tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7805792966316850332.post2938849904890272983..comments2024-03-28T08:23:58.462+01:00Comments on Modern Korean Cinema: Jopok Week: Masculinity and Beauty in A Bittersweet Life and The Man From Nowhere – Part IIconranphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13799505413464310212noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7805792966316850332.post-46052868949912186452013-07-20T03:26:40.155+02:002013-07-20T03:26:40.155+02:00I know this is a rather late response, and I don&#...I know this is a rather late response, and I don't know if anyone will read this, but I thought I'd at least leave a word.<br />Koreans, as a people, are an intensely emotional brand of humans. The extent of which is expressed in the very language itself. There are a great many more words of emotional expression and description than could even begin to exist in English. The depth of which is demonstrated in the "han" established and disseminated by Im Kwon-Taek's Sopyonje, Koreans respond vibrantly to the cathartic release of han in various forms. The release of han is simultaneously heartbreaking and beautiful, both vulnerable and strong. The beauty, appeal, and masculinity of a man giving just a glimpse of his internal struggle by way of tears (more commonly, a single tear running down his face) gives the audience a glimpse into the full depth, complexity, and sensitivity of the man's soul, previously withheld from them. This single moment of weakness, to the Western viewer, is a moment of catharsis and a giant leap of character development, to the Korean viewer. The male character, after his long journey, has finally allowed himself to be a real person. As a side note: This is also, perhaps, a Korean manifestation of the idea of love as both the greatest strength and weakness, but what ultimately makes us human. If this is the case, a man's tears would complete his masculinity. After his aggressive displays of strength, brutality, and unwavering determination - his face crumbling in the face of love, making him, above all, a person.<br />Whether this difference in the portrayal of beauty and masculinity is one between the East and the West or just Korean verus the rest of the world, I cannot say. And all of the above statements are simply my (possibly rather melodramatic) thoughts as a Korean-American, but I thought I'd offer up some semblance of an explanation for the question you seem to pose in your last paragraph. :)Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15080673508981596556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7805792966316850332.post-29939261325975271632012-02-13T23:37:59.407+01:002012-02-13T23:37:59.407+01:00Thank you for writing this. I really enjoyed readi...Thank you for writing this. I really enjoyed reading it and learning more about how the jopok genre got to where it is today. A Bittersweet Life and The Man From Nowhere also happen to be two of my favourite films, so it was very interesting to read your comparison of them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com