Geek in Heels - Page 187

Jul 14, 2009 • In Beauty, Information, Korean, Personal

Koreans and the Small Face Phenomenon

Having grown up in the U.S., I have heard on more than one occasion that celebrities possess larger heads compared to those of the general population, the idea being that the larger head will have larger features, which will show better on screen. There is even an episode of Entourage where Turtle proclaims, “The bigger the head, the bigger the star.”

However, in Korea, the exact opposite is true. The smaller your head/face, the more attractive you are.

A picture of Ivy, a Korean celebrity, posing between two fans.
Notice how small her face is compared to that of “normal” people.
(image source)

It is not uncommon for foreigners to be utterly confounded when first met with this phenomenon. “Gosh, your face is so small!” may sound like an inappropriate remark, but it is in fact a high compliment among Koreans.

Online Korean forums are often abuzz with face size discussions. When debating up-and-coming stars, it is not unusual to find comments such as “Her face is so small…she’s so pretty!” or “She’ll never make it because her head is too big.” In 2008, one of the most popular articles on Naver, a Yahoo-like portal, concerned the average Korean face size.

Koreans’ fascination with small faces often delve deep into the celebrity world, with stars with unusually small (and coveted) faces are asked to hold up every-day objects next to their heads…even busting out measuring tapes for proof!

Actress Han Yehseul can cover her entire face with a CD. (image source)

Model/actress Koh Ara’s face is a mere 17cm, or 6.69 inches, long. (image source)

I’m not really sure where the small face phenomenon originated. However, it is widely believed among Koreans that small faces photograph/video well, and that a smaller face will make you look skinner in photos as well. In a culture so obsessed with media and image, it is not difficult to see how this idea established such a strong foothold in the Korean psyche.

The cultural fixation on small faces has even coined a new term: the “V-line.” To Koreans, a small, perfectly oval face is no longer ideal. That oval must be made even smaller to create a V (a pointed chin).

Koreans are so obsessed with small faces that one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures involves shaving down one’s cheeks and jawline to undo what mother nature gave you. Take a look at these “before” and “after” photos of actress Park Minyoung:

(image source)

I once read that the jaw-shaving surgery is so in demand because it kills two birds with one stone: your diet is restricted to liquids for a full month after surgery, so you end up losing a lot of weight too!

I’m not sure where I stand on this issue. I think that if the size of your head/face is in proportion with the rest of your body, you should be happy, no? However, the Korean side of me longs to have a small face, because let’s face it – I have a rather large head.

And with that in mind, I have one last question: is it possible to be pretty, or even beautiful, with a large face?

Lee Byung Hun in G.I. Joe… Unmasked!

While Hallyu (aka the Korean Wave) has been sweeping across the eastern hemisphere like a tazmanian devil on crack, Korean stars have yet to penetrate the fickle and demanding world of Hollywood.

Until just recently, Korean celebrities’ foray into American pop culture could be summed up in two words: epic fail.

Take Rain, for example. Rain, who is possibly the most popular male celebrity in all of Asia – voted the second most influential person in the world by a Time magazine poll in 2008 – managed to gain some recognition when Stephen Colbert challenged him to a dance-off:

However, his first venture into Hollywood, playing the part of Taejo Togokahn in the disaster of a movie known as Speed Racer, went seemingly unnoticed and even ridiculed, largely due to his spectacularly poor English:

Skip to the 0:55 mark, where the interviewer asks how Rain has been training for his role. Rain responds with “…controlling my mind and menu with chicken breasts and vegetables…you know, it’s horrible, you know…”

BoA and Se7en, two other immensely popular Korean pop stars, released U.S. albums this year to tremendous acclaim and anticipation from the Korean/Asian community…only to receive limited recognition and become victims of marketing mishaps.

However, I am happy to announce that Korean pop sensations are finally starting to receive some praise and much-deserved attention, thanks to web personalities such as Perez Hilton. The Korean girl-group Wondergirls have hit the U.S. with full-force this summer, opening for the entire American leg of The Jonas Brothers World Tour. They have even made an English version of their catchy single “Nobody”:

(Personally, I like the original Korean version better but the English version is pretty nice too!)

And come August 7th, one of my favorite Korean actors, Lee Byung Hun, will make his Hollywood debut as Storm Shadow, the “white ninja” in G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra.

I’ve had a crush on Lee Byung Hun since his Happy Together days, but it was really his starring roles in two epic Jo Sung Mo music videos that sealed the deal for me.

The classic Korean ballad, “To Heaven”:

The two-part music video for “불멸의 사랑” (Immortal Love):

Even if you do not know a word of Korean, I guarantee you will enjoy these videos…they are mini Korean dramas themselves!

A few years back, I had the pleasure of meeting Lee Byung Hun at a bar in NYC’s K-Town. Let’s just say I was not disappointed to see one of my favorite Korean stars in person, as he’s much better looking in real life!

Ever since I heard that Lee Byung Hun was cast in G.I. Joe, I had been eagerly awaiting to see clips and/or stills featuring him (without the mask). However, they were disappointingly missing from the web…until now.

Thanks, POPSEOUL!

I have always been a sucker for action movies filled with explosions and fx eye candy, and Hollywood’s latest and greatest re-imagining established franchises from our childhood days are no exception. After finally seeing some unmasked Storm Shadow pictures, I’m counting down the days until August 7th!

It’s a Small, Not a Tall.

I have never been a fan of the coffee conglomerate known as Starbucks. Sure I love me my coffee. However, the super chain has always seemed so contrived with their run-of-the-mill bland food items, ambience that screams “yuppy hipster here!”, and overpriced coffee.

I much rather prefer the taste of the sub-$1 Dunkin’ Donuts coffee anyway.

I like my coffee plain, with a side of donuts.

And what’s with the size names?

“I’d like a medium coffee please.”

“You mean a grande drip.”

“Yes, you pretentious ass.”

This is precisely the reason I was so delighted to see the new packaging designs for the market Brooklyn Fare. No-nonsense packages with simple, whimsical, and effective messages.

Did you notice the coffee cups on the lower right? Here’s a closer look:

LURVES IT! Thanks to Packagings of the World for putting a smile on my face this dreary Monday morning!

Suffice it to say, you will never catch me placing a 34-word order at Starbucks (ie, Double Ristretto Venti Half-Soy Nonfat Decaf Organic Chocolate Brownie Iced Vanilla Double-Shot Gingerbread Frappuccino Extra Hot With Foam Whipped Cream Upside Down Double Blended, One Sweet’N Low and One Nutrasweet, and Ice.)

Incidentally, this order has been credited as single-handedly destroying the economy of South America.

Finally, MTV!

I have been looking forward to this coming Tuesday (July 14) since the beginning of the year. What is so special about the 14th, you ask?

One of my all-time favorite TV shows, MTV’s The State, will finally be released on DVD!

For those who are not familiar with the show, The State was an hour-long comedy sketch show that aired on MTV from 1993-1995. The cast consisted of 11 comedians who wrote, acted, directed, and edited the show.

During a time when life consisted of pimples, oily bangs, and braces, The State was one of my favorite escapes – an hour where a shy, nerdy girl could seek solace from the harsh reality of teenage angst and partake in a culture that embraced individualism, sarcasm, and silliness…all while poking fun at the pop culture that I so longed to understand and awkwardly embrace.

Earlier this week, Michael Ian Black (one of the members of The State) shared on his blog a glowing review of the DVD set, with a title that aptly read, “Wow. This Review Almost Made Me Cry.” Go read it now, because I cannot agree more with everything that has bee said in this review, as I wholeheartedly repeat that The State is “probably the best thing MTV’s ever aired.”

The icing on the cake? According to TVShowsOnDVD.com, the following image fills the first screen of the first DVD of The State:

Daria…another one of my all-time favorite shows, will finally be released next year!

You all know what I’ll be doing come Tuesday…I urge you to pick up a copy yourselves!

I Hope to God That’s Batman

I’ve never been too into the whole LOLCats craze, but when my sister told me that she had been contacted by its publishers to have her dog included in its latest book, I started to pay more attention.

FYI, this is the picture of Dante, my sister’s adorable cairn terrier and shih-tzu mix that will be included in the new LOLCats book:

The other day, I stumbled upon this hilarious LOLCat in its archives and I bust my side laughing. I just had to share…

Have a great weekend, everyone!

“Welcome to The Rock”

Guess what movie is playing on TNT right now! Another Nicholas Cage classic, The Rock…

This movie always brings a smile to my face because it reminds me of my friend Steve, who is undoubtedly one of the funniest people I know. Not too long after the movie was released, he flexed his arm and asked me to feel it.

“Err…why?”

“Just do it!”

As soon as my hand made contact with his bicep, he said, in a perfect Sean Connery impersonation…

“Welcome to…The Rock.”

A full 13 years later, I still think that this is one of the best pickup lines I’ve ever heard.

Have an LOLCat Independence Day!

Happy July 4th! May your stomaches be full of yummy BBQ food and your senses be overloaded with mind-blowing fireworks!

Via Fark.

Google Knows Me

If you have a Google Profile and you’re signed into your account, try doing a Google search for the word “me.”

Your profile shows up as the first result! How freakin cool (and stalkerish) is that?

Via The Steve Rubel Lifestream.

Some people would never share their full name on their blog. I no longer have any qualms about it. I have been blogging since 2001. I blog for a website that gets more than 6 million hits a month. I get recognized on the streets…heck I’ve even gotten recognized the last time I was on the west coast. And just earlier this week, I was telling a friend how the funniest comments I’ve ever gotten from a stranger has to be, “Hey I know you, I’ve seen you on my friend’s Facebook!”

So as demonstrated in this post, my online life is out there for the world to see. If you really wanted to find out my full name, where I live, who I really am, etc, I doubt you will have much trouble.

Why not just embrace it and make some new friends along the way?

These links are on my sidebar, but just in case you didn’t know…

My Facebook

My Twitter

Thanks for reading once again!

The Best Resumé Ever

Yeah, I know you were expecting something silly and immature. But my jaw seriously dropped when I saw this resumé featured on Web2.0h…Really? (click to enlarge):

Because in the creative world, there’s nothing like setting yourself apart from the others. And what better way to showcase your talent via a visually stunning and meticulous representation of your skillset?

ETA: It also doesn’t hurt that I have an unhealthy obsession with charts, graphs, and the organization of data.

A Digital Piano to Call My Own

Having played the piano since the age of 5, I always pictured my “grown-up” home featuring a baby grand nearside an oversized window.

What I didn’t realize is that city living on a limited budget does not allow for such luxuries.

Sometime last year I decided that a digital/electric piano would fit the bill. It would allow me to practice in private and would definitely take up less space than an acoustic instrument.

I immediately began saving, and per my usual self, began to do crazy research for the perfect digital piano under $2,000 (thank you, Piano World Forums!).

Unfortunately, my job situation (or lack thereof) put a halt to my savings plan.

Until I received my tax refund, that is.

Having a husband who works for the big G has its benefits. He contacted his employee concierge service and asked where we can get my desired piano, within 20 miles of Manhattan, at the best price. They replied within 24 hours with a referral at almost $200 off the list price.

The very week that my tax refund was deposited into my bank account, we trekked to a local Sam Ash and bought my very own digital piano.

The Roland FP-4…

During my research, I found that the best brands in the sub-$2,000 range were Yamaha, Roland, Kawai, and Casio.

However, I have not had the best experience with Kawais in the past, and Casios felt a bit flimsy to me.

I did more research into the Yamaha vs Roland debate.

What I discovered was that at my price range, it was really a matter of preference.

Yamahas tend to have brighter sounds with “spring-y” keys, more akin to the American style. They are optimal for fast pieces and is the preferred brand for a large majority of professionals.

Rolands are optimized for those who prefer a more romantic sound, similar to those of the old European pianos.

Personally, I preferred the feel of the Roland over the Yamaha.

At first, I was interested in the Roland FP-7, but found that the FP-4 has all the features I need at a lower price. The main difference between the two is that the FP-7 has more electronic features such as a better display and a USB port.

The FP-7 also has better built-in speakers than the FP-4, but I do not need top-of-the-line sound in my little apartment. I also would’ve been happy with run-of-the-mill headphones, but J insisted that we buy a pair of very nice Sennheiser headphones…and I am so happy I did. With the headphones, my FP-4 sounds delightful, much better than the majority of pianos I’ve played in my life.

My piano playing level is nowhere as good as I once was, but I’m starting to get it back. I’ve also been playing in my church’s praise band, something I had done back in high school.

Maybe one day, I’ll be courageous enough to hit the “record” button and upload a piece on this blog.