[RD] He Kicked the Habit and Then the Bucket

My favorite rhetorical device of all time is probably the zeugma, and no, not just because it is a cool word.  Along with having an extremely awesome name, the concept of a zeugma is an extremely hard concept to grasp, in my opinion.  A zeugma is a sentence using one verb or adjective to describe two different words or events, while only appropriately applying to one of them.  I know, this sounds really complicated, and it kind of is.  But have no fear! The solution to your current state of confusion can be solved with a plethora of entertaining examples, as follows:

• "His boat and his dreams sank"
• "Mr. Pickwick took his hat and his leave"
• "First the door locked, then his jaw"
• "The farmers in the valley grew potatoes, peanuts, and bored"
• "She looked at the object with suspicion and a magnifying glass"

Pretty fun, eh? I find that when linking the two separate objects or ideas, one of them tends to be abstract and the other is rather literal, as seen in the first, second and fourth examples above.  Of course, this isn't always the case, but the most entertaining uses of zeugma tend to use this tactic of connecting the abstract with the literal.  Zeugmas are effective because of their whimsical attitude.  Even in a serious situation, the structure of a sentence using a zeugma passes the event off as something slightly sarcastic and meaningful.  It's definitely chuckle-inducing, that's for sure.

In a less funny context, a zeugma can be used to create a strong sense of danger or intensity, as seen in the third example above.  By giving an idea the same intense description as an object, that idea is put onto a whole new level of meaning that a reader can more easily connect with.  Zeugmas cause readers to stop and question what they just read, whether they are stopping to realize the power of the sentence or to absorb the wittiness of it.  

[CC] Do You Know a Sociopath?

The other day in class, we were discussing Part 2 of In Cold Blood and briefly touched on whether or not Perry qualified as a sociopath.  I decided to look a little deeper into this topic and use outside sources to come a little closer to determining whether Perry was in fact a genuine sociopath.
First off, a sociopath can be defined as "a person with a personality disorder manifesting itself in extreme antisocial attitudes and behavior and a lack of conscience."  This personality disorder is called "Antisocial personality disorder," and any person suffering from it can be characterized as having "a long-term pattern of manipulating, exploiting, or violating the rights of others" and often ends up commiting a crime or series of crimes.  Already, this definition seems to fit the character of Perry Smith fairly well.  He is known for being rather antisocial and also displays a somewhat odd disinterest in human sexuality.  The fact that he could kill the Clutter family members without batting an eye in the process also shows his lack of empathy for people he has no connection to or reason to care for.

Early signs of a sociopath that can be observed in children can also be seen in Perry.  One sign is usually frequent bed wetting, which we have seen Perry experience as a child in the house run by nuns.  Sociopaths, especially child sociopaths, often seek immediate gratification from others.  Perry displays this behavior with the people he clings to, such as Dick and his father.  A fairly obvious sign of an antisocial personality disorder is frequent violence.  Perry is known for having spurts of extreme violence and an unusually short temper, which even Dick fears at times.  The last common sign of a sociopath that Perry shows is a disinterest in intimacy.  While this sign can be seen in children when they are disinterested in mild forms of intimacy such as a hug, Perry's all around disinterest in sexual intimacy is a red flag.

When you put Perry's traits alongside the common signs seen in sociopathic children, it is evident to me that he is at the very least a mild form of the common sociopath.  

If you are interested in the many other signs of a sociopath (many of which can also be seen in Dick's personality), I recommend this article on children with an antisocial personality disorder: http://sandrarose.com/2008/03/are-you-raising-a-sociopath/

[FW] The Ruining of a Korean National Treasure

(Source of Topic: http://www.dramafever.com/news/american-boys-over-flowers-has-a-cast-meet-the-new-f4/)

A surefire way to make people feel uncomfortable about reading your blogs is to write about something that the average reader does not care about in the slightest.  Therefore, today I will be writing about Korean soap operas.  Welcome to my version of current events.
If you have any experience with Korean soaps (popularly known as K-Dramas,) then you have probably heard of the 2009 drama masterpiece "꽃보다 남자" ("Boys Over Flowers" or "Boys Before Flowers").  It happens to be my personal favorite k-drama that I have seen in my three years of drama-watching.  I simply cannot resist a full season of hour-long episodes oozing with sappy love confessions and raw emotions.  Don't even get me started on the infamously uncomfortable frozen kisses (they literally do not move their lips at all).
The plot is what really makes the drama so addictive.  In the very first episode, Jan Di, a spunky and painfully awkward dry-cleaner's daughter saves a boy from committing suicide at the elite Shinhwa High School.  In order to save itself from bad press, the school offers Jan Di free tuition to Shinhwa High School, where she runs into the rich and famous posse known as the F4 (Flower 4).  These four super hot guys are the ones who bullied the boy that Jan Di saved from killing himself, and she hates them instantly.  BUT WAIT.  Two members of the F4 are head-over-heels in love with the goose-like Jan Di, and she spends 22 episodes trying to decide if she loves one or the other or hates both of them.  If the plot isn't enough to draw you in, the glorious physiques of the F4 boys should do the trick, Gu Jun Pyo and So Yi Jung in particular.
Boys Over Flowers is a classic in K-Dramas to say the very least. Knowing this, it is understandable why so many people are confused and moderately angery at the fact that WillKinn Media has taken the liberty to create an American version of the drama.  What. What. Cue the baffled facial expressions.  Who gave this company the right to taint the name of one of the most legendary K-dramas of all time? I sure didn't. The article from Allkpop.com, which was released in September, mentions that only two of the six producers working on the production are fans of the original series.  This explains why the project was even attacked; a group of six people who were fans of the k-drama would not even bother to touch the American remake project.  The article also shows the cast list for the remake.  I am unable to gauge the quality of the drama, especially because the lead male roles are extremely attractive.  Pretty faces rarely equal exceptional talent, especially in low-budget remakes of Korean television shows. One of the lead character's love interests is played by Trenton Culkin, who most definitely looks like he could be related to Macaulay Culkin; However, my internet sources are so far failing me on confirming this information.  The other love interest looks like a part-time cologne salesman, part-time Abercrombie and Fitch model.  No thank you.  I like my entirely-clothed, chiseled-jawed, full-time actor Lee Minho.  What a stud.
 I think it goes without saying that I will be diligently watching and tracking the production and release of this series, solely for the purpose of judging it within the frame of reference I have gained from watching the forever unbeatable Korean version.
Now that I have been successfully dragged into looking at snapshots of Boys Over Flowers on Google Images and reminiscing over the glory days, I shall drop a visual into this post.  Enjoy.  

 

[CM] The Morality of the K-Pop Industry

Of all the wacky topics in the world that a teenager could be an expert on, I happen to be a pro when it comes to knowing a lot about South Korea's music industry.  Right off the bat, this sounds pretty harmless; how different can Korea's music industry be from those of America or England?

Oh, my friend, a new world is about to be opened up to you.

For those who know me (or have ever had a conversation with me, really) know that I have a huge passion for Korean music and Korean culture in general.  I have spent over two years exposing myself to what I see as the most fascinating entertainment industry in the world. But I have not turned a blind eye to the dark side of this phenomenon.

Korean pop music ("K-Pop", for short) is known and loved all around the world, from Egypt to Russia to Peru to the Philippines.  If you've never heard a K-pop song, all you need to know is that it is founded on catchy tunes, clean instrumentals, and bright colors.  There is very little focus put on the lyrics, since only the small percentage of K-Pop fans that actually live in Korea bother to understand what is being said in the songs.  A huge part of K-Pop is centered around the visuals.  Every great K-Pop song has a memorable dance routine and a shiny, clean-cut music video.  Rarely are either of these components missing.

The structure of the K-Pop industry is really where the word "immoral" is used.  Most K-Pop stars are found in the form of K-Pop groups.  While boy bands and girl groups may have died out in the 90s for Americans, they are the most common form of music artists in Korea.  These groups are put together by major labels such as YG, SM and JYP (known as "The Big Three" in Korea), who hand-pick children often between the age of 8 and 16 that audition for these companies.  These children then sign a contract with the music label and become trainees, undergoing daily/weekly training for two to seven years.  After sharpening their singing, dancing, rapping and interviewing skills, they are either made soloists or put into a K-Pop group with other trainees.  This newly formed group will be given a song and dance to learn very well and will later debut directly on television and YouTube for the rest of the world to judge.  A crowd of potential fans will show up at the group's debut showcase (the group's first public performance) with merchandise and light sticks; these fans might enjoy the group and become long-term fans, or on some occasions they will "Black Ocean" the group, turning off all of their light sticks to show disinterest.  Years upon years of training could result in a Black Ocean, practically ruining the career of a young Korean who simply dreams of becoming a star.

So, is this structure immoral? Many arrows point to "yes," but I would argue for the opposite opinion.  Yes, I am slightly biased because of my love for the results that this system provides me with.  But let us start at the very beginning of this whole process: the child chooses to follow their dreams of becoming a K-Pop star.  They discuss for ages with their parents, who probably planned on sending their child to school for a few more years, and determine whether a private life is worth giving up for a life in the entertainment industry.  After convincing the parents, they have to wow the judges at major music label auditions.  There are so many levels to pass WILLINGLY to become a mere trainee, let alone someone worthy of the title of "K-Pop star."  These teenagers are fully aware of the strife that one must go through to make it big in Korean entertainment.  They know that they will not be able to publicly date under the rules of the music label, they will rarely see their families, they might be asked to receive plastic surgery to appear more attractive, they will constantly be under the scrutiny of the public eye, and they will spend hours on end practicing dances and songs each day.  It is something they recognize from the very beginning and are willing accept for the sake of following their dreams.  Therefore, I would argue that the K-Pop industry, even with its obvious dark side, is not immoral.  It is the teenagers who sign up for this lifestyle that many westerners would see as "cruel," fully prepared to make the sacrifices that are so well known to those who are familiar with the K-Pop industry.

(Let me know what you think.  I love debating this topic.)