I have some sort of clarity on what national aesthetic is after reading Birth of Korean Cool. It's interesting to see how the government, industries and people influence each other to change a country's core values. The article states that in 2009, the music industry was losing money due to illegal downloads of music. Subsequently, the government stepped in by charging all karaoke rooms a royalty to ensure that the music industries survive. I didn't realize such unity existed when it came to the government and industries. I always thought it was only limited to check and balance or import and export. Furthermore, I had always believed the popular Korean artist Psy had made most of his songs for sheer silliness. Rather, he uses satire in his acclaimed song "Gangnam Style". I'll be sure to closely read the lyrics this time. One thing I am unclear about is what the author of Birth of Korean Cool meant by irony and how it really relates to the evolution of old Korea to new Korea. A similarity I see with Korea's transition in culture heavy reflects that of the Japanese. Instead of relying on products to influence the people, Korea and Japan seemed to have both sought for change internally.
Hong, E. (2014). The Birth of Korean Cool: How one nation is conquering the world through pop culture. London: Simon et Schuster.
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