I went to the theater Sunday. Sounds so classy but wait until I describe
what I went to see! It’s the longest-running show in Korea (since 1997) and was
the first Asian show to reach Broadway. If I would see one show this year, it
sounded like this should be the one. It’s also happens to be a musical about
cooking…hmm maybe Nanta and I were meant to be.
"Nanta is a non-verbal performance of free rhythmical
movements that dramatize customary Korean percussions in a strikingly comedic
stage show. Integrating unique Korean traditional drumbeats in a western
performance style, Nanta storms into a huge kitchen where four capricious cooks
are preparing a wedding banquet. While cooking, they turn all kinds of kitchen
items - pots, pans, dishes, knives, chopping boards, water bottles, brooms and
even each other- into percussion instruments."
The show wasn’t exactly traditional, despite samul nori percussion played on kitchenware. But it was stimulating,
comical, and…very silly. Acrobatics, magic tricks, pantomime, audience
interaction. It had it all. We were encouraged to clap and cheer all the while
being pelted with objects such as chopped cabbage…and plastic balls? Two audience
members were married on stage and others had to compete in a mandu-making race. Children’s laughter
echoed throughout the theater. I dare say it was almost too family-friendly for
two 20-somethings to be seeing alone…
Of the four cooks, one was female. I was quick to notice how highly
misrepresentative this is of cooking duties in Korea. My students and chingus have told me how women do nearly
all the cooking and household chores. I suppose it could be that professional cooking is
a different circumstance.
The female chef was also a complete bombshell; the show really did have
a little bit for everyone after all. Her incredible abdominal region was easy
to appreciate since her chef outfit gave an unobstructed view of her midriff…another
highly misrepresentative aspect of the culture here. Korea is conservative when
it comes to baring midriff and cleavage. I usually have to ask ten people to get a consensus on cultural topics, but I gather that it might be a combination of
cultural norms and self-consciousness of the all-too-stereotypical ‘chopstick’
female body type. Though women tout high necklines, the length of shorts and
skirts is anything but conservative. This duality of above-the-waist
conservatism and miniskirts/booty shorts is always entertaining. Of course this is because of the values my culture has
imparted upon me. Who really gets to determine what is or isn’t conservative?
(Shout out, Richard Handler!)
Update: Can the new president really ban miniskirts?
Update: Can the new president really ban miniskirts?
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