Iris

Ek het die volgende dekade ingegaan deur die Koreaanse spioen-reeks Iris klaar te kyk. Dit was verfrissend goed en vreeslik resent. Van die nuutse geboue in Seoul is as agtergrond gebruik en die tydsplasing is Herfs. Dit beteken dat die reeks, veral die laaste helfte daarvan, moes binne Oktober en November, en dalk selfs ’n bietjie in Desember, geskiet gewees het. Die verdere implikasie is dat daar bitter min tyd vir naproduksie (“post production”) was. Met ander woorde, die redigeringstyd was bitter kort. Om so ’n kwaliteit produk te lewer, met so min tyd wil vir jou gedoen wees! Om so ’n produksie in sulke kort tyd te lewer moes ongelooflike beplanning, koördinering, en bronne vereis het; byna soos die hoogsgeheime anti-terreur kantoor waarom die reeks se plot draai. Die produksie is verfilm deur die KBS uitsaaier se Kanaal 2 – hulle verdien ’n pluimpie.



Die storie handel oor relasies tussen Suid en Noord Korea en moontlike besprekings wat tot vereniging kan lei en ’n geheime wêreld wye organisasie wat dit wil verhoed. Dan is daar ook die hoofkarakters – twee spesiale agente en boesemvriende wat op dieselfde dame verlief raak en uit eindelik bloedvergieting tot gevolg het.

My Taekwon-Do instrukteur sê dat alhoewel die reeks baie goed is, die meeste Koreane hulleself nie volkome daarin kan inleef nie omdat daar soveel gewere in die storie is. Gewere is buitesig in Korea. Die meeste van die tyd dra die polisie hier nie gewere nie – hulle is eerder gewapen met rubber swaarde of tongfas (knubbels). So tensy jy na ’n weermagbasis gaan, of op die lughawe gaan rond hang, is jou kans om ’n geweer in Korea te sien, bitter skaars. Ook vertel my instrukteur vir my dat die storie losweg gebasseer is op die Amerikaanse reeks 24. Ek het self nog nie die reeks gesien nie, maar met Korea se reputasie vir “culture theft” sal dit my geensins verbaas nie.

Nietemin, dit is ’n uiters boeiende reeks. Maar dis ook ’n tipiese Koreaanse reeks, en as jy Koreaanse flieks ken sal jy weet dat dit oorloop van Han – daardie vreemde Koreaanse emosie waarvoor daar nie ’n ordentlike vertaling bestaan nie. Die beste vertaling vir Han is seker "wanhoop" ’n gevoel van hopeloosheid. So wees gereed vir baie traantrekker tonele en situasies wat nie eindig soos ’n Hollywoodfliek sou eindig nie.

Die hoofkarakter is die aantreklike Byung-Hun Lee. Dit het my ’n ruk geneem om agter die kap van die byl van sy aaktreklikheid te kom. My konklusie is verassend. Dit is sy groterige neusgate wat so goed by sy donker oë pas en ’n interesante estetiese herhaling tot geweeg het. Daarby saam het hy ook diep kuiltjies aan weerskante van sy mond, wat vir skaduwees sorg wat weereens die estetiese herhaling tot gevolg het. Hy het ook ’n eienaardige mond, waarvan sy bolip dikker is as sy onderlip. Die meeste mense het dunner bolippe – vernaam mans.

Die hoofaktrise het my nie veel aangegaan nie. Daarenteen was daar ’n mede-karakter, gespeel deur So-Yeon Kim, wat die Noord Koreaanse spesiale agent vertolk. So-Yeon Kim is iets besonders. Die meeste Koreaanse vroue doen dit nie vir my nie – ek het dit al op vorige geleenthede bespreek. So-Yeon Kim, aan die ander kant, het my maak regop sit en notas neem. Dit is waarskynlik haar karakter waartoe ek so aangetrokke voel. Sy herinner my aan ’n kat. Ek moet ook bieg dat ek meer van haar met korthare hou (soos wat sy in die reeks vertoon) as met lang hare. Die korter hare gee aan haar ’n baie meer unieke beeld, en in Korea is dit juis die unieke individuë wat my aandag trek. Weens die kollektiewe kultuur is daar, mynsinsiens, te min uniekes en aangesien ek nog nooit een was vir groepe (en groepdenkie) nie, is dit altyd die uniekes wat met my ressoneer.

Dankie aan Boer-in-Ballingskap wat my van hierdie reeks bewus gemaak het . . . en ook gesorg het dat ek die laaste paar aande selfs later in die bed gekom het as gewoonlik. Ek moet ook byvoeg dat die reeks my nogals gehelp het met my begrip vir die Koreaanse taal. Ek het verassend baie uitdrukkings en woorde herken en kon dus my luistervermoeë oefen. Dalk moet ek meer gereeld Koreaanse reekse kyk. Die probleem is egter dat ek nie ’n TV besit nie, en dat die meeste reekse (soos ek verstaan) soppie-sepies is, en ek is nie een vir sepies nie. Met die suksel van Iris kan ek net hoop dat daar meer sulke tipe reekse geproduseer sal word.

Another Year in Retrospect

It is time again to reflect on the past year.

January & February in South Africa

I spent a great part of January and February in South Africa, enjoying time with friends and family.
It was good to spend time with my older brother Tiny and my younger brother Nethan. I especially enjoyed my visits with Joa and other Natal friends; Howard, Natasha, and the girls; my Taekwon-Do family; my “other” brother Michael, and my younger “brothers,” Ruan and Franco; my cousins Gavin and Irma.

I attended the wedding of my “sister” Yolandi – would not have missed it for the world!

Franco and I started the martial art resource website Nova Martial Arts.

In February I started teaching two great classes: 19th Century British Poetry and British & American Essays. Both classes made me feel really privileged. Few people get paid to read such great literature.
I saw and was touched by The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

March

For my 31st birthday I prepared Bunny Chow’s to a select group of friends – an idea I got from Joa’s birthday party the year before.

The actual day of my birthday was probably one of the worst days I have had in years. The previous evening I had an argument via email with my oldest brother, which left me feeling awful the next day. I just could not get the incident out of my head. While I have tried to make amends, I don’t think our relationship has fully recovered. Another unfortunate thing that happened on my birth was that I hurt the assistant-instructor at Taekwon-Do during a sparring session. As I came up for a kick, he rushed forward, and my knee hit his head full force.

During March I received the greatest compliment a university lecturer can receive: “You teach us to think for ourselves.”

Read The Watchmen, just in time to see the movie, which had me thinking about the value of phallic symbols. I also saw The Wrestler. One of the greatest movies I saw in 2009.

For some reason I was very forgetful during March; I managed to lock myself out of my apartment twice.

April

I relished in the beauty of spring.

Went to Gyeongpodae, a town on the East Coast of Korea, known for its beautiful cherry blossoms and stunning sunrises. It was a great getaway, although I didn’t get to see a sunrise. A also drew a nice picture. Probably the only proper sketch I drew for the whole of 2009.

Attended a Gustav Klimt exhibit and was especially impressed and inspired by his use of negative space.

Discovered the music of Regina Spektor, which now have become a regular on my playlist.

Read, and was inspired by, Joseph Heller’s Portrait of an Artist, as an Old Man. I also read The Abolition of Man by C. S. Lewis, which just helped to confirm my own ideas about the Tao.
I had a traumatic dream.

May 

I participated as an examiner at the main ITF dojang in Seoul.

Lost my wallet, but fortunately found it a day or two later, money and credit cards still intact. (Only in Korea…)

Saw a recording of the musical “Spring Awakening.” There’s a Korean version, which I hope will still be playing next year so that I can go and see it.

June

I went to Daegu with my Taekwon-Do club, as an umpire during an ITF Taekwon-Do tournament. The road trip was quite enjoyable, and spending time with the Korean officials was also memorable.

Went to the DMZ again – this time with my Taekwon-Do instructor and other Taekwon-Do friends.

Submitted a report on my stagnant PhD progress, and was surprised to receive quite positive feedback on the report.

An uncle committed suicide. I found it quite disturbing as I never thought him to be the “depressed type.” It is also disturbing as he is the father of one of my favourite cousins and while I felt like supporting her in some way, my great distance from South Africa made me feel terribly impotent.

I felt frustrated by the seeming clash between the goal of my students (merely memorising information and then regurgitating it back to me, and then forgetting it…), and my goal of facilitating the acquisition of skills, rather than merely pouring information into them. I really became very conscious of the cultural difference.

July

I spent lots of time with Young, Angelina, and Laura – who would depart for America later in July or soon thereafter.

Was stalked by an old Taxi driver. I’m still not sure of his intentions, but it started to get on my nerves. I eventually had to change my mobile phone number.

Lost a really expensive book by forgetting it on a subway train.

Read and was inspired by Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea. It taught me that some battles are worth the fight, regardless of the end result. In fact, sometimes it is worth fight it in face of the looming defeat.

August

I spent some time with my Taekwon-Do instructor and friends, and also went to some of the tourist places like Insadong and other palaces again.

I went to a World Jazz concert with Young and Angelina, and later a classical concert focussing on Peter & the Wolf.

Was co-opted into ITF-Korea’s national executive as International Liaison Officer.

Researched the history of (ITF) Taekwon-Do in South Africa and was able to prove the claim that ITF Taekwon-Do did indeed start in the Vaal Triangle (where I started my Taekwon-Do career).

Wrote a lot about the Gospel during a series of exchanges with a friend. The Gospel just continues to be ever fresh and beautiful.

Had a wisdom tooth removed! It was not a nice experience. The dentist worked quite roughly with me, and I even got my jaw dislocated during the ordeal.

Completely missed my bus stop while reading and so spent a night in a “foreign” place, sleeping over in a motel. It turned out that the name of the place is Toi Gye Won 퇴겨완.

Saw and was impressed with the movie Unbreakable (2000).

Moved accommodation to a better apartment.

September

Started teaching a really interesting class on Music Appreciation and the History of Modern English Music. I also started teaching a module on 19th & 20th Century American Poetry. While I didn’t enjoy it as much as 19th Century British Poetry, it was still quite pleasant. While Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise” is still my favourite English poem, I must say that I really enjoyed spending time on T. S. Eliot again.

I had my Taekwon-Do club over for a house warming.

I saw the great musical “Rent.”

Visited Hoengseong 횡성 where I tasted (according to the locals), the best beef in Korea. It was quite juicy and flavoursome, but since I’m mostly a vegetarian, and therefore not a connoisseur, I think it was wasted on me. The outing wasn't wasted, however, as I got to take some really nice photos at the traditional food market.

Read Of Mice and Men and Lord of the Flies.

I took up Brazilian Jiujutsu again.

October

Visited a friend (Baekjoon) in Gwangju; went to the Gochang Fortress Festival and attended a Jiujutsu tournament – all in one weekend.

Went to the Ssamzie Sound Festival – it was excellent. Two bands that really stand out are the Japanese band Sakanaction and the Korean rockabilly band The Moonshiners.

Caught up with a South African friend (Mark).

Experienced anxiety about world events that would continue until late December.

Got ecstatic about the beautiful autumn colours.

November

Had many social outings (birthday parties [1 / 2], Thanksgiving lunch, Bling Flea Market, etc.).

Had a “difficult student” experience.

Ate duck meat for the first time in my life.

My Taekwon-Do instructor presented me with an Instructor’s dobok (uniform) and a special Taekwon-Do book (a copy of one of the original Taekwon-Do books ever published in Korea), in recognition of receiving a 4th Dan in ITF Taekwon-Do. Getting my 4th Degree is a definite highlight for 2009 as it has been a long time (life) goal and a new year’s resolution.

December

Went snowboarding. I’m still quite bad at it, but at least I’ve improved from my first snowboarding experience in 2007.

…ooOoo…

Although 2009 was not as life altering as 2008 during which time I fell in love, had a serious relationship, broke up, changed jobs and moved to a different country, 2009 was still a fairly “full” year. Since I believe that life is merely a series of experiences, I think I had enough disparate experiences to attest that I “lived” this year.

Next year will start with me going to Hong Kong; I guess that’s a good way to start a new year. I have a positive feeling about 2010. I really feel that it will be a good year for me on a personal level, although I can’t quite qualify the reason for such feelings. Globally I do not think 2010 will not be so great; I would not be surprised if we see more terror attacks around the world, which is unfortunate as there is already too much suffering in the world. We’ll also see the American Dollar continue losing value. My ill predictions are based purely on watching the trends (something that caused for my angst towards the latter part of this year). I agree with Gerald Celente: “Current events, form future trends.”

Missing Out

I'm keen to see my family and friends again; however, by leaving now I'm going to miss out on two bands which I really (no REALLY) wanted to see.Both Muse and Green Day are coming to Korea during the time that I will be in South Africa. This borders on tragic!

I already miss out on Placebo earlier this year -- that was especially sad.

Amper oppad...

Ek vertrek more op vakansie. My eerste stop is Hong Kong.

Maar, o wee! Ek het nog so baie om te doen. Ek het nog nie eens begin pak nie. Boonop moet ek nog 'n boek gaan soek vir 'n klas wat ek volgende semester gaan aanbied. Die boek moet ek dan nog by my vakvoorsitter uitkry sodat hy goedkeuring daarvoor kan gee.

Boonop is dit Oujaarsaand vanaand en vriende het gevra dat ek dit saam met hulle sal deurbring. Aangesien ek in stad toe gaan, op soek na daardie boek, kan ek netsowel aan bly. Die probleem is net dat ek dan nie by my eie plek gaan oorslaap nie. So dan gaan more 'n hengse gejaag wees om terug te kom, klaar te pak, te jaag na die bushalte vir die lughawekoets om my tot by die lughawe betyds te kry.

En het ek genoem dat ek nog twee bondels wasgoed het om te was?!

Ondanks dit alles, sien ek baie uit na my vakansie. Hierdie jaar was uitputtend gewees. Ek het 'n gevoel dat 2010 beter gaan wees... Wel, beter op 'n persoonlike vlak. Ek dink nie dit gaan beter wees sover wêreldgebeure betref nie. Inteendeel, terroriste aanvalle sal my geensins verbaas nie.

Why the Exhibitionism?

Since I've recently posted some provocative self-portraits again, I think it is appropriate that I remind some of my old readers, and inform some of the new ones, about the reason for my exhibitionism . . . uhm . . . self-portraits.

Lest my self-portraits, which I post here on this blog, seem like gross vanity allow me to explain. I like taking artistic photos . . . and enjoy doing portraits and artistic renditions of the human body. Unfortunately most people feel shy about being the subject for photography and since I'm not a fulltime photographer I'm not planning to hire a model anytime soon . . . [Therefore] I take photos of the only willing human subject I have easy access to -- myself.

To me it is all about an artistic play with light and shadow, colour and composition. And as an artist, I like to walk that tightrope of provocation . . . And I feel it is complimentary to this blog. I try to be really honest and frank about myself. I'm practising the art of self-revealing; it is not always easy, but if I want to be a true artist, I believe that is what is required of me. But of course there is only so much my audience can learn about me. Art, be it in word or in image, is always just a representation of the real, it is never the real itself.

Sneeulandskap (Om die draai van my huis af)

COEX se Koei-parade

Daar is tans 'n trop koeie aan die wei voor COEX in Seoul. Ek was toevallig gister daar opsoek na boeke vir van die klasse wat ek volgende semester gaan aanbied. Die koeie het al te fraai gelyk. Gevolglik het ek 'n klompie kiekies geneem van 'n paar van die koeie wat ek die interesanste gevind het en het sommer ook vir elkeen 'n gepaste (maar geensins oorspronklike) naam bedink:

Blink-Pers Tilla

Blommetjie

Flessie
(Gebasseer op die ontwerp van tradisionele potwerk.)

Goue Bloeisel
(My tweede gunsteling.)

Halflewe

Kallie-grafie
(My gunsteling -- ek hou baie van kaligrafie.)

Patroontjie

(Ook gebasseer op tradisionele Koreaanse dekoratiewe motiewe.)

Picasso

Rooipensie

Strepies

Taekwon-Kalfie

 (Die figuur op die koei se flank is Taekwon-Boy, 'n robot wat Taekwon-Do beoefen -- vanaf 'n Koreaanse animasie.)

Dagga-lagga

Tekkie

Chrismas Eve

So what did you do on Christmas Eve?

Well, my initial plan was to go see the band The Moonshiners, but when I got to the area where it was (Hongdae), it was so overly crowded that I got irritated and decided to give it a skip. Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve are terrible congested in Seoul and unless you like extreme crowds it is better to stay home on these evenings. So instead, I went to a Korean friend’s home. He had some female friends he wanted me to meet and although I was quite tired (and feared that he wanted to hitch me up with one of them), I obliged. There is a time and a place… Nonetheless, it turned out quite nice, especially since they brought an ice cream cake to treat us.

Now as some of you may know, I’m somewhat of an ice cream snob. I used to think that I don’t like ice cream – that was until I had high quality ice cream, and now I cannot get enough of the good stuff. The ice cream cake – in the form of a snowman – was from Baskin Robbins. It is not the best quality ice cream, but it is above average and edible.

Taking photos is one method I keep track of the “events” in my life, so, of course, I had to take some pictures of the snowman ice cream cake, and my relationship with it. With the cake came this pink little cap, of what I’m assuming to be a penguin. As the foreigner it immediately befell on me to be the wearer of the pink penguin face. Just for the kick of it, I wore it again the next day when I went out with colleagues and friends for a Christmas Lunch. The only place I’ll get away with wearing pink penguins on my head is in Korea.

Was this another attempt at looking cute? I do not think I succeeded. Maybe I've been in Korea too long...

Comforting the Bereaved

(Image Source: MentalHelp.Net)

I’ve been, what is compassionately known as, a “bereaved”: someone who is experiencing bereavement; the act of mourning over the death of a loved one, especially a relative. This I have been on more than one occasion. I could therefore call myself somewhat experienced in such matters and would consequently like to share what I found most irritating about sympathizers.

At the death of my mother quite a number of relatives thought it their obligation to share with me their condolences. Some went about it in a bearably quick fashion, but others thought it appropriate to ‘talk’ to me, to share some words of wisdom and comfort. A few would even evoke God into their commiserations. The bereaved is expected to listen to such addresses, shake their heads in agreement and whimper words of confirmations. This is the last thing a bereaved wants to do. One does not want to listen to the good intended, but otherwise ill-timed gurglings of other people. One is not in the mood to listen to other people’s attempts at making sense of it all, when you are yourself incapable of processing the ‘sense’ and the ‘nonsense’ that is life.

The best sympathizers are those that make their condolences quick and sincere. The best condolence I received after the passing of my mom was from an acquaintance that merely said: “I’m sorry.” He’s words were heartfelt and to the point. He did not tarry. The condolence did not require any effort on my part – I did not have to listen attentively nor respond. Neither of these are things the bereaved have energy for.

Appropriately timed, and of an appropriate length, a hug is also appreciated by some bereaved. At my girlfriend’s funeral the father of a friend of mine gave me an earnest hug. It wasn’t stiff and hastily over as if the sorrow of the mourner will carry over like an infectious disease. Nor was it unnecessary long. The hug should be cordial, but free to be lengthened if the bereaved requires the comfort of the embrace for a little longer. The focus of the affection should be the bereaved, not the sympathizer. I remember at the gravesite of my mother’s funeral someone hugging me, and then started to sob. I ended up comforting this person when I was supposed to be the one comforted. That’s just bad bereavement etiquette.

If you feel uncomfortable speaking to the bereaved, or feel unsure about what to say, or think that you may start to cry yourself when you try to comfort the bereaved, then rather keep your distance. The bereaved do not have the emotional energy to handle your discomfort, loss for words, or emotional breakdown. Stick with a standard but sincere “I am sorry for your loss,” and move on, or sent a card with a similarly short and sincere message.

If you are very close to the bereaved, like a best friend, then your support is required. Let the bereaved know that you are there for them, you’d be happy to help however possible, and that you have a shoulder to cry on and are willing to listen if they feel like talking. And then, just stay close and keep your mouth shut. There is comfort in your presence. The bereaved will talk to you if he or she feels like talking. Don’t pressure them into anything. Just be. However, while your closeness can be comforting, you should also allow the bereaved some time alone to work through the anger and sorrow by themselves. Some people cannot let themselves go emotionally in the presence of other people. It is therefore necessary for you to give them the space and opportunity to express themselves in private.

To be a good sympathizer requires tact. From experience I would say less is more. However, that does not mean that no condolences are better. Nor does it release very close family and friends from honest comforting.

My Brother's Music Video

This is a music video my brother was involved in making in 2008. I think he did some of the camera work and editing, if I remember correctly..



This past year he spent in Sweden working as an intern at LifeStyleTV. This coming year he will be studying in the Cape (South Africa), while working part time at a media centre that produces religious material for the Hope Channel Network.

I'm quite proud of my little brother. It is his ambition to become a film maker focussing on religious (Christian) topics, and he has been working consistently towards that goal. I'm quite confident that he will achieve his goal. The fact that he has come so far with the practical absence of parents and very little financial support is admirable.

 I'm also a little jealous of him for two reasons. First, he knew at a very early age what he wanted to be in life and have set out to reach his dreams. This is quite the opposite of me. I've always had too many dreams, and while I'm living one of them now (being a university lecturer), there are so many other things that I still want to be "when I grow up." Second, he has lived in Sweden for a while. I've always been quite taken with Scandinavia and hope to spend some time there in the future.

Going, going, gone!

Yeah! I’m finished with all my work for this semester! The grades had to be in tonight (Sunday, December 27th). This coming week is the “Grade Confirmation Period.” Basically it is a time for students to bug professors, hoping that we will change their grades. Our goal is to make them understand that the grades they got is not our doing, but are the grades they earned.

And then on Friday I’m leaving for vacation! First I’m going to Hong Kong for a few days, and after that South Africa. I cannot wait!

This was really the most demanding semester at my job so far. Even though I'm teaching more hours next semester I think it will be better than this past one. I'm feeling positive about 2010.

Self-Portrait: Getting Dressed II

A photo I took in August...

Self-Portrait: Getting Dressed I

A photo I took in August.

Karen Zoid

Verlede maand het Karen Zoid se “Beste van” album die lig gesien, genaamd “Ultimate Zoid.” Ek het twee Karen Zoid-albums. Haar eerste een, “Poles Apart” (2001) en haar 2005 album, “Media.” Op die laasgenoemde album is die snit “20 jaar” ontstellend vir my. Ontstellend mooi. Dis ’n song wat my wil maak trou en kinders kry, en jy weet hoe voel ek oor kinders kry! “Pleased to meet you” is ’n ander snit wat baie met my resoneer. Dit begin met die woorde: “They say that in your twenties, you try and find yourself...” maar gaan dan verder, waar jy in jou dertigs jouself weereens moet herontmoet. Die refrein lui: “Please to meet me / How am I? / Can I help me? / I must try...” Dit spreek met my omdat ek self nou in my vroeë dertigs is. Ek ken myself – het myself werklik in my twintigs leer ken, maar besef noudat ek in my dertigs is dat terwyl ek aansienlik meer seker is oor wie ek is, die reis nou eers begin het. Dat ek werklik nou eers kan sê, ek is bly om my te ontmoet, kan vra hoe gaan dit (werklik) met my, en kan wonder hoe ek myself kan help. In my twintigs was ek te onseker om eerlik te wees oor hierdie tipe vrae, en moontlik ook te selfsugtig om gesonde antwoorde op die vrae te kon bied.

Tussen “Media” (2005) en die huidige “Ultimate Zoid” (2009) het Zoid nog ’n album gemaak, “Postmodern World” (2007). Dan is daar ook “Chasing the Sun” (2003) tussen “Poles Apart” en “Media” waarop ek uitgemis het. Alhoewel ek nie vertroud is met hierdie twee albums nie, is seker dat beide waardevolle bydraes tot die Afrikaanse rocklandskap maak.

Byvoorbeeld het ek uitgemis op “Aeroplane Jane” en "Amper Stamper"

Jeon Woo Chi [전우치]

This looks like an interesting Korean Fantasy-Adventure movie. Since I'm going on holiday in a couple of days, I hope I'll still get to see it at the cinema. In the video below, the plot of the movie is explained by ArirangTV.

What I'm in the mood for...

What do you do on Christmas?

Three posts in a row… Clearly I’m procrastinating. I still have to grade some exam papers, but instead I’m surfing the Net and coming up with more things to post about. Luckily the grades are only due Sunday at midnight, so I still have time.

What do you do on Christmas?

In a previous post I mentioned that I do not celebrate Christmas. What I meant was, that I do not consider it a spiritual occasion or holyday, neither do I buy into the European traditions of setting up Christmas trees and buying grand gifts for everyone.

Sometimes, however, if I do get swept up by the spirit of the season, I’d do some Christmassy stuff. For one, if I’m going to listen to Christmas carols, let it be from Diana Krall’s Christmas Songs (2005) album.



The Trans-Siberian Orchestra is also a favourite alternative to the typical Christmas carol vibe.



I also like to read or watch Terry Pratchett’s “The Hogfather.”



…or any Terry Pratchett novel, for that matter.

Tonight I’m planning to go to a Korean Rockabily concert, featuring The Moonshiners, and tomorrow I will join colleagues and friends for a Christmas Lunch in Itaewon.

Apart from these moments of social activity, I'll be spending much of today and tomorrow grading papers...

Korean Plagiarism an Act of Sharing

A while back I mentioned the similarity between G-Dragon’s “Heartbreaker” and songs from Kanye West’s album 808s & Heartbreak. It turns out that more people are thinking that G-Dragon is ripping off other artists. Loot at comparisons illustrated in this YouTube-video:



Korean Rum Diary (where I saw this video for the first time) wrote an interesting post on what seems to be Korea’s “Culture Theft” habit.

I have written on occasion about the problems I have with plagiarism among my university students before. Apart from plagiarism, there is the problem of cheating. Before every exam week, administration sends a serious request to all examination supervisors to be vigilant against cheaters. It seems that cheating is a rampant problem. In a survey we performed last semester, we were surprised at the results. While most students say that cheating is wrong, many also said that given the opportunity they would cheat if they knew other people are cheating because the competition for high grades is so great.

And then there is the problem of “sharing.” There is the general attitude that students showing answers to each other during tests are not cheating, but sharing. Keep in mind that this is a communal culture where sharing is very common. After all, people even eat communally from the same bowls.

This brings me back to plagiarism. It might be that in the Korean paradigm there is little wrong with plagiarism or even “Culture Theft” because it is not really “stealing.” What it is, is “sharing” and how can sharing be wrong?

Size doesn’t matter…

…it turns out, it depends what gender you are. Men’s preoccupation with the size of their member may actually be because their eyes are further apart than women’s eyes. And women always thinking that they are too fat may be because their eyes are too close to each other.

(Images from Mission-3D)

An interesting study shows that the further your eyes are from each other the smaller you perceive things to be, and the closer they are together, the bigger things appear to be. So when women say that penis size is not that big a deal, it is in part because women see their partners’ penises as bigger than how their partners perceive themselves. And when women see themselves in the mirror, they actually do look bigger (to themselves).

I wonder if the eyes of many anorexics are statistically closer than the average. And you know those big muscle men whom are just never satisfied with the size of their muscles – maybe their eyes are statistically wider than the average guy. Of course, it’s not all in the eyes, but it could be a contributing factor.
Girls, the next time you think you look fat, your eyes may be fooling you.

Pacman VS Mario

I spent countless hours as a kid playing Super Mario Brothers; never got much into Pacman. How about you?



One of my all time favourite YouTube-videos is the one below with Greg Patillo playing the flute and beatboxing at the same time, all to the tune of Super Mario Brothers.

O wee, die Volkslied! en ander gedagtes omtrent Suid-Afrika

Ek weet ek is bietjie agter sover die mees resente kulturele gebeure in Suid-Afrika betref. Byvoorbeeld, ek het waarskynlik 'n paar maande gemis voordat ek vir die eerste keer Bok van Blerk se groot Afrikaner-treffer gehoor het. My geografiese afwesigheid, maar ook my effense apatie wat Suid-Afrikaanse popkultuur betref, maak dat ek baie dinge mis. Soms genadiglik...

Neem nou hierdie weergawe van die Volkslied deur Ras Dumisani. Ek is eerlik as ek sê ek hou van die nuwe Volkslied. Ek hou van die meertaligheid, van die integrasie van beide Afrika en Europeuse temas, van die fases in die lied. Maar goeie genugtig -- ek hou nie van Dumisani se verkragting van die lied nie.



Gepraat van mense wat ons land se naam deur die modder sleep; ek bly oor Julius Malema wat bietjie aan die bek geruk word. En dit nogals deur die Kommuniste Party! Wie sou dit kon voorspel? Malema wat deurgans sulke nasionalistiese / sosialistiese uitsprake maak, soos dat alle myne genasionaliseer moet word, word nou deur die Kommuniste Party gekritiseer vir sy aandadigheid. Kan jy nou meer!

En dan die afsterfte van ons voormalige gesondheidsminister laat 'n slegte smaak in die mond. Ek wil nie die spot dryf met die dode nie, maar ek kan nie help om 'n ironie in haar afsterfte te sien nie. Ironies omdat sy die vorige gesondheidsminister was, of omdat haar sterfte die gevolg is van haar komplikasies met die kontroversiële orgaan wat sy ontvang het. Terwyl plaaslike kringe skielik lofliedere oor Dr Manto sing, is die internasionale media minder genadig. Ondanks 'n klomp bevraagtekenbare dinge, byvoorbeeld haar Vigsbeleid, was Dr Manto se nalatenskap nie uitsluitlik negatief nie. Onder andere het sy baie gedoen met betrekking tot rook in die publiek, malariabeheer, uitbreiding van plaaslike klinieke en dalk ander dinge waarvan ek onbewus is. En 'n mens moet wonder hoeveel van die Vigsbeleid deur haar gedryf was, en hoeveel was deur voormalige president Thabo Mbeki voorgeskryf.

En die hele land is aan die gons oor die doodsieklike Schabir Shaik wat dan so gesond lyk. Gaan President Zuma vir Shaik 'n presidensiële vryskelding gee?

Gepraat van Zuma, wie sou kon raai ons president is se stokperdjie is skaak? Glo is hy 'n waferse skaakspeler en gaan hy aan 'n skaaktoernooi deelneem met die doel om die spel onder jongmense in die platteland bekend te stel.

Die oposisie party COPE is nou een jaar oud, maar blyk om te kwyn. Hopenlik kan hulle 'n tweede asem kry sodat Suid-Afrika se partyprofiel 'n gesonder demokrasie sal toon.

Een ding kan 'n mens omtrent Suid-Afrika sê: Dis altyd interesant! Met soveel karakters het 'n mens nie sepies soos 7de Laan nodig nie. Hou bloot die nuus dop.

Slegs enkele weke voor ek bietjie in Suid-Afrika kan gaan kuier. Ek raak reeds opgewonde!

Some Movie, Anime, Series, and Pilot Reviews

I’m appallingly behind with my movie reviews and the number of days in 2009 is running out at an alarming pace. In an attempt to start next year afresh, here then, is a short run down of films, anime, and series I’ve watched over the last couple of months. I'm probably missing a couple that I cannot think of just now.

Star Trek: The Future Begins (2009)

The new Start Trek movie is a blast. Full of action that keeps you on the tip of your seat for most of the movie. Don’t expect great acting or scientifically sensible plots. Great acting? Sensible plots? Who am I kidding? This is Star Trek!

Trivia: Young Spock is Sylar from Heroes.

Vicky, Christina, Barcelona (2009)

A delightful Woody Allen film, containing a short smooch scene between Penelope Cruz and Scarlett Johansson, which made it a hit with many a dude with lesbian fantasies. Not Woody Allen’s best work, but delightful nonetheless. Cruz plays a convincing crazy artist.

State of Play (2008)

Russel Crow and Ben Affleck play the leading roles in this espionage journalist-detective drama. A very good thriller story well worth seeing!

Trivia: Brad Pitt and Edward Norton were originally casted as the leads.

Der Untergang (2004)

A chilling portrayal of the last few days of the life of Adolf Hitler and those closest to him. Undoubtedly one of the best (albeit depressing) films I watched this year. The acting is splendid. The viewer is flung between moments of empathy and disgust with Hitler. The movie does not allow stereotypes to linger too long. If you have the emotional reservoir, do watch it. It’s in German.

G. I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009)

A typical Hollywood teenage action movie with big guns and women in tight clothing. This film requires little intelligence and is good if you are in the mood for brain-dead entertainment. It’s by the same director of the Mummy and Scorpion King films.

Asterix at the Olympic Games (2008)

Another film rendition of an Astérix and Obélix adventure with Gérard Depardieu as Obélix and Clovis Cornillac playing Astérix. A far fetched comedy that will be enjoyed by Astérix and Obélix fans – good, clean fun. I went to see it with an American friend who had never heard of Astérix and Obélix; nonetheless, she found it enjoyable entertainment.

Were the World Mine (2008)

A gay boy gets his hands on a magical love potion and turns his whole town homosexual all in sync with the school play – a rendition of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Imagine a gay Princess Diaries mixed with Shakespear in Love. It won a number of Gay & Lesbian Film awards, which unfortunately does not say much about the quality of Gay & Lesbian films. But then again, maybe my knowledge of gay culture is too limited to appreciate this film. Probably the best recent Gay & Lesbian film I saw was the Korean movie, No Regret (2006), which I mentioned before.

Constantine (2005)

Based on the “Hellblazer” comic book, Constantine stars Keanu Reeves as John Constantine, the detective who hunts demons in a hope to get in God’s good books. The tagline basically sums up the plot: “Hell wants him. Heaven won’t take him. Earth needs him.” Honestly, I cannot remember how I felt about this movie, so probably it wasn’t that great. It’s a horror film, but I didn’t think that scary. If I remember correctly, the cinematography was quite good.

2012 (2009)

The long awaited natural disaster / apocalyptic movie that was much hyped, but left me disappointed through most of the film. True, it is a grand scale end of the world film, but it is far from the best in apocalyptic films. Personally I think the movie’s intention was to prepare the way for the recent Copenhagen Climate Change Summit.

Ninja Assassin (2009)

I long waited to see Korea’s Rain in the movie Ninja Assassin. The story was blasé, but I didn’t expect much, seeing as it is a martial arts action movie. I wanted to see good martial arts, and in that regard the film didn’t disappoint. Neither did it have me in awe. It was good, but not spectacular. It is very much a bloody movie. I’ve never seen people spew so much blood before. It is a very graphic and bloody film, so only watch it if you have the stomach for over the top blood and gore. Rain carried his part quite well and the months of (body) preparation he put into the film paid off. Rain’s English ability also improved a lot, although this film didn’t require that much dialogue.

Good morning, President (2009)

A Korean movie that follows the lives of three different presidents. All three presidents are faced with serious political and personal decisions. It is a beautiful (albeit slow) drama, that reveals a lot about modern Korean politics and culture, for instance South Korea’s continual balancing act between foreign forces (North Korea, Japan, America) and gender issues. A pleasant Korean film, with not too much crying.

Moon (2009)

An astronaut works on a mining station on the moon. However, just before the end of his three year contract he meets himself in what becomes a strange epistemological discovery of his own questionable existence. The film asks some serious ethical questions. Unfortunately I cannot say about what, without giving away too much of the plot. Moon is one of the best films I saw this year.

Sam Rockwell almost single-handedly carries the film (for all practical reasons, he is the only character) and does so superbly, keeping the audience engaged regardless of the fairly slow pace in which the mysterious events unfold. I haven’t heard of the director / co-writer Duncan Jones before, but I think he is someone to keep an eye on.

District 9 (2009)

This sci-fi social commentary on Xenophobia is probably one of the greatest films to come out of South Africa and one of the best films of 2009. An excellent film, and not because I’m South African. You have to watch it.

Law Abiding Citizen (2009)

Law Abiding Citizen starts off with so much potential but it just weakens towards the end, until it finally comes to a silly finale that has too many loopholes to make it satisfactory for any intelligent viewer. Rather watch director F. Gary Gray’s The Italian Job (2003) again.

Avatar (2009)

It took little effort for me to become engrossed in the alternative reality presented in the science fiction film Avatar. Regardless of the extreme “otherness” of the world, the audience is quickly sucked into the wonderful and colourful world of Pandora, with its blue natives. The film made me wish that I was a pantheist.

It is well worth the see on the big screen. I did not see it in 3D, but I’m sure it must be fabulous. Maybe I’ll go watch it again, just for the 3D experience.

The director is James Cameron: Titanic (1997), Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991), Aliens (1986), The Terminator (1984). While not a Titanic fan, Judgement Day is one of may favourite movies.

Anime:

Up (2009)

Disney and Pixar’s adventure Up is one of those rare movies that make you walk out of the cinema thinking: Life is worth it. Watch it and smile.

Tales of the Black Freighter (2009)

This is the animated version of the “Tales of the Black Freighter” that makes part of the Watchmen graphic novel. This short story functions well on its own, although it brings a deeper (and much more depressing) subtext to the main Watchmen plot. If you did not read the book, but saw the Watchmen film, then you missed out on “Tales of the Black Freighter,” which did not feature in the film.

9 (2009)

Based on the original 2005 short film, 9 is one of the best CGI animated films I’ve seen in years. Yes, the computer graphics is superb, but that is not what makes this film so great. It is the suspenseful story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The suspense is so intense, I think children will get nightmares from this “children”-movie. The feature film 9 was nominated for three Oscars, but did not win any. The original short film, however, won an Oscar for best short film in 2005.

Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid (2005)

This is the third arc in the series and kicks off where the first arc ended. The second arc, Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu, was merely a filler. The Second Raid ran for 13 episodes. If you liked Robotech you may find Full Metal Panic! likable. Much of the story, however, occurs with the main character Sousuke Sagara having to protect Kaname Chidori in high school and focuses on this young soldier’s inability to cope with normal high school life.

Trivia: Rumours of a live action film adaptation, with Zax Efron in the lead, are doing the rounds.

Series and Pilots:

Kung Fu (1972)

After the death of famed martial art actor David Carradine, I decided I have to watch the film length pilot of “Kungfu” (the TV-series). I never saw it as it came out a few years before I was born. This series presented Oriental philosophy within the Western (as in Wild West) backdrop. Compared to current martial art movies, Kung Fu has terrible choreography. Nonetheless, it is actually a fairly good story and the research done on Zen philosophy seems to be fairly accurate. I do find the pace to be a little too slow. I’m still, slowly, working my way through the series.

Knight Rider (Pilot) 2008

The pilot for the new Knight Rider series brought back many memories of my family and I watching Michael Knight and his sentient car KITT fighting off the bad guys. The 2008 film is really not that much different from the 80s version – it is merely revved up for a new generation with new car designs and a sexier (by today’s standards) cast. The movie did not make we want to follow the new series, though.

True Blood (Season 1 and 2)

After that dreadful excuse of a vampire movie New Moon, I hoped to redeem all that is loved about the vampire genre, and upon suggestion of a fellow blogger I got myself season one and two of the True Blood TV series.

Vampires in the South of the USA feeding on rednecks have potential, but will it stand the test of time? To be honest, I don’t know. What is certain, though, is that True Blood is much better than Twilight saga. For one thing, the vampires are actually vampires – not anaemic models that glitter in the sun. Personally I thought that season one was just an excuse for soft porn on late night TV. Season two toned down on the sex, and beefed up on the gore.

While True Blood is not the best in the vampire canon, it is watchable. Vampire fans are happy that there is something with fangs to watch; and it contains sex and violence for the men, and love stories for the women.

I’m still waiting for truly seductive vampires, like in Interview with a Vampire.