4 THE FIRST WORD 8 THE AGENDA 31 THE LAST WORD
Creative Thinker Part II CREATIVE WORK BY Cynthia Adkins Dan Schwabenbauer Alex Clermont Dorkothy Parker Hallie Wells
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Rubber Duckie: You’re the One Rubber Duckie is one of the fastest growing bands in and around Seoul. Their fan base is becoming stronger and stronger with shows in Hongdae and other spots in Seoul almost every weekend. BY C.J. KOSTER & KRISTIN ANNABLE
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Eating Your Words ‘Word Food’ is one of Seoul’s little secrets: an event based on the written words of poets and lyricists that are spoken openly to a crowd of fans and fellow writers. Are you a poet? Get involved! 11
Wordsmiths Gone Viral
Elliott Ashby is leading the charge in promoting the spoken word via the Internet. Poets and technology go hand-in-hand in this new viral project. BY SAMMY TECLE
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Eshe Brings Belly Dancing to Seoul
Belly dancing has taken the world by storm and South Korea is no exception. Eshe is leading the way in bringing more and more dancers to this amazing art form. BY SALLY ANDERSON
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Swiss Director Ivan Engler A NEH exclusive interview with the creator, producer, editor and director of Switzerland’s first ever sci-fi film, ‘Cargo’. BY KRISTIN ANNABLE
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Stitch and Bitch Knitting is no longer grandma’s Sunday afternoon activity. There’s a group in Seoul that is making it their goal to promote and celebrate a very soothing and artistic form of expression. BY CLAIRE ARMSTRONG
On the Cover Rubber Duckie photographed exclusively for NEH by Dennis Kim at the OI Bar in Hongdae. Hair and make-up courtesy of Lee Myung Min Foret, Hongdae.
t’s been over four decades since Ernie sat in a bubble bath, serenading his little yellow duck friend. The song “Rubber Duckie”, by the way, hit number sixteen on Billboard’s “Hot 100 Singles” in 1970; (trivia fact: the same rubber duckie has been used in every recording of the song that followed because no other duckie could be found that could match the squeak of the original.) There isn’t a 70’s, 80’s or even 90’s baby around who wouldn’t recognize the loveable lyrics. The name of that famous melody has since become the calling card for one of Seoul’s newest and greatest all-girl rock bands. The big differences between the two are that Ernie wasn’t nearly as hot as these girls, and they don’t have orange skin. Though, they certainly are a group that you can be “awfully fond” of. Ji-a, Baeky, and Bae-mi have played venues in and around Seoul, developing an amazing following of fans as one of the areas most prominent all-girl Korean groups. NEH has been lucky to have them grace the cover of our second installment of the Creative Thinker and to have them answer some questions about first dates, pick-up lines, theme park rides, and their dreams as artists in the K-Pop scene. I had the chance to watch them perform at NEH’s July release party and was blown away by their stage presence, their passion for the music and, without a doubt, how undeniably sexy they are. It goes without saying that these girls exude girl power and using that as our inspiration for our photo shoot with them, we’ve captured their personality in the photos and the feature on page 16. Our feature with Rubber Duckie emphasizes their dream to become a successful part of the Korean music scene and delves into their personal opinions about specific subjects like what they think about men who watch them perform
and what pick-up lines would work on them. Their appearance on the music scene is very refreshing. lso this month, Managing Editor Kristin Annable writes her last article for NEH and presents an exclusive interview with Ivan Engler, the director and creative mind behind Switzerland’s first ever sci-fi film Cargo, a film about humanity’s survival after the Earth has become uninhabitable (page 22) which was recently screened at the Bucheon Fantastic Film Festival in July. Annable discusses everything from why there has never been a sci-fi film produced in Switzerland, Engler’s experience in Korea, his passion for movie making and tips on how to get creative and break into the film industry. e are very fortunate this month to have Elliott Ashby introduce his project Wordsmiths, which showcases via video the poetic and lyrical stylings of poets in and around Seoul. In the article by Sammy Trecle, we feature the poets themselves and their work, hoping to promote this very amazing and creative endeavor. The poems are often based on particular subject matter and we’ve carried that over into our feature. n addition to everything else we have piled up for you this month, we’ve compiled some creative work from some very inspirational and interesting writers, photographers and artists. As we present our second installment of our first Creative Thinker series, we continue to accept creative submissions, particularly short fiction at any time. Enjoy the issue.
Publisher & Creative Director Promotions Manager Editor Managing Editor Art Director Director of Photography Copy Editor Associate Art Director Art Associate Advertising Associate Director of Editorial Projects Staff Writers
C.J. Koster nehmagazine@gmail.com Venus Robertson Kelly Williams Hannah Zimmerman Chris White Sue Kim Sean Naylor Harriet Bodkin Chris Gabrielsen Claire Armstrong Rydia Kim Ryan Rutherford, Sally Anderson, Jamie Greer, JD Greer, Marcia Tyler, Aleesha Frume, Kara Johnson, Sammy Tecle
Contributing Writers
Alex Clermont, Dorkthy Parker, Dan Schwabenbaur, Hallie Wells
Staff Photographers
Jen Semple Dennis Kim
Associate Editor
Cynthia Adkins
Art Contributor
Igor Pachkevitch
Translator
Chand-dong Park
Advertising and Business Director
Distributors
NEH Magazine Founded January 2010 Bucheon, South Korea
Jinah Kim nehadvertising@gmail.com CafÊ Nicolia Madigan’s Irish Pub (West Seoul) Pub in the Park Rhythm & Booze Roofers (Itaewon) Taco Ria The Wolfhound (Itaewon) What The Book (Itaewon) www.nehmagazine.com nehmagazine@gmail.com On Facebook, search for NEH magazine
All content Copyright 2010 NEH magazine. No part of NEH magazine may be reproduced in any form by any means without written permission from NEH magazine
NEH magazine is looking for a few good photographers. Positions are available for freelance photographers or staff photographers eager to beef up their portfolio. Photographers must have their own camera and equipment and must be available for a wide range of photo shoots and for taking pictures at events in Bucheon and around Seoul. Amateur photographers interested in pursuing photography as a hobby are also invited to join. For more information or to get involved, please contact us at nehmagazine@gmail.com. “Urban Excerpts: Meditations on the overlooked.” New artwork by Adam Lofbomm to be shown at Haebangchon’s first fine art gallery, Laughing Tree Gallery, in Seoul, September 11-25, 2010. When reading a story, sometimes a seemingly unimportant fragment-- a line or phrase-- will grab our attention in such a way that it continues to resurface and resound for weeks or years after the plot and characters have faded. Perhaps it’s the rhythm of the words or a particular resonance with other elements in our lives that causes a passage to leap forth from the page and assume a life of its own. For Seoul-based American artist, Adam Lofbomm, the entire city is a visual narrative full of such fragments just waiting to be excerpted, quoted, and re-appropriated. Using various cameras as a sort of notebook, he sifts through the urban landscape, capturing ready-made elements for his mixed media compositions such as distressed surfaces, obscured typographical forms, and details of city infrastructure that are often ignored. Employing various digital and analog printmaking techniques in his process, he then combines these visual excerpts into painterly works that highlight the raw beauty of the city and challenge us to look out at our everyday world with heightened awareness. This show marks the grand opening of Adam and Jessica Lofbomm’s Laughing Tree Gallery, the first fine art gallery in the Haebangchon neighborhood of Seoul. The Lofbomms are currently planning to curate more exhibitions by local and international artists, and are now accepting applications from artists interested in showing their work at the gallery. Inquiries can be directed to Jessica@LaughingTree.com. Opening receptions will be held on Saturday, September 11, from 5-9pm and on Sunday, September 12, from 3-7pm. The gallery will be open daily from 11am-7pm until September 18, and viewings are available by appointment from September 19- 25. Laughing Tree Gallery is located at: 22-12 Yongsandong 2ga,Yongsan-gu, Seoul 140-841 (140-841 2 22-12)
시 용산구 용산동 가
Visit LaughingTree.com for more information.
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One of the biggest events in Bucheon. On Saturday, September 11th, Rhythm & Booze is hosting the third ever ROK for Bucheon: a fundraiser for Rodam Tree House, an organization that provides care and support for mostly elderly Koreans with diabetes. The event will be an evening of live music, prizes, poker and art. The event is free but it is requested that all attendees donate 10,000 won. The schedule for the event is as follows: From 4-8pm, there will be a charity poker tournament. The game is No-Limit Texas Hold ‘Em with a 40,000 won buy in. There are 40 slots available with 5 stand-by spots. The event also includes an art show featuring paintings, photography and drawings by local artists. Each artist is expected to bring 2-5 pieces for exhibitions. To be involved, contact Kyu or Lyla. Live music will start at 8pm and will include artists from Bucheon and the surrounding area.
Editing is a skill that over half of us out there don’t have the patience for. NEH is looking for copy and article editors to join its already growing editorial department. Becoming a NEH editor will help you build upon your portfolio and guarantees opportunities for learning and gaining experience. A strong knowledge of grammar, spelling and sentence structure is required. Opportunities for editing and writing are also available. Contact nehmagazine@gmail.com.
Promote your event, advertise your business or opportunity, send a birthday message, send us something you want to have printed. To contact NEH to place your ad on this page, send the necessary information including all dates to
For more information, please also contact the email address above.
ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 20TH, FREEBIRD IN HONGDAE HOSTED SOME OF SEOUL’S BEST AND CREATIVE DJ’S AND MC’S. Lyricists, or lyrics or wordsmiths, create words to original pieces of music or add words to music that already exists. MC’s included DBSTK CRZZY, Pinnacle the Hustler, Benny Fax, Infinite, Jkea Pains and DA (featured in NEH’s June Issue.) Volume 2 of the Lyricists Lounge will take place on October 2nd and will be hosted, for a second time, at Freebird. For more information on the event and for directions to the club, check Facebook or contact Venus Robertson at secondfromthesun@gmail.com.
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t’s a surprisingly cool August evening when I link up with Elliott Ashby in the heart of Seoul. Even though the city is buzzing with stressed-out career folks squirming their way home from work, Elliott and I just kick back as if we’re beaching it on a sunny Friday afternoon. Ashby is the man behind WORDSMITHS, a collaborative effort involving artists who articulate their thoughts and emotions through poetry. Each poet has approximately one minute to share their perspective on one word. So far, the first four episodes: WORDSMITHS “On Love”, “On Luck”, “On Beauty”, and “On War”, have shown limitless creativity that has people eagerly waiting in anticipation for future works. Despite WORDSMITHS being Ashby’s first project in Korea, he is by no means a stranger to the arts scene. Since his arrival to Korea in 2008, the 27year old has positively contributed to the growth of spoken-word in Korea, and continues to influence aspiring-poets today. Meanwhile, hundreds of white-collar workers impatiently line up for buses while simultaneously eavesdropping on our conversation. I don’t mind at all. I’m flattered, actually. But they’re not fooling anyone. We jump right into the interview and discuss Ashby’s motivations for creating WORDSMITHS. Cool, calm, collected, and without the slightest hesitation, Ashby explains that the idea for WORDSMITHS is three-fold. First and foremost, Ashby feels that he has the gift of motivating other people, especially those who have yet to realize their potential. A poet himself, Ashby’s passion for inspiring others has allowed him to explore new avenues involving film production. Secondly, WORDSMITHS is meant to be engaging. Ashby desires to produce something that an audience can watch and reflect on. Lastly, WORDSMITHS intends to draw a reaction from its audience. “From reflection, I hope that people will be stimulated either to think or to act critically”. With
Love is multifaceted. An abstract concept The potential definitions are limitless. Ineffable. Unfathomable. What I do know, is it feels phenomenal. Send endorphins to the brain Causes pupils to dilate & hearts to pulsate at an accelerated rate. Enigmatic sensation Evoking inspiration Spiritual stimulation Makes you want to dive in head first without hesitation. Progressing beyond just intimacy and affection, Imperfections become perfection, And on reflection, there’s no point trying to get philosophical Because ultimately, love is illogical. And instead of analysing it And attempting to identify rules, We should embrace it And appreciate that love is simply a beautiful thing.
each episode showcasing various styles of poetry and expression, while still maintaining a clear message, WORDSMITHS easily achieves Ashby’s aforementioned goals. The launch of WORDSMITHS also features several gifted artists, all of whom have been instrumental in the success of WORDSMITHS. Each episode involves people who are not only poets, but expressionists as well. Grinning with satisfaction, Ashby wears a look of pride as he reflects on each person that he has worked with. “I look for diversity of looks and talent, and every single person that has participated in WORDSMITHS has had special qualities about them”. In retrospect, Ashby feels that “On Luck” was the most diverse piece. “On Luck” features Brian Aylward, a comedian, who humorously rejects the existence of luck, Danielle Arsenault, who sings while playing the ukulele, and Marcus Aurelius Higgs, who performs a rhythmic style of spoken-word to communicate his sour feelings towards luck. Ashby’s emphasis on natural, fluid art, rather than a highly technical approach, embraces a sense of freedom that brings each episode to life. Suddenly, the mood shifts from jovial to complete silence, and I notice that Ashby is deep in thought. “My inspiration for WORDSMITHS came from being in a funk for much of 2009”, confesses Ashby. “I push people to do art because I let my art die last year, and creating brings joy to my life”. However, one day in January 2010, while Ashby was listening to ANDRE 3000’s “Happy Valentine’s Day”, he felt reinvigorated. “Hearing that song made me want to return to making videos, but I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to do something satirical or something abstract and poetic”. Ashby stuck with the latter, thus the creation of WORDSMITHS. Fast-forward to September 2010 and WORDSMITHS has Greater Seoul buzzing like the pizza man. With WORDSMITHS “On God” slated to be the 5th topic, now is the perfect time to catch up on previous episodes. Seriously. To view episodes of WORDSMITHS, be sure to check out www.YouTube.com/consciouscontent or www.elliottashby.com.
We all live in this active condition of antagonism for me its called war// Be it unrequited feelings, those defeated dreams, life appeasing over-zealous leaders, or just living in dischord// Uneasy thoughts of lesser or for greater freedoms, grieving hurt, alert n' cheating in eternal afters and befores// A spiritual cause or for the fiscally abhorred, we get physical, distraught and end up entering with swords.// Every revolution of the mind, resolution of its time, the goodthe bad- the borderline, where borders lie, in paradigms defiled, maligned, defined since man arrived our time is seen from pastures green to Palestine dismayed, engaged in endless wars.// So ''what is it good for?''// Emancipation, desecration, liberation, devastation, education, elevation, much less but yes much more-// Sometimes self exploration as cathartic means of inspiration or the devils advocation, part n parcel scorn// Its hard to see the good in life’s disharmony, disarming or just arguing with certainty, cos conflict’s in us all// We'll keep fighting for meaning and reason, a credence. The only true variable is allegiance. So whether we fail or succeed, we all need it. That’s our war with war
You are my morning rollover in bed reminder to take note ~ the little things the scribbles in columns of books, the hushed innuendos sent on the breeze lilting thru our open windows we stare through then and into now – our gift - a new day, a new expanse into the space between the molecules, the line breaks of reality littered through the words sifting through verses playing through ears like lightning through trees, the melodies which chant change and invoke all things Yes... Giving rise to Creativities inferno, I am hot with this, I traveled far to get to this, burning terrifyingly potent, waxing casually magnificent – vibrating - exceptionally beautiful. it's here I float. I contemplate the exquisite
I meet a lady named luck. say it happened yesterday while i was on the path walking to the next milestone of my life reciting some of my poetry in the back of my mind when i peeped this lady out the corner of my eye. and i'm like... ...that's lady luck. tell you the truth, i've been with you since the beginning, you just haven't noticed. i'm not a flyby change or happenstance i'm not a phenomenon. i'm a calculated outcome keep giving nothing but love and spreading the word. you'll be alight. and even if you don't see me after this time. "and remember, lady luck is on your side. softly kissed me on the cheek and sweetly whispered in my ear, Look, I don't believe in luck. If you ask me there's no such thing. I mean,
Yes, All Before brushing my teeth You are my stones throw reminder to a ten second enlightenment It’s all I need The pebble skipped across my waters and my years Our bed is a marble one high on a crystal perch Overlooking yesterdays, summoning tomorrows I am Buddah curtsying in a polka dot pajama dress Giving props to the sky for outdoing its blue hue it’s me , it’s you We play air guitar to our audience of 2 Drawn up in dawns gratitude, I’ve toasted to life with tangerine juice bright enough to fill the sun It fills my room, it fills my heart, I breathe these scenes, I walk the sun beams, I know this beauty, I am this dream.
when we speak of progress it's something more than just a favorable unexpected outcome that some special person has. Greatness doesn't come in the fly by fortune of some happenstance. No, 'cause luck is not real. and if it is, if luck be a lady she's just the baby born to the parents of poppa persistence and momma circumstance. Which is just to say if you consistently work hard enough eventually you are going to get your chance. because success is no coincidence. It is result of calculated progress. It is the eventual outcome of our consistent habits. It is the effect to the cause of a hard working spirit in those who have it. And most definitely it is not found in petting the amputated appendages of dead rabbits.
Carys can’t remember when she wrote her first poem, but says it wouldn’t surprise her if it was shortly after she learned to write full sentences. She first performed her own poetry at an open mic in Birmingham, England in 2006, where she was backed by spoken word artist/singer Zena Edwards and her band. In 2009, she appeared as a featured artist on the TV Show Verbalizm in the UK.
Marcus Higgs is a performance poet who has been sharing his gift of spoken word for the past 10 years. Born in California and raised in the Bahamas by a Filipino mother and Bahamian father, Marcus draws from his diverse background to connect and give insightful poetry to a wide array of audiences. He has performed on stage with poets such as Nikki Giovanni, Shihan the Poet, and Marc Smith. To hear more of his work, and read some of his articles on the subject of spoken word, you can find him at his website marcushiggs.com.
Amongst various tendencies, Venus is a closet poet. Not having fully “come out” as of yet, she has dabbled in writing & production for magazines, been ringleader on promotions & creations of unique events involving a multitude of local/international artists & tried her hand at acting, voice work, radio &DJing. As host of Word Food (Seoul’s original & longest running spoken word affair), she has been able to satisfy her love for words & artistic endeavors whilst providing a space for others to be. Something which will never stop.
MC/Poet/Freestyler Jake Pains spends his time divided between his poetry (currently the Word Food Seoul Slam Poet Champion!), his rapping (as part of the UK hip hop group 30,000 Bastards (aka 30kb www.30kb.co.uk), his MC'in (for DJ's French Knickerz) and his inebriation. Always game for a freestyle or rhyme so find his beacon like hair and holla, big tings a gwaan!
WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO BECOME A BELLY DANCER? I had never trained in any other dance, but I when I was living in Japan I saw an ad in an entertainment magazine for a belly dancing class. 7 years later, I’m still dancing! HOW IS BELLY DANCING DIFFERENT IN KOREA THAN IN OTHER PLACES? Koreans are more interested in “diet dance.” They all want to have an “s-line” AND DOES BELLY DANCING CREATE THAT SOUGHT AFTER SLINE? People are always asking me if I can guarantee that coming to my classes will help them lose weight or change their shape. I tell them that I hope dancing will help them appreciate the body they already have; and after dancing for awhile, improve their overall body image. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BELLY DANCE? It’s similar to yoga in the way that it’s a massage for your insides and it gives you that mind-body connection. It’s also a
and more Koreans. RIGHT, I UNDERSTAND BELLY DANCING HAS BECOME QUITE A TREND IN KOREA. Oh definitely! I would say it’s become a lot more popular in the past 5 years but it is still primarily seen as a way to lose weight. And of course, people love the costumes.
cultural experience, by dancing you can learn about different cultures that have been belly dancing for centuries. And it’s just a great way to pamper yourself. Most of the girls who come to my studio live busy city lives, and dancing is a way to take time away from that, to de-stress and connect with a more natural element. HOW DOES DANCE HELP YOU CONNECT WITH NATURE, EVEN IN A BIG CITY LIKE SEOUL? At my studio we start all our class cycles with the moon, so the first class is on the day of the new moon. I believe that dancing is a really natural, organic side of being human that can get repressed. If you turn on music for a baby they immediately begin to move to it. That changes later in life and suddenly the only time we dance is when we are drunk in a club. I want my studio to be a place for people to reconnect with that natural element, learn how to connect to the music and get drunk off that! WHO TAKES YOUR CLASSES IN ITAEWON? It started as mostly foreigners, but slowly we are getting more
Zero (in Hongdae) and they really understand belly dancing as an art form. They’ve invited me to be part of an art and culture tour they are doing to the rural areas of Korea for farmers and people who don’t have access to all the culture we have in Seoul. I’ve done a few concerts already in places like Sangju and Osan. HOW DID THE FARMERS RESPOND TO YOU? They went bananas!! They were calling for an encore and shouting things out like “Beautiful! More, more!”
WHY IS IT THEN WHENEVER I WALK PAST A DANCE STUDIO OR A GYM DOING BELLY DANCING THEY ARE ALL AJUMMAS? [Laughing] Well they aren’t all ajummas but I guess they are the most interested in losing weight. It’s the same in Canada. Most people I know there doing belly dancing are my mom’s age! But belly dancing is great for all ages and all types of bodies.
WHICH BRINGS ME TO AN IMPORTANT QUESTION, ARE YOU SINGLE? [Giggles like Tinkerbelle] No, I’m married.
BELLYDANCING IS INTRINSICALLY A VERY SEXY, SENSUAL DANCE. HOW DO YOU FIND MOST KOREANS RESPOND TO THAT KIND OF EXPRESSION? I’ve been doing a lot of shows with the directors at Theater
SINCE I USUALLY WRITE THE SEX COLUMN FOR NEH, I HAVE TO ASK YOU THIS. HOW CAN BELLY DANCING IMPROVE YOUR SEX LIFE? It gives you more confidence!
No doubt there are people out there who will be disappointed by that!
All classes are at the Well Being Studio in Itaewon, Seoul. From Itaewon station, take exit #3. Walk past the police station and gas station. Keep going. Walk up the huge set of stairs on your right. Turn left. Stay on the left side of the road where it forks. The studio is on the right with a big sign overhead. You can find information about Eshe’s classes, and which classes you can try for FREE on her website http://eshebellydancer.com/, you can contact Eshe directly at eshebellydancer@hotmail.com or she can be found on Facebook. Eshe, Navah and friends will perform Nirvana Nights Vol 2 on October 9 at Hongdae's Theater Zero .
ou’ve heard the expression “They have that certain je ne sais pas.” That, “I don’t know what.” But what Ji-a, Bae-mi and Baeky, collectively known as Rubber Duckie, have is pretty obvious. Their sex appeal as three very attractive Korean girls is definitely a factor in attracting their audience and they play on that. When they arrive at their photo shoot, they’re exuding an image: we’re here, we’re cool, we’re aware that we’re sexy. But they’re also timid. It’s their first time being shot for an English magazine and the fact that many of the shoot staff are foreigners and can’t speak Korean (save photographer Dennis Kim and editorial projects coordinator Rydia Kim) has them acting a bit coy. Except for Ji-a; for her, it’s all about fun. The first photo of their shoot is being taken at Hongdae University and is centered around a large wire frame in the shape of a duck. The wires are metal and rusted. Ji-a has squeezed in between the wires and stands inside the duck—much to the amusement of the production crew who had considered taking some shots with all three girls standing exactly where Ji-a has taken it upon herself to go. She’s a natural Amazon, rough and ready, up for anything, absolutely the most outgoing of the three. Baeky clearly doesn’t want to be anywhere near the duck; some of the rust is rubbing off on her hands and she’s not happy. The pictures are showing it. She
acts with care, barely letting her finger tips touch the wires and then quickly backs away from the duck once a picture is taken. Bae-mi is the middle ground. She has the calm but also the discomfort. Bae-mi seems like the quiet leader: she’s not comfortable with the rust or the prickly wires but she knows this is the shoot, she knows the value of the photos and so she trucks on and makes the best of it. She’s more reserved now than when she’s on stage, doing double time as a vocalist (which all of the girls are) and the band’s bassist, “We want to be regarded as musicians, not as women,” she says in the band’s pre-interview before the shoot, “we want our music to make people happy.” And her demeanor reflects that. This is the first time that they’ve been part of a magazine feature and have been guaranteed that it’s going to be published, Baeky conveys in broken English as the production crew, the girls and their manager walk to the location of the next shoot. The girls had done a photo shoot with another magazine prior to NEH’s but the feature was never published. She doesn’t say why; and the production crew can’t understand why it wasn’t either. The girls are incredibly photogenic. Ji-a throws herself into the scenes and strikes poses that are energetic and enthusiastic, Baeky portrays herself as meek and fragile while Bae-mi is strong and careful. All three play their part for the lens.
Their next photo has underlying tones and the production crew is worried about the lame cliché that the concept might suggest. The girls are given three ice cream cones and each chooses a different flavor as if perceiving the artistry of the shot. Actually, it’s Bae-mi who chooses which of the girls is going to have which flavor. She passes Ji-a a chocolate cone and when Baeky complains about being given vanilla, Bae-mi—like an appeasing mother– switches with her and gives Baeky her strawberry cone. By the time the shots are being taken, the mood has changed from trepidatious to playful. The ice cream has started to melt and each of the girls is finding it difficult to not just eat their treat. “I want to eat! Eat! Eat!” Ji-a yells, licking the drippings off the cone.
he girls released their debut album I am a single with four tracks—all written by Jia—and have maintained their fan base through their Cyworld Fancafe (http://club.cyworld.com/ rubberduckie) and their Facebook group where they post videos and photos from their performances. Baemi and Ji-a met in high school and met Baeky after the group was formed in 2004. They didn’t reunited and actually start performing together regularly until September 2009. “We want people to open their eyes really big when they listen to our music,” they say in their interview, “In Korea, rock music isn’t popular compared to dance music or something like that. We want to be recognized as rocker women.” By the time they’ve finished their ice cream, the girls are becoming visibly restless. The production crew has dragged them around most of Hongdae to their predetermined shooting locales. The girls and their manager mingle with the crew and try to make conversation using the little English that the girls know. But they’re practicing. They recognize the value of learning to speak English and they are very appreciative of their foreigner fans. They’ve played to full houses at Rhythm & Booze in Bucheon, which is the only place their fans will hear them play in the city. Otherwise, they’re all over. They play shows regularly on club night in Hongdae and have toured Seoul’s outer right as one of Korea’s foremost all girls rock bands. Despite their exhaustion, they’re adamant about carrying on. They are working hard for what they want; which, like most performers, is to be famous. To achieve their goal, they recognize that they need to be diligent and maintain a high standard for themselves. Their dedication to their dream carries over into everything they do: they don’t drink and they don’t smoke. They care about their image and how they are perceived by their fans. But it isn’t just for show or in public, their policy about not drinking alcohol– even when it’s offered to them (which is quite often) and not smoking carries over into their personal and private lives. They believe abstaining from
alcohol and cigarettes helps them to maintain their strong work ethic. “You don’t smoke and you don’t drink,” we say to the girls in their interview, “do you have any piercings or tattoos?” “I really want to [get a tattoo,]” Ji-a proclaims, “and I’ve had a belly-button piercing but I took it out and have a scar from it now so I don’t have any plans to do it again.” “Not yet,” Bae-mi says with a sense of modesty, and then adds, “but … I’d like
to have them around my shoulders or above my hip.” While one of the shoots is happening, a crowd starts to form and watch what is happening. They’re obviously wondering who these girls are and why they’re being photographed. Some of the crowd are male Westerners, in Hongdae for a night of drinking and partying. “[We’re] popular with foreigners we come to see our show,” Baeky says but Ji-a adds, “I never care about guys who come to watch us play. I see them one
time and I don’t care.” But it’s quite obvious, as a result of their wardrobe and vivaciousness, that they’re getting some attention. But it doesn’t distract them in the slightest. It’s as if the crowd isn’t even there and the photos are what matter to them. Despite their lack of interest in the attention, they say that there are certain pick-up lines that they would find entertaining if they were ever used on them. “I may not be a genie but I can make your dreams come true,” Ji-a chooses, adding, “if he said that, I’d probably think he really was a genie.” The girls have been shooting for nearly three hours. The sun has gone down and they’re still willing to do more. “If you were a kind of vegetable, what kind of vegetable would you be?” “Cabbage,” Bae-mi says matter-a-factly, “it tastes good.” “A carrot,” Ji-a says, thinking about it, “I really hate carrots, so if others hate them too then maybe I won’t be eaten.” “Broccoli,” answers Baeky, “it’s really nutritious and healthy and can help prevent getting some serious diseases.” The last shoot the girls do is outside a restaurant called Castle Praha: a massive gothic building with detailed architecture and design. The girls stand behind a massive spotlight, making faces and horrorfilm noises, “Muahahaha!” Ji-a cackles at Baeky. “We want to stand up as a worldwide famous group of rockstars,” says Baeky, talking more about what the girls’ dreams are for the group, “it’s difficult to [have a dream like that] but a lot of people, who have a lot of experience and talent, are opening doors for us and once the doors are open wide enough, we’re going to be very successful. We know that.’ Rubber Duckie is graceful and modest. They understand what it is going to take for them to break out and become as big as they one day hope to be. Without a doubt, these are not just hot girls who just happen to be able to sing, they are musicians with a talent that can not be rivaled. N
sitting at the Koryo Hotel, Bucheon’s answer for an accommodation when a jimjibang or a love motel just doesn’t seem appropriate. It’s the epicentre for the Bucheon Film Festival and all around me are young, fresh-faced and eager volunteers running around in blue PIFAN shirts offering people assistance. Scattered among the volunteers are about ten different journalists all conducting interviews with various film directors and actors. I’m here to interview Ivan Engler whose film Cargo is showing at the Festival. As I compare my small pad of paper and pen to the other “real” journalist’s laptops and tape recorders, two thoughts spring to mind: 1) How the hell am I going to pull this interview off? 2) Is Ivan Engler going to see through this journalist façade and laugh me out the door? As he walks through the door and I see he is a) young b) wearing a T-shirt that says “Wasted German Youth”, I realize that I will be okay. As he sits down and greets me I am immediately pleased to hear that he speaks perfect English (with a slight accent of course), no pantomiming or simplified English for me! In the end Ivan proved to be a very witty, passionate, and easy-to-talk-to film buff, as opposed to the pretentious, self-important film “auteur” I was worried I might be interviewing. Here is what I learned during our time together: 1) The reason that there has never been a science fiction film in Switzerland is because the Swiss film industry runs on ridiculous small profit margins. With only a possible audience of 6 million, and three different official languages, it’s difficult to see movies make more than 5 million dollars. Hence, why no one wants to make a big budget sci-fi film. 2) He is not just the director of Cargo, he also co-wrote, produced, and edited the film. Cargo was his lovechild that took him 9 years to create. The film is set in the not too distant future at a time when Earth has become uninhabitable; as a result, humanity is forced to live like refugees aboard spaceships away from the Earth. The dream for these refugees is to one day leave their shipping containers and move to the
mythical planet Rhea. 3) His commanding approach is due to his “ambitious nature, whenever I do something, I do my best”. By taking on so many of the jobs that would otherwise need to go to paid experts, and with many friends volunteering their time and expertise he was able to make a high-budget looking Sci-fi film for 2 million dollars. 4) He loves Korea. Unlike many people in their first two weeks in this country he has fallen in love with the food. In fact, he said, “of all the festivals I have been to this year (over 15), I have never eaten so well”. He lamented on how “Korea has cheaper food that still tastes good.” 5) He has been treated extremely well in Bucheon. “The people here have been so nice and welcoming, my one helper takes me out at night, and is always checking things for me, and he gave me a gift today”. He also “loves the humour that they have”, jokes he finds often would fall flat on other international audiences get the Koreans he has met in stitches. 6) He loves noraebang! (Who doesn’t?) 7) His tips for how to release your creative juices: “Go for walks in the rain, be somewhere alone, be near nature; there the mystery of the world can inspire you.” 8) His tip for how to break into the film industry: “a little craziness, narcissism and persistence, know you are the best, and just do it”. 9) He loves the sci-fi film Blade Runner, and fully convinced me that it’s time I finally sit down and watch it. N
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Dear Person I don’t know, As a kid I tried my best to stay away from mirrors... My reflection stared back at me one day, and I realized that I was not very attractive: pimples, an overbite, twenty extra pounds. Made uncomfortable in my own skin, I smile when I remember my first attempt at love with a skinny brown girl I cared for, but didn’t know very well. In her basement, replete with the musty smells of solitude we each held the other and I forgot to feel nervous about my own nakedness - that feeling of having the eyes of the world on my back. You would know, if you knew me, that those years are still not completely gone. I still look in the mirror. I’m still not happy. You would know too, if you knew me, that I saw in that girl an unreal perfection based on what I saw as her real imperfections. Her gangly arms and legs held me tight and rubbed themselves against my skin with all the care I had assumed there would be from one who was supposed to care for you. I detached from the moment for a moment and thought about radio love songs. I wondered if what I felt was not new. Had someone discovered this exact feeling maybe been in this exact situation? I swore I would ask my older brother about it on my next visit to his place to borrow money, drink beer, watch porn, drive around in his car. I came back to lying on a dusty couch with a naked women who was, to me, more beautiful than my fondest dreams, precisely because she was real. She coughed loudly in my mouth when I kissed her, and we laughed it off. When I touched her chest I first felt the roughness of her cold nipples. I then felt a softness I never knew before. It made me think differently about the harshness the world outside had shown me to that point the world outside of the dank basement. It reminded me of sunshine, a mother’s hug, and the welcomed embrace of your bed after a night of tiring drunkenness. I continued my love affair with love, as I assume you, and most of us, have too... I loved her. I realize now that I still love her. But mostly I learned that love is all in the mind, and in the touch, and in the taste, and in the look, and in the sounds, and in the smells of the person you’re loving, and I wondered if it was the same with you. Sincerely, Alex Clermont
Alex Clermont
Congratulations. You’re a teacher.
Pseudo as it may be; but a teacher nonetheless. You might not think you get the respect you deserve or the luxury perks that others of your social status might, but nevertheless, here you are: a foreigner in a foreign country educating the youth of tomorrow. And yet, something is amiss. You’re unhappy. You feel underappreciated. You feel like your time spent sitting at your desk making (approximately) $20 an hour isn’t justified when you could be sun tanning on the beaches of Phuket. You find the hour and a half you spend updating your Facebook status to be degrading to the profession that you spent years and years training for. You could be making lesson plans, counseling students and parents, grading assignments, updating homeroom class records, disciplining, making it to arduous meetings, catering to the whims of administrative hard-hitters, and the like but instead, you think it’s more important that everyone on your friends list knows you only have two classes left before you go home to the apartment you don’t pay for after the absolute worst day of your life. Or instead of doing those things, you’d prefer to be critical of colleague whose
primary role (aside from their own work) is to take care of you and be an ambassador on behalf of the entire Korean nation. And why is it that way? Why do you have so much time on your hands? Because you’re not responsible for doing any of the other stuff that certified teachers are expected to do. But even so, you’re a teacher. Congratulations. In North America, the average first year teacher with a four year degree and teacher’s college makes about $30-40,000 a year. They pay union dues, taxes, pension fees and insurance (just as a start) and that isn’t even beginning to scratch the surface of personal expenses like educational debt, their housing, bills and the cost of living. We know what you’re thinking: “I pay those things too; I pay taxes, I pay pension, I have debt and I have to live. Are you unaware of how expensive it is to eat out every day?” But, take into account that real teachers in Western countries actually work. They do the heavy lifting. They counsel students, do interviews with parents, grade assignments, plan for testing, attend meetings, and then they advise extra-curricular activities, chaperone dances, and are most often than not secondary parents to students who are otherwise neglected at home. All that and they don’t get a free
all you can eat galbi dinner and all you can drink soju two or three times a semester. We know how it is. How can you do student counseling right? You don’t speak the language [well enough] to get to know the kids that you only see once or twice a week (if that.) And how can you talk to parents? They don’t want to speak to the foreigner. And how can you do extra-curriculars? They’re basically unheard of. But still, there’s that two weeks in vacation where you do nothing but sit at your desk and keep your seat warm while the other teachers only show up for two days and do stuff. It’s that two weeks that really matters. But anywho, you’re a teacher and on your resume when you finish your tour of duty, when hating the system is all you can remember about your time here, it will still most likely say “English Language Teacher in South Korea from _______ to _______ ” on your resume. You’ll promote yourself as a martyr and as a pimp of the English language, saving non-English speaking children from a life of segregation because you taught them the correct pronunciation of “orange.” And people will admire that about you. When you go back to your debt free reality, your family and friends will clamber to find out what it was like, how it was to be a world traveler, and they’ll fawn when you relay how difficult it was to live in a country that couldn’t understand you and one that you, quite likely, won’t understand even after you leave. And then, not only will you have been a teacher, but you’ll be a superhero. You’ll be the friend that spent time teaching in Korea, the son or daughter that was an educator, the one that those who want to follow in your footsteps will go to for advice and information. And what will you say? If you’re honest, your answer should be, “If you want an accurate depiction of what teaching and living in Korea is like, you should go and read back through my status updates.” Yours truly and sincerely, with complete and utter sympathy for the trip you didn’t go on in July because your vice-principal wouldn’t approve the extra five days of vacation time,
NEH Send letters to the editor or responses to nehmagazine@gmail.com.