Korean B-Boys and Advent of AUDIENCE 2.0 WOONG JO CHANG The Ohio State University 1

Background Facts #1 In many of the world-level break dancing competition events, Korean B-boys have cut brilliant figures since 2002. 2

Background Facts #2 Korean B-boys are leading Korean performing arts scene and Korean government takes it seriously. 3

Background Facts #3 Long before the introduction of MySpace and Facebook, South Korea already had Cyworld, a social networking site launched back in 1999 4

Korean B-Boys Successful Story of Today, I will talk about B-Boying? B-boy? B-Boying in US and Europe Korean B-Boys in the World Korean B-Boys in the Arts Scene 6

B-Boying? B-boy?

B-Boying in US and Europe

Korean B-Boys in the World

Korean B-Boys in the Arts Scene

WHY? The Internet and IT in Korea Institutionalization in the Virtual World Web 2.0 and Audience 2.0 Today, I will talk about 7

The Internet and IT in Korea

Institutionalization in the Virtual World

Web 2.0 and Audience 2.0

B-boys? Coined by Kool Herc . Image from Wikimedia Commons 8

B-boying? B-boying or Break dancing is called so because they dance to the break part of music. In late 60s and early 70s African Americans in Bronx New York, started a sort of b-boying. 9

Dancers, B-boys , began to move up and down and pop up again on the beats . 10 D.J.s developed various skills to emphasize break beats in their music.

B-boying in US In US, B-Boying became popularized throughout the 70's and 80's. 11

After late 80's, B-boying was losing Its popularity. 13 Image from Amazon.com

In late 90's, B-boying gained its popularity again. 13 This time, not only in US but also in Europe and Asia. “ For just as b-boying was fading here [in the U.S], teenagers in Europe and Asia, who had watched the Rock Steady Crew and other greats on video, started forming their own crews.” - Julie Bloom in New York Times

Battle? Head to head confrontations between individuals or crews trying to out-dance each other 14

Battle? 15

Korean B-Boys in the World Korean B-boys have won the championship titles in many world-level competitions since 2002. Image from www.redbullbcone.com/download 16

In BOTY, 2001 Visual Shock : Best Show 2002 Expression :Finalist 2003 Expression : Finalist 2004 Gambler : Finalist 2005 Last For One : Finalist 2006 Last For One : Finalist 2007 Extreme Crew : Finalist 17

In Red Bull BC One, 2005 Hong 10 : Finalist 2006 Hong 10 : Winner The End : Semi-finalist 2007 Hong 10 : Semi-finalist 18

In UK B-Boy Championships, 2002 Project Soul : Winner (team battle) Hong 10 : Finalist(Solo battle) 2003 Project Soul : Finalist (team battle) 2004 Project Soul : Winner (team battle) Physics : Winner (Solo battle) Hong 10 : Finalist(Solo battle) 2005 Project Soul : Winner (team battle) Hong 10 : Finalist(Solo battle) 2006 Drifters : Finalist (team battle) 2007 T.I.P : Winner (team battle) 19

Planet B-boys (2008) In the Movies Hype Nation (2009) 20

B-boying has become one of the notable materials in Korean Pop Culture . In Pop Culture Image from BBOYSTAR 21

In the Arts 23

a B-boying musical performance as one of the 6 Korean representative Nonverbal Performing arts In the Arts 23

Last Feb, in the inauguration ceremony for President Lee Myung-bak in Korea, A B-boying performance by Last For One was held as well as other Traditional percussion and opera performances. 25

R-16 27

B-boying was introduced in earnest to Korea in late 90's or early 2000's. Korean B-boys are sweeping Korean Cultural Scene . and are leading the World’s B-boying Culture . Now, 28 “ South Korea is at the forefront of the new wave of break-dance, or b-boy, artistry.” - Julie Bloom in New York Times

& HOW? WHY? 29

One Explanation Similarity of Beats and Movements 30

Another Explanation Examination Hell in Korea 31

A Very Miscellaneous Explanation A Comic Book 32

Explanation for Today The Highly Developed IT Environment in Korea 33

Some Facts of IT Environment in Korea Over half of South Koreans have migrated their cell-phone to 3G. In 2006, 57% of South Korea's music sales were digital. South Korea became the first country to launch DMB to cell phones in 2005. From Tomi Ahonen's book, Digital Korea 34

Some Facts of the Internet in Korea 90% of South Koreans have broadband Internet access. The average broadband connection is 50 ~ 100 mps. 1,000 mps connection has been already introduced. 43% of Korea's population maintain an online profile or blog site in Cyworld. From Tomi Ahonen's book, Digital Korea 35

Institutionalization? “ an ongoing, complex, and potentially contradictory process of structuration, stabilization, and perpetuation of collective action.” Shapiro, R. (2004). The Aesthetics of Institutionalization-Breakdancing in France 36

. Institutionalization of B-boying culture in US has been driven mainly by the private sector . In France , it involves the government’s constructive participation. 37

No Attention from Private Sector No Support from Government In Korea 38

B-boys in Korea institutionalized themselves in the Emerging Virtual institutions. Emerging Virtual Institutions ? 39

Emerging Virtual institutions Various social networking sites Second Life Image from Second Life Art New Image from Second Life Art New 40

Various social networking sites

Second Life

Web 2.0 Matthew Paul Thomas retrieved from http://mpt.net.nz/archive/2005/12/27/web-2 41

Audience 2.0 They dwell in Web 2.0. They are Audiences They are Creators/Producers/Artists. They institutionalize themselves in the Emerging Virtual Institutions. 42

They dwell in Web 2.0.

They are Audiences

They are Creators/Producers/Artists.

They institutionalize themselves in the Emerging Virtual Institutions.

Korean B-Boys thanks to the highly developed IT environment , Institutionalized themselves in the virtual institutions, view other b-boys dancing via the Internet mocking their dancing practice/develop their movement as an exit of exam hell organize crew via the Internet upload their movement in the Internet have won world level competitions gained worldwide attention via the Internet widen their work into the arts performances get support from the government and the private sector finally, entered into the real institutions, lead the real world’s culture. as Audience 2.0 who dwells in Web 2.0 , 43

thanks to the highly developed IT environment ,

Institutionalized themselves in the virtual institutions,

view other b-boys dancing via the Internet

mocking their dancing

practice/develop their movement as an exit of exam hell

organize crew via the Internet

upload their movement in the Internet

have won world level competitions

gained worldwide attention via the Internet

widen their work into the arts performances

get support from the government and the private sector

finally, entered into the real institutions,

lead the real world’s culture.

as Audience 2.0 who dwells in Web 2.0 ,

THANK YOU