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My second culture pass is on the BU Mixx show that was this past weekend. As a performer, I had to wake up early and do tech time for the dances I was in. One of them was easy (shoutout to Jayden for being the photographer)! It was fun to get ready and I had to set up all my costumes beforehand for the quick changes. My favorite piece that I was in was One Spark. I also enjoyed dancing to Panorama by Iz*one. We have been practicing for a long time before this show. One of my favorite things about Mixx is that I could dance to all my favorite K-Pop songs and do filming for them. I also enjoy trying different concepts and meeting new people. Furthermore, choosing costumes is very enjoyable as well. The show was rewarding to be a part of as I enjoy performing with unique lights and feeding off of each others energy on the stage. Some of my favorite songs that we had were 28 reasons, Wife, Panorama, and LALALA by Straykids. It is so fascinating to watch other dancers and appreciate their talent on the stage as well. I am so grateful to be a part of a dance community at BU while participating in my Korean culture as well. I hope to take part in more dances in the future for Mixxhibition in the fall semester.

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For my first culture pass, I attended TASA's event known as the night market. It was hosted by the Taiwanese American Student Association. It was very memorable because there were lots of asian food options including bread, dumplings, and boba. We got to watch many cultural performances such as the Kung Fu group. I got to perform Cool With You by NewJeans for our team BU Mixx! It was fascinating to watch the lion dance from northeastern as well. There were many students who all coordinated with each other to synchronize the movement of the lion. There was a drum song that went along with it. I was curious about how they brought the dragon all the way from northeaster. Furthermore, there were many game stations such as poker. If someone wins, they were able to obtain some prizes. I got a sonny angel that was a goat character. However, the horn fell off once I got it. Overall, this was an enjoyable experience that included good food, performances, music, and community. It was a large event that took place in the Metcalf Hall. I would definitely attend again next year!

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For my culture pass event, I had the chance to visit the MFA's Hallyu exhibit. Normally, I'm not the greatest fan of museums--but I found this exhibit to be interesting as it connects back to my heritage, in addition to having a lot of modern Korean cultural elements rather than older things that I have a harder time relating with. The exhibit had a wide variety of art, costumes, set designs, and some other related media along with it. Throughout it all, there was the idea of showcasing the evolution of Hallyu and its impact on the modern world. Some of the specifics of what was on display were elements from movies and TVs like costumes and other media, the showcase of various K-pop idols and some of their clothing worn during significant performances, and a few pieces dedicated to the description of the Korean Hanbok. The exhibit also included much about some of the devastation within recent Korean history, and Korea's recovery from a country in high distress to a cultural and economic powerhouse. All in all, I really enjoyed the Hallyu exhibit at the MFA--much more than I expected to--and I walked away with a little more pride in my heritage and Korean history.

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Benjamin Lee samulnori Brown X RISD showcase Culture Pass 1

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Benjamin Lee samulnori Brown X RISD showcase Culture Pass 1

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Attending the samulnori performance at Brown University was a memorable experience, especially since I went there to see my older sister play the janggu. Taking a train to Providence RI, I was eager to experience the promised showcase of rhythmic beats and cultural significance. The show then went into the performance, a set of drumming instruments including janggu, buk, jing, and kkwaenggwari making up dynamic ensemble. The students who took the stage were very passionate about samulnori which was reflected in their precise movements rhythms. Apart from the musical performance, the students also did a skit on samulnori tradition and history, that was very educational. It was also filled with humorous moments that captivated me along with the rest of the audience. They articulated an impressive history about the influence of samulnori on the Korean culture for hundred of years. I learned that at first it was ritualistic and later on get matured to the point that it became a form of art that is a way to express and entertain. The discussion also highlighted the social and political moments which have contributed to the maturation of samulnori. These things helped the music to gain a new level of development. Something that I noticed is that the name of an instrument is similar to the sound it makes. The janggu played a deep sound which seemed to echo throughout the auditorium and the kkwaenggwari created sharp, metallic tone. When it was close to the end of the event, current members said goodbye to graduating members in a very emotional manner. The performance was a memorial of an ancestral culture, tradition, and the most important thing, the heritage of the Korean percussion music. More specifically, the amount of time and effort put into the samulnori performance at Brown University, combined with now understanding the full scope of how rich and fascinating Korean traditional music really is, has led me to have a deeper appreciation of those aspects of music from other cultures.

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I had the opportunity to visit the Korean Hallyu exhibit at the MFA for one of my culture pass events, and it was really interesting! The exhibit became a detailed walk through the Korean cultural areas ranging from its ancient times to its present-day form. While many things caught my eyes, I was particularly impressed by the part that dealt with the traditional Korean attire, or hanbok. Even though I suspected to find the traditional hanbok designs, I was happy to see the addition of modernized hanbok versions. The blend of traditional wood fabrics and patterns with modern cuts and styles both innovative and intriguing. It gave the possibility for the person to see the world through the fashion lens of Korea and at the same time a respect for the culture from which it has emerged. The visit to the exhibit revealed another highlight to me, a section dedicated to iconic K-pop outfits and memorabilia. Although I am not a K-pop fan, It was cool to examine garments of some idols closely at the exhibition. The outfits in those fashions were remarkable, reflecting the well-recognized creative and skillful designs of Korean fashion designers. Staying on the topic of popular culture, there was also a section dedicated to sets and costumes used in famous Korean dramas. The picture taken above is me is in front of some costumes used in some traditional Korean dramas. There was also a food section that was especially devoted to introducing Korea's diverse food culture and its richness in terms of the food. From the typical meals to the urbanized food culture for Koreans, the exhibition made me feel very hungry. I had not eaten a meal yet that day, so I spent a little longer in this section than others. The exhibit extended the foreign popularity of Korean skincare and beauty items worldwide. It was easy to grasp knowledge about the background and approach employed by Korea in their skin-care habits, as well as how Koreans' beauty concepts spread to other countries around the world. Overall, Hallyu took you on the journey of Korean Culture providing multidimensional experience that left me with a lasting impression.

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Chelseigh -- I visited the MFA Hallyu exhibit for my first culture pass event. I didn't quite know what to expect, but when I stepped foot into the exhibition I was stunned. Connected by a maze of rooms were displays of Korean culture, history, and expression, spanning from contemporary media to old clippings from the mid 1900s. As you enter the exhibit you're greeted by a room filled with objects and images exemplifying Korean history, both in struggle and triumph. It was surprisingly emotional reading texts about South Korea's recovery from devastation, which stuck with me as I explored the rest of the exhibit, artefacts and innovations born from the country's rebirth. Items within the exhibit include but are not limited to: TV and drama, clothing, art, skincare, and K-pop. K-pop imagery was especially prominent in the exhibit; No wonder, considering it's one of the hallmarks of Hallyu. Additionally, the hanbok section was particularly interesting. With fashion and dress being an integral part of Korean culture, it didn't surprise me that they had hanbok displays. What drew me attention was their innovative designs, something I'm beginning to see more and more in Korean fashion. Combining tradition and modern fashion is, in my opinion, a great way to connect with your heritage while exercising the fluidity of culture. While many individuals label them as disrespectful, I'm always inspired by these works. After my visit, I walked away with a sense of pride for my heritage and a deeper understanding of Korean culture. I thoroughly enjoyed the Hallyu exhibit and I hope to see more of our culture at the MFA.

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Culture Pass #2 | Meet the Author: Shilpi Suneja - David Kwon

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Culture Pass #2 | Meet the Author: Shilpi Suneja - David Kwon

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For my second culture pass event, I went to a meet the author event for Shilpi Suneja. Suneja is a distinguished BU alumni who came to discuss her novel House of Caravans. Her work is a realistic-fiction novel pertaining to the themes of colonialism on national identity (Indian versus Pakistani). It was quite fascinating to see the dynamics of a similar, yet vastly different culture discuss the topic of colonialism, national identity, and generational trauma. To be completely honest, there was a lot that went over my head. First, would be my lack of preparedness. I had not read a single page of this novel prior to attending this meeting. As a result, there was a lot of reading in between the lines I had to do. Second, like I said before, this was a vastly different culture that I was not familiar with. Of course, my main takeaway from this event, regardless of my unfamiliarity, was about the themes of generational trauma. In particular, this novel addresses the unspoken trauma of the elder generation and how the younger generation attempts to navigate and understand the complexities of their heritage. Especially in the wake of that trauma. It's a powerful exploration of how history shapes individual and collective identities. Furthermore, it addresses how the echoes of past events reverberate through subsequent generations. Suneja's portrayal of this intergenerational struggle resonates deeply with me despite the initial challenges of grappling with unfamiliar cultural contexts and literary themes, attending the event served as an enriching experience.

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Culture Pass #1 | MFA Hallyu Exhibit - David Kwon

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Culture Pass #1 | MFA Hallyu Exhibit - David Kwon

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For my first culture pass event, I went to the Hallyu Exhibit at the MFA. To be honest, it’s still quite surreal to see how far Hallyu has gone from when I was growing up. I distinctly remember Korean culture being absolutely foreign to my non-Korean peers. For better or worse, Korean culture is currently at the forefront for the entirety of the world to see. Anyways, the first section of the exhibit, prior to the main atrium, contained memorabilia pertaining to South Korea’s modernization following the aftermath of the Korean War and subsequent democratization. This first section serves as contextualization for those who may not be familiar with the mechanization behind the popularity of Korean popular culture today. Due to the sheer variety of content portrayed within this exhibit, following this first section, the timelines aren’t as linear as you would assume. As one would assume, K-Pop was at the forefront of this exhibit. Other notable exhibits included cinema, fashion, and skincare, all Korean of course. From now on I’d like to talk about the fashion portion of this exhibit since that is my infatuation. Unsurprisingly, one out of many of G-Dragon’s stage outfits was displayed within the main atrium. I understand that this exhibit wanted to portray a ‘pure’ Korean experience regarding its exhibition pieces, but I wish we could’ve seen some of the notorious pieces G-Dragon donned as unfeasible as that may be. After all, the popularity of archival Raf Simons and Chrome Hearts within East Asia can be accredited to G-Dragon. I wasn’t too impressed with the other fashion exhibits aside from the work of Miss Sohee. I adore her ability to coalesce traditional and contemporary ideas into her work. Although I may be a contrarian, I feel as if South Korea hasn’t found its footing in the world of high fashion. There are a lot of up-and-coming designers, and I feel as if there is too much focus on style over substance. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by this exhibit, and I’m proud that my culture is globally admired contrary to my experience growing up.

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For my second culture pass, I went to the Treasures of Taiwan Night Market hosted by TASA at BU. My friend Isabelle is Taiwanese, and so she encouraged me to go with her. She was also the person to come with me to MFA, so I thought it was really fun for us to exchange cultures and attend such events together. The night market had a lot of different activities. Firstly, they had multiple clubs perform on stage, including BU Mixx. I was happy to be able to see them perform, since I was not able to go to their recent performance. While we watched the performances, we were also able to eat a nice meal. The night market had a food section, where they gave you a bit of every food available. There was a large variety, including popcorn chicken, dumplings, fried rice, and egg tarts for dessert. Finally, the night market also had a system in which people could play games to gather tickets. Gathering enough tickets would allow you to get prizes; I was able to get a little keychain of a cat! They had games such as a ring toss, mini golf, flip cup, and popping balloons with darts. It was very populated; I thought it was exciting to see many people be interested in Taiwanese culture. I thought that the event was nicely organized, and that TASA made sure that people who attended had fun. I was very happy to feel immersed in the BU community!

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For my first culture pass, I went to the MFA Lunar New Year event. The first thing I did was the calligraphy, which me and my friend had a lot of fun doing. The first thing they did was provide us with scratch paper so that we could practice. It was a decently sized room with long tables set up with brushes, ink, and water. I wished that they would have given us a little demonstration or explained some of the history behind the art of calligraphy. Still, I had a lot of fun using the brushes to write drawings and characters. I settled on the characters "wealth" and "health," and I tried to draw inspiration from historical Korean paintings for the background. They also gave us some sticks and string so that we could hang up our pieces, which we still have hung up now! I also was able to see the "seollal" dance. It was a very lively performance, and I felt very inspired as I watched them dance. It was very nice to see the variety of people in attendance at this event. I thought that it was a great way for people to be introduced to Korean culture and history. I felt very happy to be immersed in a cultural experience such as this one. I think MFA does a great job of organizing events that encourage attendance. I wish that I was able to go to the Hallyu exhibit when it was available!

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MFA Hallyu Exhibit (Culture Pass 2) - Sehjin Jo

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MFA Hallyu Exhibit (Culture Pass 2) - Sehjin Jo

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For my second culture pass event I went to the Korean Hallyu exhibit at the MFA. It was overall a great experience that really showed the impact that Korea and its culture has been having on the world through its history. The contents of the exhibit ranged from early Korean history to modern kpop and media, providing a multifaceted depiction of Korea as a country. One part of the exhibit that really stood out to me was the section that had the modern versions of hanbok. I had never seen anything like it before and it was really interesting to see the traditional fabrics and coloring patterns typical of hanbok in cuts and styles that are more reminiscent of modern fashion. The artists who made these pieces were very meticulous in preserving as much of the the original hanbok characteristics as possible. Another section that stood out to me was the film and tv section that displayed the various kdramas and movies that had made the biggest impacts worldwide. These included popular titles like squid game, parasite, and itaewon class. Seeing these movies and shows displayed in the museum was a bit of a surreal experience because I had never thought of them as particularly unique since they are a normal part of my culture. Overall, I had a really good experience at the exhibit and think that it is a really good opportunity for everyone to get to understand Korean culture better whether they are Korean or not.

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Lunar New Year Event (Culture Pass 1) - Sehjin Jo

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Lunar New Year Event (Culture Pass 1) - Sehjin Jo

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I thought an interesting part of the event was the traditional instruments used in the performance. They were all percussion instruments and were played in a very rhythmic manner. There were clear motifs throughout the playing and were in sync with the movements of the player. The first instrument played had two sides to it where each side gave off a different timbre and pitch. This allowed for variations on previous themes in the rhythm. The second instrument played incorporated a cymbal-like element which allowed for more dynamic playing and contrast with the drum. Both performances were definitely very characteristic of Korean traditional performances. It was interesting to see these instruments played in person and watch the dancing to the rhythm. Activities during the event included making origami pouches and bracelets. This was a nice throwback to my childhood since I had done a lot of origami in the past but have not had the opportunity to get back into it recently. There were also traditional Korean snacks provided that were also familiar to me from home. These were a treat to have because I had not had them in a long time. There were a lot of students at the event, and I believe that the event was more enjoyable because everyone else seemed to be excited to learn more about Korean culture. This was the aspect that I feel most captured the spirit of Lunar New Year. The event as a whole was an enjoyable experience bringing together many elements of Korean Lunar New Year tradition to form an educational and exciting environment.

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For my second culture pass I was the event photographer for BU MiXx It Up kpop dance showcase. However, I was so busy that I forgot to take a photo of myself there... For nearly two and a half hours, the dancers performed kpop songs ranging from recently released like Easy by Le Sserafim (shoutout nicole) to older songs like Spring Day by BTS. All the dancers were amazing keeping up with the energy of the songs it was hard for me to photograph all of it. I've never seen kpop dances performed live so this was definitely an experience for me. The cheering of the crowd with the rhythmic TEMPO (by Exo which they also performed) felt like I was experiencing an actual concert live. I ended up taking over 4000 photos, summing up to nearly 50gb of storage.

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Korean Wedding Culture Pass - Sarah Park 

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Korean Wedding Culture Pass - Sarah Park 

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I was able to attend a wedding in Korea for my brother. I was able to see what is different about American weddings vs. Korean weddings. First, the Korean wedding was very short. Everybody was in a “go go go” mindset. First, my brother went down the aisle, then my sister-in-law went down the aisle, and they quickly exchanged their vows. There was a friend who sang for them and then the couple walked down the aisle together. Next, it was time for food. The waiters brought out food very quickly and in the meantime, a photographer gathered people to take pictures with the bride and groom. I heard that normal Korean weddings are supposed to be half an hour but ours was on the longer side of about 1 and a half hour. After all the guests left, we participated in a tradition called paebaek. This is where the bride and groom catch different things that the elders of the family throw at them. For me and my sister, since we are younger than them, we bowed, said a few words of encouragement, and then my sister-in-law put a candied root in my mouth. This signified for me to shut my mouth in the future. I got to learn about what goes on in a Korean wedding such as the traditional gift is money and that weddings are extremely short because people don’t want to waste other people’s time. I had a really good time at the wedding ceremony and was glad to have some delicious food.

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MFA Hallyu Exhibit Culture Pass - Sarah Park 

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MFA Hallyu Exhibit Culture Pass - Sarah Park 

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I attended the MFA Hallyu Exhibition. It was really interesting because I got to see different eras of Korea at the same place. There were the recent hits like Squid Game, Kpop idol outfits, and Parasite. There was even Korean skincare which was really cool to see. To juxtapose the modern Korean, there were also variations of Hanbok as well. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to see the different sides of Korea and also watch other people getting excited over Korean things as well. It was really cool to see people of all different races coming to see how Korea has evolved as a culture. I even saw girls getting excited over Kpop dances being shown. It made me realize how much Korean media and culture has been spread. I already knew from the internet and social media that Korean food, drama and singing had become very widespread. However, since that is on the internet, I never fully grasped how widespread it had actually gotten. Seeing many people come to the exhibit gave me a real view on how popular it has become. I think going forward, there is a lot more that can improve in Korean culture. Since the globalization of Korea, I think Korean people need to expand their knowledge about other cultures as well. Korea has a tendency to be very narrow-minded when it comes to other cultures so now it is a chance to become more open-minded.

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MFA Hallyu Exhibit Culture Pass 2 - Urimy Cha

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MFA Hallyu Exhibit Culture Pass 2 - Urimy Cha

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For my second culture pass, I once again went to the MFA but this time for the Hallyu Exhibit, which I had wanted to visit for quite a while now. I was very excited to see what kind of displays they had at this exhibit since I had seen some photos from the MFA website showcasing some well known kpop idols' costumes and flashy runway clothing. When I first came in, I was greeted by a large projection of Psy's music video and a mannequin wearing a costume that he had worn before. I thought this was appropriate because it made think of how back in 2012, he was how a lot of people around the world were exposed to kpop and Korean culture. Going inside the actual exhibit was also an interesting experience. At the center of the exhibit was a display of the kpop idol costumes that I had seen online. I had never seen what they look like in real life and probably never again will but I was happy to experience it. After that, I thought that the recreation of the bathroom from the movie Parasite and the various movie props that they had were particularly impressive, considering how detailed they were. There were also a k-beauty section which I was surprised to see because I saw several products and brands that I was familiar with. It was an odd feeling seeing these familiar things that I had grown up with in a display case (like seeing a shampoo bottle I have used before in the Parasite bathroom set and reading about the 10-step skincare routine). Another thing I was impressed by were the modern interpretations of the hanbok in the fashion world, as I saw unique designs that I had never seen before. I love seeing the different looks of the hanboks and hope that these modern interpretations continue to make their way to streetwear and everyday clothing. In other aspects of the exhibit, my impression was that there were not too many things in regards to Korean history, but more so the influence Korean pop culture has had in the global space. But overall I thought that it was a good exhibit and seemed to be an accurate yet interesting interpretation of Korean culture. I found that there were many non-Koreans there too, so I hope that they were able to enjoy the exhibit as I had and get to be exposed to the culture.

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For my first culture pass, I went on my first MT with a korean photography club that I had joined last semester at BU. For the MT we went up to Portland, Maine and stayed at an Airbnb near the beach. There we took photos of the beach, hung out, and cooked dinner together. Naturally when koreans go out together our go to food is samgyeopsal and kimchi jiggae. We spent the entire night playing music, games, and just simply getting to know each other. The majority of the group is made up of Korean international students, whereas I was the only Korean American. Due to this, there was a major cultural difference compared to when I hang out with my American friends. Meeting new people, or conversing with upperclassmen its considered rude not to use formal speech. However once you get familiar with some of these people they allow you to just speak casually to them. This was by far the hardest thing to get used to, going from talking to the same person in formal speech and then conversing with them in casual speech felt almost rude and disrespectful in a way, even though they encouraged me to do so. Otherwise it was super fun and I recommend that other students join the Korean Intl. Groups at BU. You do have to be comfortable talking in Korean like all of the time, but otherwise they treat you like family.

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For my second culture pass event, I went to the Hallyu Wave exhibit at MFA. I think that the exhibit did a great job of showing different parts of Korean culture and demonstrating its impact on Western society. There were a variety of different perspectives covered, from Korean history to K-pop and K-fashion. I thought that seeing the exhibits about Korean fashion and the impact it has today in the fashion industry was very interesting. There were different showings of various ways that hanbok has been modernized and made its way into mainstream media. Many K-pop stars and Korean celebrities utilize these fashion breakthroughs as a way to express Korean culture and showcase it to the rest of the world. There was a segment about trot music and the way that music has developed in Korea. It was incredible to watch the progression of the beginning of music in Korea and see how far it has developed and its impact on today's world. One section of the exhibit seemed to be dedicated to the present and future impact of K-pop. There was a wall of light sticks used at concerts for various artists and groups. It also explained how K-pop fans sometimes act as translators and how dedicated and strong its fandom is. In the exhibit, K-pop was also playing. I found this to be a nice touch to connecting visitors with Korean culture and creating a bridge that immerses them in what they are reading and seeing. I think that this exhibit was a nice statement and summary about the impact that Korean culture has and seemed to be an indicator of how it may be relevant in the future. I'm excited to see how Korean culture may make a better impact later on.

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For my second culture pass event I went to the Korean Hallyu exhibit at the MFA. It was overall a great experience that really showed the impact that Korea and its culture has been having on the world through its history. The contents of the exhibit ranged from early Korean history to modern kpop and media, providing a multifaceted depiction of Korea as a country. One part of the exhibit that really stood out to me was the section that had the modern versions of hanbok. I had never seen anything like it before and it was really interesting to see the traditional fabrics and coloring patterns typical of hanbok in cuts and styles that are more reminiscent of modern fashion. The artists who made these pieces were very meticulous in preserving as much of the the original hanbok characteristics as possible. Another section that stood out to me was the film and tv section that displayed the various kdramas and movies that had made the biggest impacts worldwide. These included popular titles like squid game, parasite, and itaewon class. Seeing these movies and shows displayed in the museum was a bit of a surreal experience because I had never thought of them as particularly unique since they are a normal part of my culture. Overall, I had a really good experience at the exhibit and think that it is a really good opportunity for everyone to get to understand Korean culture better whether they are Korean or not.

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For my first culture pass, I attended the Lunar New Year celebration at the Museum of Fine Arts. I visited three of the events that happened during the time: sagunja, a performance named "seollal" by Boston Korean Traditional Dance, and the sebae and hanbok demo. I had never seen sagunja before, nor had heard of it. The people who were running that event explained the history of sagunja and I found it to be an interesting and beautiful form of Korean art. The performance by the Boston Korean Traditional Dance included the buk dance and buchae dances. I knew of these dances and saw them live for the first time. The dancers consisted of different generations and it was awesome to see kids learning these traditional dances and continuing on Korean culture. At the sebae and hanbok demo, I had the opportunity to try on a hanbok and talk to other Korean people. Those who were running the event helped people put on one of their many hanboks available and people took pictures in front of a backdrop. There were a lot of Korean families in attendance, and it was nice seeing kids learn about their culture. I went with some of my friends who are not Korean and they learned a lot and found the experience to be insightful as well. I even stayed to watch the Chinese Dragon dance and had fun being there. I think that the MFA did a nice job at organizing this event and displaying a variety of ways that Lunar New Year is celebrated in different countries. It was overall a very fun and educational experience. I plan on going to the Hallyu Wave exhibit soon!

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For my second culture pass event I attended the Latinx 70's Party at the Global House Lounge. The event was very informal and had traditional Latin foods for people to enjoy. There were several presentations on different countries in South America as well as Spain and the struggles they faced in the 1970's. I learned about how different artistic expressions like music and visual art were connected to political and social issues at the time. In places like Madrid, music, graffiti, and films were heavily centered on addressing and tackling political issues. This defined a distinct period of art creation in the 70's for Madrid. Other places like Venezuela were at the same time experiencing an economic boom thanks to their prosperous oil industry. This means there was less of a focus on art in Venezuela as opposed to Madrid. Venezuela more heavily prioritized financial gain rather than creative freedom and expression at the time. Also in the 70's, Spain was experiencing a crucial political transformation that would allow them to transition to a government operant on principles of democracy rather than a monarchy. The 70's were hence a very tumultuous time for Spain. It was interesting to learn about how these countries were experiencing completely different issues and events from one another in the same decade. While some countries like Venezuela were prospering, countries like Spain were struggling to unite its people. This event was a very brief glimpse into the history of these countries but interesting nonetheless. In attending this event (and the Korean Hallyu exhibit at the MFA), I was able to learn more about the histories of different countries and how art has contributed to where these countries are today.

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For my first culture pass event I visited the Korean Hallyu exhibit at the MFA. I was pleasantly surprised to see that this exhibit included various aspects of Korean culture beyond the media and music that has become popularized in America. The entrance to the exhibit gave a brief overview on the meaning of the term "Hallyu". Once entering, there were several different areas which specifically focused on things like Korean fashion, movies, television, cosmetics, skincare, and more. As interesting as all these were, I enjoyed the section dedicated to Korea's history the most. I learned things about the Joseon dynasty, the Korean War, and the United Nations in Korea. This history section was closer to the entrance of the exhibit and further on were the sections designated for popular culture. I thought this was a nice way to set up the exhibit because it allowed attendants to learn more deeply about South Korea and its journey to the country it is now before going on to enjoy more lighthearted topics. The exhibit was very thorough in their explanations of how Hallyu came about and the reasons behind its rising popularity in America. I think this would be a good event to attend for anyone who simply enjoys Korean culture or for anyone who wants to learn more about Korea itself. The displays included the 10-step Korean skincare routine, replicated artifacts from Korea's history, iconic movie posters, and more. There were also several artwork pieces that touched on heavier and more problematic topics in Korea and Korean culture that I enjoyed viewing. It was nice to have the chance to see how people in Korea express their ideas and thoughts through their artwork as I don't have many chances to see that sort of thing anywhere else. The exhibit was overall a very nice homage to Korea and its culture. I would recommend that anyone who has a chance to go should see this at least once.

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I attended the Chinese Lunar New Year Celebration Event on February 16. When I first entered they gave me a little stamp card to keep track of the activities I have been to and if you finish the card you are able to win a prize. This event had six tables with six activities on each table. The first table was “Jian Zhi” which was a paper-cutting activity and the activity was to bring luck and happiness in the year. We used red paper and got to cut the paper to make designs. Another table was “Jing ju lian pu” which was painting opera masks. There was a video we watched while painting the masks and it explained the history and culture behind opera in China. One thing I learned was how each color on the mask expressed the character’s personality. Then another table was "Mahjong” which was a tile game played by 4 people. I did not try because I did not know the rules but it seemed interesting. Then another table was “Xiao You Xi”, this table had a few cones and people had to throw little hoops around the cones. My favorite table was “Shu fa”, the calligraphy activity. They had taught me how to properly hold a brush and there were a few characters as options for what to write. I got to write “dragon” and “blessing”, however, there were many strokes to the characters. The last table was “Xin Niah Zhu Fu” which was a PowerPoint about learning all about the Chinese Lunar New Year. This event had so many activities and I got to learn a lot about the Chinese Lunar New Year culture, history, and beliefs.

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For my second culture pass event, I attended BUJSA’s Omatsuri event with my friends. Although the event wasn’t necessarily Korean, I was surprised to find a lot of similarities between Japanese and Korean culture. The event featured several student performances such as songs, dances, and skits, as well as food and activities. One of these activities was “taiko” which was a Japanese traditional drum. It reminded me a lot of the Korean buk, a traditional drum used in samulnori. Both in the sound and way the drums are played, I found it to be very similar to the Korean drums that I am more familiar with. Furthermore, the “katanuki” game, a game in which you cut a shape out of a piece of candy, was very similar to the Korean dalgona game. While dalgona was made mainstream by Squid Game, I had actually tried it a few times during my childhood, and I had never known that this Japanese version existed. The only difference between the two was that, while the “katanuki” game used candy, it was not meant to be eaten, unlike dalgona which you can eat. There were also a lot of similarities in the food that was served. For instance, gyoza was just a pan-fried dumpling, which I think is common in every Asian culture. Karaage was a Japanese fried chicken which had a lot of similarities to Korean fried chicken. Finally, the drinks included green tea, which is also common in Korea. Overall, I was very surprised at how many similarities there were between Japanese and Korean culture. While I had expected to see some, I had not expected nearly everything at the event to be related to Korean culture in some way. This was my first time attending some sort of cultural student group event at BU, and it was a lot of fun. I would like to go to a KSA event next time because I am Korean.

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MFA Lunar New Year Event - Culture Pass 1 Urimy Cha

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MFA Lunar New Year Event - Culture Pass 1 Urimy Cha

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On Thursday evening, February 15th, I attended the Lunar New Year event that was being hosted by the Museum of Fine Arts. I was very excited to go because I really like the MFA and was curious to see what the Korean events would be like. I also happen to live close by to the museum as well so I was happy that an event like this was so nearby. I had decided to go with my roommate and we first went to room 214, where they had a lot of hanbok dresses for people to try on. I was given a red and green dress and we got to take pictures in front of a backdrop. I had picked out a pink and lavender dress for my roommate to try on. After this, we decided to explore the other areas where separate activities were being held as well. There was a traditional Chinese drum performance as well as a Korean storytelling event that were happening but unfortunately we were only able to catch the end parts of each performance. However, we also decided to try some ink drawing/ painting, which ended up being much harder than I expected. In the end, I decided on writing 설날 to commemorate going to the event and some decorative plants around it. It was after this that we took one last round around the museum before going home. All in all, I had a lot of fun and it was interesting to experience how other cultures celebrate Lunar New Years. Because of this, I hope to go to the Hallyu! exhibition that they are going to have later in the spring.

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Lunar New Year Event (Culture Pass 1) - Paul Bae

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Lunar New Year Event (Culture Pass 1) - Paul Bae

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For my first culture pass event, I attended the Lunar New Year Celebration on 2/9/2024. The most interesting thing about the event, for me, was the Samul nori. I have tried playing the puk once, and I remember it sounded terrible. In contrast, I thought the musical performance was really interesting because although each drum didn’t really have different notes they could play, they each had a very unique sound, and the rhythms made it so that it actually sounded like a song. This surprised me because I had assumed that, since all the instruments were percussion, there would be no melody, and it would just sound like a lot of drums being played at the same time like it did when I tried playing them before. I also made Bokjumeoni which is a bag that you put money given to you inside. I had never heard of Bokjumeoni before even though I have received money from my parents and grandparents on Lunar New Year before. Towards the end of the event, there was a presentation about the blue dragon, since this is the year of the dragon. I think the most interesting part of the presentation was a video that was shown at the end of a drone show in Busan. It was really cool to see the technology in Korea and how they were able to create a dragon visual in the sky using drones. At the end of the event, I was able to eat some Korean snacks and drinks. I had barley tea, yakgwa, and choco pie. It was nice because I got to eat some things that I used to have a lot at home but don’t anymore because I am at school. Overall, the event was really fun, and it was nice to see how much interest students at BU have in Korean culture. I also learned a lot more than I had expected too, and I would like to go to a similar event in the future.

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I attended the Lunar New Year Celebration Event on February 9. To start the event a short presentation about the traditions of what Koreans do during the Lunar New Year was presented. It included what food was eaten, games that were played, and the traditional bow to receive money from elders. Then there were a few activities from the event. We first made a Bokjumeoni, which is where you put the money given to, with origami paper next watched Samulnori and ended the event by making a bracelet and eating snacks. My favorite snack was yakgwa and choco pie. From this event, I learned a lot about the zodiac sign, especially the blue dragon that represented 2024. There was a presentation on the blue dragon and I learned that the zodiac signs are not only animals but also have a specific sign with them so each is very rare. 2024 was not only the year of the dragon but specifically the blue dragon. One interesting thing about the event was definitely the Samulnori performance because I did not expect a performance. The performance sounded really good. The performers were coordinated and I felt connected because my younger sister plays buk and jangkku so I was familiar with the instruments. The Lunar New Year Celebration was a really enjoyable event and had so many fun activities that were engaging. It was a great opportunity to learn more about Korean culture. It was one of my favorite events and would go again if given the chance.

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I thought an interesting part of the event was the traditional instruments used in the performance. They were all percussion instruments and were played in a very rhythmic manner. There were clear motifs throughout the playing and were in sync with the movements of the player. The first instrument played had two sides to it where each side gave off a different timbre and pitch. This allowed for variations on previous themes in the rhythm. The second instrument played incorporated a cymbal-like element which allowed for more dynamic playing and contrast with the drum. Both performances were definitely very characteristic of Korean traditional performances. It was interesting to see these instruments played in person and watch the dancing to the rhythm. Activities during the event included making origami pouches and bracelets. This was a nice throwback to my childhood since I had done a lot of origami in the past but have not had the opportunity to get back into it recently. There were also traditional Korean snacks provided that were also familiar to me from home. These were a treat to have because I had not had them in a long time. There were a lot of students at the event, and I believe that the event was more enjoyable because everyone else seemed to be excited to learn more about Korean culture. This was the aspect that I feel most captured the spirit of Lunar New Year. The event as a whole was an enjoyable experience bringing together many elements of Korean Lunar New Year tradition to form an educational and exciting environment.

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This is the place where you post your experience in participating in a cultural event on and off campus! Attend a cultural event and tale a photo. Write one interesting thing about the event in English and post a photo you took from the event. You may describe the event, what you have learned from it, and what you thought about the event in 15-20 sentences. You may use English for this assignment. Each report will count for 2% of your final grade, totaling 4% of your final grade. Post two times for two event reports this semester. The deadline of this report is by 11:59pm on the last class (5/1/2024) of this semester.

Good luck everyon! Happy participating!