““Boys over Flowers” Boys over Flowers” class discussionclass discussion

Lili Ferguson, Taylor Friedlander, Jaeyeon Choi, Porsche Lili Ferguson, Taylor Friedlander, Jaeyeon Choi, Porsche DamesDames

October 28, 2009October 28, 2009

How the “F4” Enter:How the “F4” Enter:

Japanese version: (@ Japanese version: (@ 5:00)5:00)

http://www.mysoju.com/hana-yori-dango/episode-1/part-1/

Taiwanese version: (@ Taiwanese version: (@ 1:05)1:05)

http://www.mysoju.com/meteor-garden/episode-1/part-2/

Korean version: (@ 4:01)Korean version: (@ 4:01)

http://www.mysoju.com/boys-before-flowers/episode-1/part-3/

Things to consider…Things to consider…

What themes appear in all clips?What themes appear in all clips?

What themes don’t?What themes don’t?

Do we know anything about the “F4” thanks Do we know anything about the “F4” thanks to their appearance, the staging of their to their appearance, the staging of their introduction, and people’s behavior towards introduction, and people’s behavior towards them?them?

Gender Construction-MaleGender Construction-Male Arashi music video (Japanese cast member’s band):Arashi music video (Japanese cast member’s band):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4TnUdKa56E

Fire escape scene 3 ways: Fire escape scene 3 ways:

http://www.mysoju.com/hana-yori-dango/episode-1/part-3/ Japanese version @ 2:54Japanese version @ 2:54

http://www.mysoju.com/meteor-garden/episode-1/part-5/ Taiwanese version @ 1:50Taiwanese version @ 1:50

http://www.mysoju.com/boys-before-flowers/episode-1/http://www.mysoju.com/boys-before-flowers/episode-1/part-2/part-2/ Korean version @ 7:10Korean version @ 7:10

Gender Construction-Gender Construction-FemaleFemale

The girls introduce themselves…what strikes The girls introduce themselves…what strikes you?you?

Korean version (@ 2:27):Korean version (@ 2:27): http://www.mysoju.com/boys-before-flowers/http://www.mysoju.com/boys-before-flowers/

episode-1/part-2/episode-1/part-2/

Japanese Version (@ 1:54):Japanese Version (@ 1:54): http://www.mysoju.com/hana-yori-dango/http://www.mysoju.com/hana-yori-dango/

episode-1/part-3/episode-1/part-3/

Images to think about…Images to think about…

Gender QuestionsGender Questions

Masculinity: what features make the F4 alpha males?Masculinity: what features make the F4 alpha males?

Watching the music video: When people view these Watching the music video: When people view these singers, do you think they view them as attractive singers, do you think they view them as attractive 'males'? The degree of masculinity or femininity that can 'males'? The degree of masculinity or femininity that can be found in the males: does this affect their sexual be found in the males: does this affect their sexual identity or gender construction?identity or gender construction?

Female Protagonist: How is the female protagonist Female Protagonist: How is the female protagonist portrayed? What does her actions and her clothing say portrayed? What does her actions and her clothing say about her? about her?

Female Protagonist, or the good girl vs. the bad girls. Female Protagonist, or the good girl vs. the bad girls. How does aesthetics help bring out the two different How does aesthetics help bring out the two different types of characters?types of characters?

Can you find any differences in the way the ideal male Can you find any differences in the way the ideal male and female was portrayed in the three different series?and female was portrayed in the three different series?

Social ClassSocial Class

Is it a requirement for this show to be situated in a Is it a requirement for this show to be situated in a very wealthy school? Would it “work” if it were a very wealthy school? Would it “work” if it were a middle-class school and a lower-class protagonist?middle-class school and a lower-class protagonist?

Positive or negative connotations associated with Positive or negative connotations associated with upper class/lower class? Moral values associated upper class/lower class? Moral values associated with one or the other?with one or the other?

In a school where everyone but the “F4” wear In a school where everyone but the “F4” wear uniforms, did you notice other ways people set uniforms, did you notice other ways people set themselves apart based on class?themselves apart based on class?

Think about Fashion (note the capital “F”)…is this Think about Fashion (note the capital “F”)…is this the ideal environment for the development of such the ideal environment for the development of such a system?a system?

Social Class:Social Class:Consumerism and Consumerism and

MoneyMoneyhttp://www.viz.com/onlinemanga/om.php?http://www.viz.com/onlinemanga/om.php?

chap=bof-hi-chapter-1chap=bof-hi-chapter-1

Is the show critical of status symbols? Or does Is the show critical of status symbols? Or does it encourage them, in a way?it encourage them, in a way?

What does the show say about consumerism?What does the show say about consumerism?

How does the consumerist mentality idealize How does the consumerist mentality idealize the Western aesthetic?the Western aesthetic?

Does this suggest there is something innately Does this suggest there is something innately consumerist about “Asian” aesthetics?consumerist about “Asian” aesthetics?

Social Class and Home Social Class and Home LifeLife

Korean version, lower class family time (@ Korean version, lower class family time (@ 3:38):3:38): http://www.mysoju.com/hana-yori-dango/http://www.mysoju.com/hana-yori-dango/

episode-1/part-2/episode-1/part-2/

Japanese version, upper class family time (@ Japanese version, upper class family time (@ 9:50)9:50) http://www.mysoju.com/hana-yori-dango/http://www.mysoju.com/hana-yori-dango/

episode-1/part-3episode-1/part-3

FamilyFamily

How are family/familial relationships portrayed How are family/familial relationships portrayed differently amongst the series? differently amongst the series?

How does the main female character in each How does the main female character in each series relate to the members of family? series relate to the members of family?

What correlations do you see between familial What correlations do you see between familial relationships and class?relationships and class?

Who bears the burden of preserving traditional Who bears the burden of preserving traditional Asian culture in the respective families? Asian culture in the respective families?

Compare the home life of the main female Compare the home life of the main female character and the lead F4 member in the character and the lead F4 member in the Japanese version of Boys Over Flowers.Japanese version of Boys Over Flowers.

Last thought…Last thought…

Can you really separate Can you really separate these themes from one these themes from one

another?another?