A master’s of theater, film, and are-you-kidding-me?
by javabeans
Lee Jung-jae — whom I LOVE! He was my Original Korean-Star Crush, waaaay back when — was awarded his master’s degree from Dongguk University on August 22. He received his degree from the Department of Theater & Film Art in the Graduate School of Cultural Arts.
Now, I’m all for further education, and master’s degrees must command a level of respect. But get this! His dissertation was titled “Approach to Acting in the Role of Kang Se-jong in the Film ‘Typhoon'” — are you kidding me?
(I mean, the guy could have at least TRIED a little, right? Maybe I should apply to Dongguk for a master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Procrastinatory Studies; or perhaps Analyses of Celebrity Exploits with a minor in Netizenery would be more apropos?)
Well, can’t accuse him of not trying to wring the most bang for his buck. He turned his high-profile role in a super-expensive blockbuster starring opposite Korea’s darlingest heartthrob (Jang Dong-gun, for the unfamiliar) into a graduate degree. Talk about enterprising!
Via Star News
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1 melusine
August 22, 2008 at 4:56 AM
Bwahahahahahaha!
"Typhoon" sucked, but Lee JungJae, M.A. = LOVE
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2 ed
August 22, 2008 at 6:29 AM
ROFL! totally agree...getting an MA out of a movie like Typhoon, LJJ is a finer comedian than we thought! well to cut him some slack, maybe it was one of those experimental/experiential lab report-as-dissertation projects. too wacky.
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3 Maica
August 22, 2008 at 7:59 AM
I totally agree...that is one no-brainer dissertation...@_@.
anyway, what is your nationality dramabeans...are you korean? just curious...
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4 djeedjes
August 22, 2008 at 8:01 AM
"Interdisciplinary Procrastinatory Studies", " Analysis of Celebrity Exploits with a minor in Netizenery"
WOW. Those are great ideas for dissertations, Javabeans!
Seriously.
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5 djeedjes
August 22, 2008 at 8:19 AM
And I think your essay on dates and dramas comparison ( http://www.dramabeans.com/2008/06/first-date-dramas/ ) would easily pass for base of a thesis.
I like it so much, and am looking forward for your next essays! :P
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6 Auntiemame
August 22, 2008 at 9:14 AM
Don't know what happened. I seem to have double -posted. Sorry.
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7 Auntiemame
August 22, 2008 at 9:15 AM
Actually, if one thinks hard enough about what he did, he deserves a "Master's of Imaginary Inventiveness". It must not have been easy to squeeze enough material, out of the subject matter, to produce a dissertation.
Actually, I find it interesting that he would go to all the trouble of getting his masters.
oh yeah, he's one of favorites too.
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8 Jae Young
August 22, 2008 at 11:07 AM
d-beans, you COULD get an MA in discussing celeb exploits, probably in media studies or sociology, if you really wanted it ^_~ That is my sekkrit dream, to drop my current life and get such degrees, but there is no market for that beyond academia and maybe writing/publishing if you're lucky, so who has the money or time?
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9 Javabeans
August 22, 2008 at 11:14 AM
lol, Jae Young, perhaps I should follow in Lee Jung-jae's footsteps (using old work for new degrees) and submit this blog as my dissertation?
if only!
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10 belleza
August 22, 2008 at 11:27 AM
"Lee Jung-jae — whom I LOVE!"
Oh no you didn't!! Wanna die!!! Uhhh . . sorry, old high school reflex . . . .
"And I think your essay on dates and dramas comparison ( http://www.dramabeans.com/2008/06/first-date-dramas/ ) would easily pass for base of a thesis"
I agree with djes. If you teach a course in Women's Studies around the work of the Hong Sisters, I'm there!
"Actually, I find it interesting that he would go to all the trouble of getting his masters."
Extended scholarship improves your status in Asian/Confucian society, so many actors opt for master degrees. Also, my impression was that it also raised the chaebol ladder by which popular Korean actresses and singers can climb. Not sexually I mean. A persistent controversy is not only in the choice of thesis (Choi Ji Woo ought to write her thesis on various treatments pertaining to dry eye syndrome), but that often they don't really attend class. Not that I'm saying Lee Jung Jae doesn't go to class. Because he's perfect.
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11 Sonam
August 22, 2008 at 11:38 AM
He was so good as the sensitive guy in An Affair. Loved that film. Typhoon was so overwrought even though I adore Jang Dong Gun.
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12 jane
August 22, 2008 at 6:21 PM
"Interdisciplinary Procrastinatory Studies; or perhaps Analyses of Celebrity Exploits with a minor in Netizenery..."
lmao~!!! that was just pure awesome =)
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13 mee
August 22, 2008 at 8:03 PM
Performance-based disciplines will accept what is essentially a performance as a thesis or dissertation. This is often the case for music performance as well as theater majors, so given his major perhaps it's not too surprising his film work counted as thesis work.
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14 ar_arguably romantic
August 22, 2008 at 10:37 PM
I always look askance at actors/actresses who major in theater- I feel like it'd be cooler if they have other interests besides acting and theater. Like it'd be cool if they majored in history, biology, literature, etc.
And i wonder how long a dissertation for a masters has to be in south korea. If Lee Jung-Jae did an amazingly flawless job on his role in Typhoon, then I can give him some credit for his dissertations. But seriously- aren't dissertations supposed to contribute to the field of study. I don't think a diary, written in scholarly language, of how he tackled his specific role in a specific movie will really add to the acting world. I mean it would help if the role was a well-known historical figure - King Sejong- so people can either recreate or add to his portrayal of this figure. Or if he had written about portraying a certain type of role.
I have to agree with some people here- some of your commentaries on celebs/celeb culture and episode recaps can pass for masters dissertation material. The analyses of your Gourmet episodes are AMAZING! I don't think the writers could have done better than you.
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15 chon
August 23, 2008 at 2:07 AM
who's this guy? I dont' know him.
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16 MrBloo
August 23, 2008 at 6:48 AM
When I read LJJ dissertation title I laughed for a good 10 mins. And then looking at LJJ's 1st thumbnail picture, all serious looking just made me crack-up even more. I so want to read his dissertation (translated of course). I wonder what approach he took when he played beach volley ball ? For real LJJ....
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17 dorispLOVESkangJiHwan
August 23, 2008 at 8:16 AM
Korea's darlingest hearthrob-Jang Dong Gun ??? yeah I know it's him, what I don't know is how and why?? have been wondering for ages about it, have always heard his name mentioned for example by a lead female actress in a drama that his dream man is Jang Dong Gun, when I first heard his name got curious about it and look at the net who is and saw his pix and remember him in Jewel in the Palace....and since then always heard his name for the nth time now being mention by the lead actress in any drama whenever a query about his 'dream man' pop out....and also learned that he is consider one of the A listers in Korea.....but till now can't find the answer to my queries HOW and WHY Jang Dong Gun??? can someboy please explain to me?? coz for me he's not that handsome and for his acting....don't know, consider him on the average.....
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18 mimi
August 26, 2008 at 11:09 AM
jang dong gun got many awards, has many CF, i am not a fan of Jang dong gun.. he was cool @ taegukgi.
yeah since it's dissertation everything seems Possible LOL i'am laughing a lot,, actually who approve the title of the dissertation
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