Does Racist Vintage Art Get a Pass?
This is how stereotypes work. Westerners have depicted Asian men as being effeminate since forever.
Year: 2024
Go Away With … Hymnson Chan
For stuntman-turned-actor Hymnson Chan, the transition was easy because his work doing stunts required acting skills. “We have to sell hits to make them look more painful than they actually are,” said the Los Angeles-based filmmaker.
The best time travel K-dramas — and why there are so many of them
Time travel adds a relatively unique element that differentiates K-drama storylines from other shows, but there is also a very visceral component. K-drama story arcs excel at telling tales of love and revenge. And what better way is there to get these points across than depicting how love and revenge transcend all boundaries, including time?
Go Away With … IVE
While the U.S. leg of IVE’s ‘Show What I Have’ world tour is over, the pop group will return to Chicago on Aug. 3 to make their Lollapalooza debut. While preparing for the festival, the group’s members said it was important to them to create a unique set so that their show is enjoyable for both fans and newcomers who may not be familiar with their music.
When I Visited South Korea Last Year, My Blended Identity Complicated Everything
I was quoted in today’s Huffington Post about how Korean diaspora are treated differently than other tourists in South Korea. I shared my story about visiting the DMZ.
Go Away With … James Paxton
James Paxton doesn’t remember visiting his dad – the late Bill Paxton – on the set of the 1996 blockbuster film “Twister.” At the time, he was barely a year old. But when he was asked to make an appearance in “Twisters” – in theaters July 19 – he immediately said yes. “I did this cameo for Dad,” he said. “It was important for me to get to represent his memory.”
Go Away With … Ali Fumiko Whitney
“We filmed ‘Find Me Falling’ in Cyprus and I spent most of my time in both the capital city, Nicosia, as well as the city of Pafos,” Ali Fumiko Whitney said. “Both were absolutely stunning! I made sure to explore as much of Cyprus as possible on my days off.”
Go Away With … Collective Soul
“One of the first places we played together that was the most memorable and [that] we will never forget is Woodstock ’94,” said Collective Soul’s Ed Roland.
K.Will’s “No Sad Song For My Broken Heart” explores a one-sided gay relationship
It is easier for a cisgender man than a gay man to survive in a cutthroat society where the latter is unwelcome. This is true in just about any society, but especially so in South Korea where LGBTQ rights are still sorely lacking.
Go Away With … Will Rigby
“The dB’s started in June 1978,” said drummer Will Rigby. “Our first gig was at Max’s Kansas City, opening for the Feelies. Our first show outside New York City was in Philadelphia that same summer or early fall.”
Go Away With … Loren Escandón
“What truly made filming ‘Shirley’ unforgettable was the camaraderie among the cast,” said Loren Escandón. “Sharing moments with artists like Regina King, Terrence Howard and the late Lance Reddick was both humbling and inspiring. Despite the chaos of a bustling set and the added hurdle of unpredictable weather, each actor remained deeply committed to their craft.”
Go Away With … Laurie Berkner
“I’ve had so many different, wonderful experiences traveling over the years to incredible places like Paris, Bermuda and West Africa,” said singer-songwriter Laurie Berkner. “But often, the joy I feel depends more on who I’m with and what happens while I’m there.”
“Lovely Runner” (선재 업고 튀어)
Like “Under the Queen’s Umbrella,” “Lovely Runner” uses the 우산 to represent how our protagonists fight to protect themselves from countless obstacles — including a messy serial killer subplot that I found redundant and not particularly compelling.
Go Away With … Jessie Baylin and Nathan Followill
“One of my favorite memories was running 10 blocks across Austin in high-heel boots after my set at SXSW so I could catch her set,” said Kings of Leon drummer, about his wife Jessie Baylin. “And all I could think was, “I hope I don’t stink when I hug her afterwards.”
Go Away With … R.O. Kwon
“I’ve thought at times about the fact that I was born to people who, for many generations, lived on just that one strip of land – Korea,” said “Exhibit” author R.O. Kwon. “When I’m in Korea, it feels as though my body recalls the soil I’m made of, attending to a song in the wind, rain and foliage that I can’t quite find elsewhere.”
Hallelujah! A K-drama finally got it right by casting a non-Korean actor who can act!
Actor Sebastian Roché talks about his K-drama debut in “Queen of Tears.”
Go Away With … Hiromi
“I loved living in Boston,” jazz pianist Hiromi told me. “I still love it. It brings me such nostalgic memories from my school days. What is great about Boston is it is a walkable city, just like New York. I love cities where you can just walk and explore.”
Shilla Stay Hotel Haeundae
Location, location, location! You can’t beat Shilla Stay Hotel Haeundae when it comes to location. It is literally across the street from the famous Haeundae Beach in Busan.
Go Away With … Ju Ji-hoon
Before starring as a highly skilled bodyguard in the Disney+ sci fi thriller “Blood Free” – currently airing in the United States on Hulu – Ju Ji-hoon won acclaim for his portrayal of a determined crown prince in the Netflix zombie horror series “Kingdom.”
“Queen of Tears” (눈물의 여왕)
It’s easy to create a happily ever after finale that makes viewers satisfied at that moment. But after they move onto the next K-drama, it’s forgotten. “Queen of Tears” has a bittersweet ending that will remain with viewers long after the credits have rolled. Honestly? I can still feel the poignancy of those final few moments, which encapsulated how beautiful even a complicated relationship can be — and also how lonely one can feel when it’s all over.