an example of modern-day minstrelsy a la Whoopi Goldberg/Ted Danson it's a reminder that people get into serious trouble when they do this in America.<br /><br />Just because Spike Lee's "Bamboozled" had actors in blackface doesn't mean it's ever OK. That was a film specifically about blackface and its persistence to this day.<br /><br />Again, two wrongs don't make a right. Hollywood movies with offensive asian stereotypes are ugly and should be shunned. Koreans who perform in blackface should at the very least be informed that this is unacceptable behavior, just like pulling the skin around my eyes back and saying "I'm Ching-Chong-Chinaman."Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06064650519726133050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12946845.post-12723164039272735652012-03-05T19:14:47.383+09:002012-03-05T19:14:47.383+09:00"Apparently, the Korean media companies knew ...<b>"Apparently, the Korean media companies knew enough to knock that shit off in 88." Interestingly enough, that very interview with Lee Bong-won in 2010 also included an appearance by this guest...</b><br /><br />I also wanted to make a point about institutional memory. If people knew to knock it off in 1988, and for the most part it was pretty much knocked off, twenty years later, young Turks may not know why it was knocked off. <br /><br />How many people under thirty remember when Ted Danson got in trouble for <a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=blackface+ted+danson&hl=en&safe=off&client=safari&rls=en&prmd=imvnso&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=B5FUT9KhMKqpsQLR5NjvBQ&ved=0CD4QsAQ&biw=1024&bih=907" rel="nofollow">doing blackface</a> in a sketch with Whoopie Goldberg, for example?kushibohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10306033998028548550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12946845.post-54424714735455500592012-03-05T19:07:04.888+09:002012-03-05T19:07:04.888+09:00James, I think you missed several points I was mak...James, I think you missed several points I was making. First, it is not "bullshit" that "none of this is the case Korea (or elsewhere in East Asia)," simply because it is racially insensitive. I was describing a much weightier aspect of blackface in America that goes beyond the insensitive mockery in Korea (and elsewhere in East Asia). <br /><br />As for the recent examples, you thinking those recent movies sucked does not make their existence any less confusing for people who are bewildered by the complicated way in which blackface, whiteface, and yellowface are offered up in North American pop culture. <br /><br />"White Girls," "Tropic Thunder," and "America's Next Top Model" all are viewed in Korea, yet they don't come with a set of directions for why those are okay (if in fact they are okay) and classic stuff is not. <br /><br />Interestingly, given that I've mentioned "America's Next Top Model," my word captcha is "yourtyrA." It's followed by "lanstit," but that doesn't make any sense.kushibohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10306033998028548550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12946845.post-83049657817147523852012-03-05T18:41:42.545+09:002012-03-05T18:41:42.545+09:00And man, I love your blog (for posts like this in ...And man, I love your blog (for posts like this in particular) but Blogger's robo-protection is absolutely horrendous. Please consider changing it, because the discussion here is usually so interesting!Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06064650519726133050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12946845.post-56628807008827312432012-03-05T18:40:26.064+09:002012-03-05T18:40:26.064+09:00A blackface performance of Roots?
Mind. Blown.
G...A blackface performance of Roots?<br /><br />Mind. Blown.<br /><br />Great post btw.<br /><br />"None of that is the case in Korea (or elsewhere in Asia)."<br /><br />Bullshit. There might be exceptions, but once an actor "darkens up" they are walking on thin ice in terms of racial sensitivity. A lot of these videos show black-face characters acting the fool, and this is _exactly_ what American blackface minstrelsy was all about.<br /><br />As for your examples of racism in America, yeah, well, no duh. There's still plenty of racism to go around and two (or ten) wrongs never make a right.<br /><br />The movie White Chicks was trashed by critics and stands as an example of the Bad Hollywood movie. Granted it was popular, but it was also black dudes using white make-up. Again, not my thing, but you can sort of see how there's a major difference.<br /><br />Bing Crosby and Mickey Rooney were popular in the 1950's when it was acceptable to get away with this stuff. It took a lot of work to get this to change and again, 1950's racist stereotypes were racist.<br /><br />So if your point is that America has a racist past and to this day struggles with racism, I agree. If you're trying to say that after 30 years South Korea still gets a pass on this stuff, you're absolutely wrong.<br /><br />Also, the man responsible for the "Obama as witch doctor" was forced to resign from his Republican party position if I'm not mistaken. There was a lot of outrage about it, and it was a perfect example of a racist doofus acting like a racist doofus.<br /><br />As for Downey, well, I thought it was a horrible film myself. What they were trying to do was point out the stupidity of the American film system in general by using blatant stereotypes -- mentally handicapped, blacks, asians, etc. I thought it failed miserably, but it was an attempt (I think) to criticize the very stereotypes so often on display in Hollywood films.<br /><br />So yeah, racism is a problem everywhere, and to this day in America. It seems that South Korean media execs could at least figure out that black face is a no-no. I mean, how hard would that be?Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06064650519726133050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12946845.post-72378671533661455992012-03-05T15:42:02.780+09:002012-03-05T15:42:02.780+09:00I forgot to mention Robert Downey Jr's blackfa...I forgot to mention Robert Downey Jr's blackface run in <i>Tropic Thunder</i>, and depictions of Obama <a href="http://www.monster-island.net/2009/08/bone-to-pick.html" rel="nofollow">with a bone through his nose</a>, which don't seem to work into a frothy offensiveness like you'd think they would.kushibohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10306033998028548550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12946845.post-76746146462110029582012-03-05T15:18:40.643+09:002012-03-05T15:18:40.643+09:00I'm divided on this. On the one hand, right no...I'm divided on this. On the one hand, <i>right now</i> there is absolutely no reason for anyone in broadcast media to not understand that this is seen as offensive. <br /><br />However, the usage of blackface in America and blackface in Korea (or elsewhere in Asia) is completely different, since the former used it as a systemic way of routinely denigrating Blacks in order to continually justify segregation and other institutionally practices while simultaneously keeping Blacks from the upper echelons of fame and celebrity idoldom.<br /><br />None of that is the case in Korea (or elsewhere in Asia). <br /><br />As well, there is considerable inconsistency which erodes the claims that "it's so obviously wrong." <a href="http://www.monster-island.net/2009/07/lg-and-blackface.html" rel="nofollow">In the LG blackface post</a>, I pointed out Fox's use of blackface (and whiteface) as the driving device for an entire show. Meanwhile, "America's Next Top Model" (shown in Korea), had "race play" (including blackface) <a href="http://www.monster-island.net/2010/06/another-korean-model-in-black-face-and.html" rel="nofollow">as the highlight of an entire episode</a>.<br /><br />Ultimately this becomes an issue of intent to denigrate, and overcoming ignorance. Dooly, even innocently, was racist in the same way that Sambo restaurant logos were racist back in the day: even if not meant to be malicious, it is a device to look down and ridicule another race/ethnicity. That makes the recent MBC shoot unacceptable out of the gate in a way that LG's black/white may not have been. <br /><br />But with competing images (the beloved Bing Crosby did blackface, while Mickey Rooney did yellow face!), including some contemporary ones ("White Girls," etc.), how can someone not from North America know the ins and outs of North American sensitivities. <br /><br />Heck, <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1218971/Australian-variety-apologises-Jackson-Jive-blackface-sketch.html" rel="nofollow">even Australians</a> sometimes don't have a clue.kushibohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10306033998028548550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12946845.post-57548235782766424102012-03-05T14:17:03.567+09:002012-03-05T14:17:03.567+09:00http://netv.sbs.co.kr/caption/caption_index.jsp?pm...http://netv.sbs.co.kr/caption/caption_index.jsp?pmClipId=C1000184216&pmCo=nhn<br /><br />Korea also has an interesting history re: depictions of Polynesians.Matt McLellanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02644803225807933348noreply@blogger.com