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Techtalk and Culture in Asia

Discussion
May 7, 2009
by: fahmed
Keywords
What I'm good at

Asia has become a super power. Asia is no longer a place for III world countries, luxury is at almost every doorstep. Japan is practically a western country. Asia is so advanced that they have better technology is better than most countries in North America and Europe. I think Asia has gained status but lost culture. Core values that were the heart of Asian culture are completely gone. Only the traditional, old families still care for things like self-respect and honor. Today's generation in Asia party, stay out late and make a fool of themselves. Nowadays most cultures have lost the need to care about someone.
Fortunately that's not the case for all of Asia.

There are cultures in which caring for celebrities is the main focus. That phenomenon is known as the Korean pop world. Fans will do anything to make sure a celebrity is always at the top and doing well. Technology goes hand in hand with the globalization of Asian culture.

Kim is a 19 year old University student and at first didn't like Korean pop at all but now is an avid fan of the most famous kpop group Dong-bang-shin-ki/ TVXQ she talks about what the fans do for their favorite stars:

We collect money and donate it to the poor under (the member's) name. We gave out kimbap and bottled water during candle-lit vigils last year. On the members' birthdays, we celebrate not only with the members, but also the whole crew working with them and preparing food and presents for them, too. 

 http://popasian.blogspot.com/2009/04/korean-fans-create-singular-culture.html#

 

              Kpop has become a part of Korea's culture over the past few years. Fans are completely different from fans in the U.S.A. Then again the music or movie industry isn't as important here as it is in Korea.
Korea has so many weekly music shows and give tons of importance to the music charts. Companies like SM entertainment and JYP are already global. Kpop is slowly reaching the west. People like me who don't even understand a bit of Korean have fell in love with the amazing music and charisma of the Korean artists.
             In America we have yearly award shows and a billboard but not many people pay attention to it compared to Korea. The fans are so thoughtful and very caring of their idols. they actually book tickets at concerts for their whole fanclub and use separate colored balloons. bandannas, flags etc. to represent the artist or group.The fans also manage events such as birthday celebrations and album releasing. The fan to celebrity connection in Korea is much closer than of America. Fanclubs actually donate money for charity in the name of artists and prepare food for them and their crew.
             Celebrities here don't get that kind of treatment they get stalked and tortured by fans here. Fans here want a photo. autograph or something to show off but in Korea fans are willing to put in effort, to spend time and money to make an star's image better.
             Not only fans in Korea but those in Thailand, Philippines and China also help a great deal by translating and organizing meetings in their home land as well.
             Fans work very hard to promote their favorite artists, stars or actors.

Now don't you think stars here in the U.S.A are jealous?

The technology that fuels this pandemic is the internet and television. These are things teenagers can not live without. Maybe technology advance help fans discover amazing artists and get closer to them but are teenagers going overboard and spending too much screen time rather than game time? Specifically Asian students that are surrounded by technology can't think of spending time outside away from computers even if they are most of the time forced to be good in athletic things too. Can teenagers today break the trend of less exercise and more screen time?

Watching TV, on the Internet, reading magazines or listening to the radio: most spend on average 10 hours a day

http://celestialkitsune.wordpress.com/2009/03/24/asian-youths-cant-live-without-...
 

                It is so true that Asian youths can't live without screen time of at least 5 hours. I blame it on modern technology. If the television or internet was never invented maybe teens wouldn't have so many problems. Now what kind of problems? Obesity is one of them, screen time causes obesity because that person probably sits still for hours together and doesn't get much exercise and that is definitely not the Asian group of this world. Asians are told that they have to be good at everything so most of them are healthy and fit. Another problem is glasses, I think that the amount of how many students have glasses has gone up a lot these days because instead of reading a book students like to either watch T.V or sit on the computer for hours into the night.Guilty is charged watching Korean or Taiwanese dramas online is a bad habit but I exercise too. What about the kids that balance both and don't have a problem with taking a walk or working out once in a while. Yes we do spend tons of time on the computer but that doesn't change anything. We still live a healthy life unlike some dorks that are on the computer 24/7 because they don't have lives.(no offense just an opinion)         
 
     Music has now become a way of life for kids, its how some of us communicate. Personally listening to music is an escape. Escaping from the real world, from people that you think might hurt you. Music can change a person's emotions, there is nothing bad about that. A little less screen time won't hurt but everything else has become boring because of adults. I'm not blaming them but just saying that if there was something more interesting trust me kids wouldn't be so much of couch potatoes as they are now. Not all youths like screen time so sorry to them, the ones that actually go out or do something else besides burying themselves at home.
 
      It's true that today's youth can't live without technology but if there was something else that would spark our interests the world would crash because it depends on technology. I bet the most investments the world makes depends on the t.v sets, computers, music players etc. Many people would disagree and say that nothing else would change their mind and make them use the computer less or give up a few hours of t.v time but if this generation doesn't get off their behind's the next generation would never be able to move on. this doesn't apply to all teenagers, this is just general and my point of view.
       Yes technology is important but not worth giving up human talent. Let's just hope iRobot never becomes a reality.