![]() This notion of voice is not without problems. Thus, unlike indigenous people in the ethnographic films of the early 20th century, the “Beauties” express their individual ideas in their own voice. ![]() Reading the show as a postmodern variation of the colonial exhibition or the embodiment of reverse colonial fantasy is limiting, however, since in Beauty Chatter, the power of “chatter” is significant in challenging the uneven relations of gazes. Frequent discussions about the physical appearance of panelists serve as a further reminder of how the “Beauties” are positioned as spectacle. ![]() Caucasian bodies) are seated in the front row and older, larger, less pretty panelists in the back row (called “the row of fallen leaves”). Panelists frequently complain about the hierarchies of these tiered rows-how younger and better-looking panelists with long legs (i.e. Even though Beauty Chatter follows a talk show format, panelists are seated in tiered rows of seats, facing the camera rather than each other. Not only do the “Beauties” function as native informants, explaining about the cultural traditions of their home countries and performing traditional songs and dances, but also the constant emphasis on the spectacle of those performances is revealing. In Beauty Chatter, we find influences of the colonial desire to have a masterful view of the Other, and the assertion of control over the Other through discursive practices. The first framework we may consider is the long imperialist tradition of displaying racial others for public viewing at colonial exhibitions in Europe and the US, as well as ethnographic media genres, vibrant from early colonial periods onward. Although bemused by these responses, I want to focus on three main ways in which we can make sense of this intriguing show, in relation to the larger contexts of Korean history and global media culture.Īn Impromptu Dance Performance by International Panelists and a Korean Guest Interestingly, on several occasions that I watched the show with non-Korean friends, their responses were consistently negative, producing comparisons to dog shows, freak shows, or politically incorrect Mondo-Cane-variations. These attempts, in my view, successfully create identificatory positions inasmuch as viewers sympathize with the panelists’ personal narratives of their confusing experiences in Korea within the context of globalization. As a show designed to present “the current location of Korean people through the eyes of foreign inhabitants,” 2 Beauty Chatter attempts to provide lessons to Korean viewers in thinking about Korea’s location in the world at large. ![]() putting foreign women on display-I must admit my own amazement at seeing that so many foreigners-108 panelists to date-are interested enough in Korea to learn its language. Even though the show has aspects that are deeply problematic-e.g. ![]() Together with these discussion segments, the show also features “talent” performances by the “Beauties” such as singing, dancing, and acting.Īs a Korean woman living in the U.S., I often watch the show via satellite, mainly because I am interested in following discussions of diversity and multiculturalism, a new topic of public debate in Korea. Typical topics include “Most shocking first time experience in Korea” (Episode 49), “When I feel sorry for Korean men” (Episode 18), “When I feel envious of Korean women” (Episode 103), or “When I feel I’ve become a Korean (Episode 112). Each episode has two or three discussion topics that enable panelists to discuss their experiences of Korea. These international “Beauties” are single women in their twenties and appear on the show in costume-like dresses of a matching color or a seasonal theme. The “global” in the show’s title refers to its sixteen-member panel, composed of “Beauties” from different foreign countries, who currently reside in Korea and speak conversational-level Korean. Since its debut in October 2006, the show has been performing solidly with a stable rating. Weekly South Korean Talk Show Beauty Chatterīeauty Chatter 1 is a weekly talk show aired in South Korea on national KBS 2 TV, late Monday nights. ![]()
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