Next week will be the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics but...

...today was the global Microsoft outage that affected banks, aviation tech and even media/entertainment companies.

uh...
I just watched very disturbing horror clips. but the images in my head are funny and freaky. spending time writing down story prompts / shorts. Quite fun.
Jupiter.ee acquired some Korean movies which is great. they should be free to watch anywhere. https://jupiter.err.ee/1609100393/jaht

others are coming up soon.

Taemin world tour turns out to be just Asia for now as figured. I do hope they had other destinations. Helsinki would be fantastic, I could stay with a friend and it is only a boatride away.

Korean filmmakers are returning to shorter run times. This trend towards shorter run times is also apparent in blind screenings (test screenings where general audiences watch the film without prior information so as to gauge genuine reactions) and as a desperate measure to adapt to changing viewer habits influenced by short-form content on platforms like YouTube and other social media, according to the Korea Times.

Until the 2000s, most Korean films were under 100 minutes. With the transition from film to digital production in the late 2000s, films exceeding two hours became more common due to reduced costs and increased footage from using multiple cameras. The rise of Korean blockbusters also contributed to longer runtimes as filmmakers wanted to include more content. The recent decrease in runtimes was explained: "In our view, it's a 1-hour and 78-minute movie," said director Park Chan-wook in May 2022 when he met with Korean journalists at the Cannes Film Festival for his film "Decision to Leave." "If we say it's 2 hours and 18 minutes long, viewers might get the preconceived notion that it's a boring film," he said.

Park's concerns, from two years ago, have now become a common focus within the Korean film industry. Rather than exceeding the two-hour mark, there is a growing emphasis on keeping movie runtimes within 100 minutes. This is in response to the rise of various short-form content and the need to compete with over-the-top services (OTT). (This also falls in to line with studies that people, especially young adults’ attention spans have decreased with the increased use of smartphones.)

This year's major Korean film releases: "Citizen of a Kind," 114 minutes; "Troll Factory," 109 minutes ; "Following," 103 minutes; "Hijacking," 100 minutes; "Handsome Guys," 101 minutes, "Escape," 94 minutes, and "Project Silence," 96 minutes.

I wonder if TAROT’s TV series format of seven 30 minute episodes with the same theme is an experiment to see if this blueprint meets expectations of the new viewing habits.

Happy Friday, Beanies! The heat here reportedly reached all-time high records, yikes. Not unlike in Hengdian where poor LYN finally had enough and abandoned his usual Victorian modesty, flashing quite a bit of bare – gasp! - skin here and there between takes in an attempt to cool off a little... Good thing we'll have to wait at least a year until ADWAD airs – perhaps then I'll be able to forget the fact he wasn't always wearing pants under his robes and properly focus on the plot instead... A hard task with my restlessly dirty mind great memory, but let's wait and see^^

Did yall weep enough last time? Hopefully yes, because I think we need a break from angst. Can't exactly promise you all happiness and rainbows, but a bunch of more cheerful songs I think I'll manage. Starting with “Boys don't cry” (really? you sob more on reg than any of us ladies here, sir!))) from the same titled 90s movie – this is another track than never fails to make him (and me) smile. I do think he's gotten more progressively playful over the years of performing it – I like to think that he's gotten less reasons to be sad nowadays compared to the past... Then:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndwjhKOLCZU

And now:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co76akW4LKk

There's just something special about his old covers, you know – maybe the realization how far he's gotten since, maybe his pre-vocal-cords-problems raspier sound, maybe that natural cuteness he already had before celeb makeover... Idk, but I'm always having a great time digging up his archives, there's so much to uncover there! “Mortal song/Song of ordinary people”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rZgZ74xCSg

Or this. The hair alone deserves a whole separate thesis about it, methinks lmao. Actually it's interesting that he rarely sports brown colors so loved by his peers and seems fully OK with leaving his hair naturally black most of the time, with barely any tints even (aside of sneakily dyeing some grey hair – sad reality of our age). Ofc with his porcelain white skin it works better than for most people – live-action manga boy he is indeed. Speaking of live-action – songs is called “The dark knight” (not that one! but the wording is the same):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8MkcJV8i44

What he may be lacking in color palette department, he never fails to improve by crazy hairstyles and accessories. I'm... not sure what I think about this one – perhaps the idea was better than the final execution? He's wearing a bit too much at once overall – hairclips, neck chains (just how many of them are there?!), glittery sleeve cuffs... Navy captain's like jacket looks good tho, even without a proper tailoring. Track is his own - “Loyal audience”, such a cute name! A fan song?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nREz554Tro8

"My Sweet Mobster" is the best kind of escapist drama, absolutely nothing about it is even remotely grounded in reality and its a massive tropefest, but thats why its so enjoyable.

Its a shame that"old fashioned" rom coms are no longer in vogue, escapism is half the fun when it comes to the genre.

All DB Bookclub readers who want to discuss our summer read The sense of Wonder I will host a discussion on my fanwall on Sunday 21st as @lapislazulii was unable to host as planned on 14th July. Unfortunately, I don’t know what questions were planned to frame the discussion so I will post a couple and then leave the rest as general discussion. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

@indyfan @mellowarmadillo @attiton @elinor @ahjummaaa @toomuchtv @wonhwa @jls943 @cayong03 @babylilo @ruhi0101 @petrolia @acacia @dramaforever
@zindigo @linarrick @ndlessjoie @sonai @kdramajoy @minniegupta1

Y'all hear the news? South Korea just passed a law that makes same-sex couples able to get dependent coverage for the national health services!
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/18/world/asia/south-korea-same-sex-rights-ruling.html?unlocked_article_code=1.8U0.S8dn.cacBOsYlbvE_&smid=url-share

It's far from legalizing same-sex marriage, but it's a step in the right direction.

Another interesting article proposing similar benefits for people who live together (same-sex or otherwise) but are not in a relationship.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/18/world/asia/south-korea-family.html?unlocked_article_code=1.8U0.6NXo.x2UN-SIDz0VL&smid=url-share

I watch a Korean American youtuber and during one of her videos, she was giving context of the perception of the ex wife of a Samsung family member using an Iphone. She said something like Koreans have this cultural pride over any and everything and *especially* when it comes to Samsung since it's like the backbone of the country. So for anyone else, it's just a phone or whatever but for a Korean it because a cultural symbol. It also goes in hand when people insult it. Like people complain about their country and its products all the time and it's like whatever BUT when someone else insults and complains about the country or its problems, it feels like a personal affront.

I think of this every time I see American shows criticized on here. I don't watch enough American shows to give rebuttals about the criticisms but based on the comments here, there's no good or quality shows or movies made by Western folks and especially if those folks are American. "It's too profane, it's too sexual, it's too shallow, its too violent". Even though types of stories can be trying to tell a message (I'm thinking shows like Euphoria or BoJack Horseman; I don't watch either but I know they have messages in their narratives)
When people complain about Kdramas on Netflix, you might think Netflix executives are singlehandly responsible for why kdramas turn out the way they do. As if there's no Korean creatives or business folks who can possibly turn down a concept, job, or deal.

I've never been interested in kdramas for its conservativeness and it's actually a turnoff at times to me but one thing to like about it, is that it gives a different perspective and is even argubly more fantasy than a fairy tale.

MID-JULY 2024 NOTES FROM 9TAILEDVIXEN'S LIFE:

1. It never rains - it pours

So my right ankle has healed ridiculously fast but now I'm on day 2 of a cold/flu because my sibling brought it back from his office.

There's just over 2 weeks left of sabbatical for me and I was feeling a bit rueful last night as every sneeze propelled half my body off the bed because the sabbatical was supposed to be about REGAINING health, not further jeopardising it.

*Sigh* It is what it is. So it's me, the couch, blankets, pillows, lots of water, meds, and K-Dramas for the rest of the weekend.

I hope I recover by Wednesday evening because the Aerial Yoga instructor for Saturday and Tuesday cancelled all her classes for the coming week so Thursday's class is the only all-levels morning class left. (Plus I really like the Thursday yoga instructor - she knows how to get beginners comfortable and push us nicely to do better than we think we can).

2. This Week in Korean Women's News

(a) Behind a backlash to feminism in South Korea (Podcast episode):

South Korea’s fight against rampant sexism and gender-based violence faces a growing backlash to feminism. A local politician’s comments connecting a rise in male suicide attempts to women being in the workforce is part of a broader backlash to a feminist awakening in South Korea. The fight against rampant sexism and gender-based violence includes the growing 4B movement, which calls for women to refuse marriage, childbirth, dating and sex with men.

https://www.aljazeera.com/podcasts/2024/7/17/the-take-behind-a-backlash-to-feminism-in-south-korea

(b) South Korean women try to redefine family

As the birthrate plummets and more people opt out of marriage, unconventional civil unions are becoming increasingly relevant, challenging the country’s rigid social norms.

https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/south-korean-women-try-to-redefine-family-3111511

Happy weekend Beanies and keep Beaning On!

Late to the party again, my brain has nothing interesting to say on Fridays nowadays.

Lately, I feel restless and bored on Saturday mornings. I look forward to this period all week because finally I can wake up without an alarm, have a coffee and relax on my sofa with the laptop on the coffee table. I guess the habit of forced productivity in the mornings is starting to kick in, combined with the coffee that is a lot stronger than the black tea on weekdays. It is reassuring to know where it might come from.

The boredom feelings are also a good sign. Feeling bored occasionally is healthy and an improvement from always feeling too busy and behind on things. Still, my big three-week holiday in August is nearing and now I am getting scared! 😂😂😂

Ah, the weekly open thread. The second male lead of drama beans. You might say, Mr. Everything, what do you mean? Has the stress of the real world made you totally lose your mind? Hear me out. A troupe in many dramas is the overly friendly SML. The one who is handsome but nice to everyone. The one who is nice to our FL, but also nice to the barista extra who appears in episode 2. The one who might be into you, but also might be into all the other girls in the world who all secretly have a small crush on him. Thus we come back to the Open Thread, a place where you can broadly distribute your opinion/show attention to everyone without specifically directing it at anyone. Thus, the second male lead of drama beans. 😜

Completed Goong/Princess Hours for the nth time!

I didn't remember the last 5 eps were so painful to watch but wow the agony that the last 5 eps brought was unexpected. I had to fast forward the scenes because my heart couldn't withstand the pain and frustration.

I also discovered a new flaw in the drama that I had never noticed. There's this part about Prince Shin going to Thailand for a work trip and spent the day with his ex-girlfriend for a farewell trip. Before this trip, Prince Shin was developing feelings for Chae Kyung already and had started to keep a distance from his ex-girlfriend. However, Prince Shin was acting like he was still very much in love with his ex-girlfriend until he was being caught by the paparazzi who took photos that would cause a few eps of angst. I realised that this part was so abrupt probably because it was filmed before the live shooting started. As live shooting would adjust the plot/characters according to the audience reception, Prince Shin in the Thailand part of the drama was not the same Prince Shin who slowly evolved in the drama. It was quite jarring to see because I couldn't understand the characters anymore.

And the ML and FL do not communicate with each other. If they would have talked to each other honestly about their feelings, I pretty sure this drama could end at episode 10 and does not need 24 episodes.

Yoon Eun Hye was so good in her role as Chae Kyung. She was so lovable! It's a pity that we couldn't see much of her in the past ten years. Her acting was very solid for a debut role.

Joo Ji Hoon's acting improved so much from the start to the end of the drama. His tears were so moving in the last few eps of the drama. And now, he's making it big in chungmuro.

Despite all the mega flaws this drama has, I was still hooked to the plot, invested in the characters and felt sad in the last 5 minutes of the drama because it was ending. It is still a drama that could stir my emotions, for the nth time.