Though interestingly enough, even though more "serious" and "practical" academics are stressed, when you look around on the college campus, young people here dress way more creatively, more artsy even, than their American counterparts. And it's not just a few people, but everyone! Joking around in my Korean class, I expressed my definite liking of the way men dress here. It's generally skinny jeans and some type of fitted colorful or "design-y" printed T/polo. So is this trend towards creative expression stronger simply because it's one of the few outlets of escapism, or is it coming from somewhere completely different? We shall see....
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Kids Here Can Really Draw Well!
Last night I attended homework time for Camp Fulbright, in case the Korean kiddies (and that is anyone from elementary school up through high school) needed any English assistance. I happened to see one high school girl's drawing and omg it was amazing!!! I've been told by past teachers that the kids here have really advanced drawing skills, but I didn't really believe it until yesterday. This girl's line quality was really sensitive and even some of her random doodles had compositions as interesting as some of the illustrations I've seen in fashion periodicals. I told her that I had studied painting in college, and she responded with a "Wooooahhh. You are very lucky!" She went on to explain that art education isn't something that is really emphasized here at all, and that despite her interest she plans on studying something that will make money in the future. So it's interesting that despite the lack of art education, it seems that there is a trend of ability. I'd like to get to the heart of the reasoning for this, and hopefully I will once I start at my actual school.
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It seems to me in a capitalist society, art is only valued when it can be quantified in monetary terms. But then Blake said in his Laocoon "Where any view of money exists, Art cannot be carried on, but War only." I wonder if being under the threat of constant obliteration by Northern artillery has any bearing on the impetus for creativity in South Korean dress, rebelling against Blake's didacticism, or perhaps taking him TOO literally, fervently seeking to ward off war via a skewed logic: "Where any view of Art exists, War cannot be but only Money." Here in America, we have Gap for our uniform, but in North Korea ACTUAL UNIFORMS are their uniforms. I will be interested to read where your explorations lead you on this subject.
ReplyDeleteHey there,
ReplyDeleteI've also noticed that many Korean and Korean -American students in America have decidedly strong draftsmanship skills. What would you say accounts for their facility? Is it simply a question of dedicated practice from an early age, or is it a more specific approach that helps them to develop?
In response to Mike, actually South Korean aren't particularly concerned with North Korea at this point. Art here is definitely viewed differently. Though there seems to be some contradiction, where on one hand art is not viewed as important (in the job sense), but yet there are pieces of public art everywhere. Sculptures are everywhere and art fills the walls of subway stations...
ReplyDeleteAs for where the talent comes from, I really have no idea yet. I begin teaching on Friday, and so my search will begin then. Though it seems that Koreans are very detail oriented, but I don't know if this has anything to do with good draughtsmanship.
Damn, so much for that theory!
ReplyDelete