I'm Unique. Like Anyone Else...

   Having read tons of books on human behaviour, cultural patterns, language and anthropology makes it easier for a person to see patterns and set a distance between you and things you observe. I always talk with students about stereotypes, because it's fun and, surprisingly, educational. However, without the right tools to do that, the talk about stereotypes can turn into: a) bashing, b) nonsense, c) personal opinion based on one (1) person's view. Anyone who heard anything about sociology knows that one person's opinion is worth less than a toilet paper (on the second thought... no, wait...)

We had this talk about overfloated individualism lately.

Creepy Blabbering

   We, on continental Europe don't celebrate Halloween. I don't want to celebrate that. All Hallows' Eve (Night), All Saints' Eve, Samhain. It's celtic tradition distorted by shallow American culture. I'm sorry if I offended some people's feelings, but I guess it's all what I can do in my life and I apparently do nothing more than going around and offending women, men, Divas, chickens and lentils.

Fun gifts for quirky Korean holidays

Square apples with "Pass" sign on them.

I used my break to go around and read on the net what's new. And came across this nice, funny article about unusual gifts that Korean give and receive on many occasions.

Dol - First Birthday

   As the article is already up, I just quote it here (JoongAngIlbo), and this reminded me of great and sweet ending of New tales of Gisaeng. This was an unusual drama, full of ups and downs, turns and blind alleys, with ocasional ghosts that made one old, crude man re-evaluate his path. So I'm actually putting this up here having last 5 minutes of this drama in mind.

Oh this is why I love family dramas, but waiting 30 episodes for a conclusion like now with A Thousand Kisses is a pain. 

The Tempest... in Shilla

   You know, after staring at this pic for 15 minutes straight, I decided to report the information here as well.

And I envy everyone at the Edinburgh International Festival this year in mid-August if this is going to look like that. The light, colors and motion is incredibly overwhelming.

Interview with Oh Tae-suk of the Mokwha Repertory Company.

Oh The Tempest...  Personally, I think it's one of the underrated plays of Shakespeare. Eh...

Jeondeung Temple

  I came accross one article about the Annals of Joseon stored inside this temple complex while I was looking something more on historical accounts kept in Korea. Thankfully, 1181 volumes kept in the Jeondeung-sa on Ganghwa Island remain undamaged. If it wasn't for those annals, probably Dong Yi, or SKKS would have not come to life^^. This temple has a very long history, reaching back to the Koguryeo period and King Sosurim. It was built by a monk name Adowhasang.

The fortress that the temple is part of, is built with stone.

For more reading on this beautifully located and crafted temple and fortress: here.

And I have to say it with hand over my heart - I love the green and red combinations in Korean architecture. I like the colorful elements. When you look closer to the eaves and bracketing, you will see the intricate patterns and detail that can cause a whirlpool of colors before the eyes. And I like how they used stone in their work. It is often said that Chinese architecture is made of the brick, Korean of the stone, and Japanese of wood.

Japanese Cinema and History

Unfortunately people who write books on some peculiar topics think the world ended some time ago, because they are lazy. Yes, lazy. The same goes for some professors. They end up lecture on times 30 years ago because they are lazy. There is a good book in my mother tongue on Japanese history, but it ends on 1972. So, every teacher who has lecture on Japanese history, ends his/her own teaching on the Seventees. I'm sorry, but nothing happened between Okinawa-in-Japan-again and Yukio Hatoyama's victory? This sickens me. I want to be different. 

Actually one of the books I'm referring here on movies ends in Seventees. Like if there were no movies after all.

I know, it is called A 100 Years of Japan Cinema, but it's not the case.

No publications on dramas.

No publications on variety shows.

Why?

Because it is difficult. It's not repeating the words of others but actual, hard work to gather all data necassary, to understand it, to achieve some conclusion.

Japan and Asian Studies

I would like to give some links where you can browse and download articles legally. They are all on Japanese (sometimes Asian) religion, society and culture (that's my field of work, that is why I have mostly them). I'll try to update this post in the near future.
Eh, I wrote it few times and still...
No time.
Oh, some are either in Japanese or have texts in Japanese.