K-Pop-Gaf only crosses the line when non-Korean members PM me questioning my Korean-ness.
"I know more about Korean culture than you. I have more Korean friends than you. I watch more K-drama than you do. YHou don't know a 10th about what's going on your own country than I do." etc. etc.
I wouldn't question your familiarity and connection with your own culture, but I would question your perceptions of others
because it is your culture. Do you think that maybe, despite all your criticisms of it, the fact it is
yours makes you leery of others who take interest?
I mean, that's the one thing I know I can't understand fully. I mean, I'm Irish, and I have some connection to that and pride in it, but I know it's not near the same level as most Koreans with their culture. When you get down to it, I'm actually just American. The culture of where I grew up has no connection to my identity and I hold no sense of possession over it.
Ultimately I can't fully understand Koreans because of that, but I consider reactions, like when Koreans ask me why I like Korean culture. What if I had grown up in Ireland? How much stronger would all of that be for me? What if, then, there were a bunch of Koreans that took interest in Irish culture? I can imagine that, and I could imagine it seeming odd. "Why?" I would wonder "It isn't
yours. Why do you care?" just like some Koreans have asked me in the past. It might seem like exoticism, it might seem creepy.
So is that part of it? I mean, really, as an American I don't feel like I have a culture. It's almost like our culture is the fact that we don't have one. Sure, we have things like jazz music or something hanging around, but nothing is really handed down to you and said "This is ours" but rather you find what you like and go with it. So it's not odd for me to see Americans taking an interest in any given culture and rolling with it, and I have had friends go off to several different places in the world to stay.
I have also had plenty of friends who came here from other countries. They had practical interest which got them here, but then once they stayed for a while, they took an interest in whatever it is that makes us unique in America. I guess I don't see it because I started here, but they came from somewhere else, and retain their heritage while checking out this country. And in the midst of this, it just solidifies in my mind as something normal in the modern world. We are globalizing. Lots of people take a liking to other countries.
Anyway, those are just random ramblings on cultural identity and perception of the intentions and perspectives others hold as they take interests apart from their own culture. It's something I consider often as I want to function as a bridge of friendship between countries as globalization increases. I think it is a good thing. Food for thought.
