“A thematic analysis of Korean Telenovelas”

An undergrad proposal
Presented to the Faculty of the English Department
College of Social and Sciences humanities
Mindanao State University

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for Degree of

Bachelor of arts Major in English

By: Sharon Mae Gansas

 Chapter I

The Problem and Its Setting

Introduction

Theme is a general idea or insight about life society or human nature that a writer

wishes to express in a literary work. All elements of the literary work contributes to the

development of its theme. (Brace and Jovanovich) An analysis of changes in dynamic

characters can also provide insight into a particular theme. A deep thematic content is

not required in literature; however, some readers would say that all stories inherently

project some kind of outlook on life that can be taken as a theme, regardless of whether

or not this is the intent of the author. (wikipidiea.com)

Television soap opera, deals with life and peoples culture. (Kwon, 2005)This then

make a Telenovela a good subject for a thematic analysis, where the development of

the plot will be scrutinized by the researcher to develop a theme.

Korean wave in China, Japan and Taiwan has become a new trend since late

1990’s and its typical aspects seemed to have reached the Philippines since 2003,

through soup opera so called koreanovela .production quality, succinct plot and other

aspect in and outside of Koreanovela production supports the wide acceptance in the

Philippines (Kwon, 2005) The mediated communication medium, koreanovelas

represents the image of a certain aspects of Korea and its culture. Analyzing its theme

will then give us a clearer picture of Koreas’ culture

Statement of the problem

This study sought to analyze the theme of koreanovela will answer some of these

questions;

1.) What are the themes of love reflected in the telenovela?

2.) How are the issues about love resolve in the in the Korean telenovelas?

3.) Do the theme development of the telenovelas consistent with the character and

cultural practices of Korea?

Scope and Delimitation

This study will focus on Korean telenovelas aired in the Philippines from 2003

up to 2009. This includes “Princess hours”, “My girl” and “Boys over flowers” . The

researcher will use Koreas’ culture as a guide topic in reviewing the theme, and will

focus on its Love culture of Korea since Telenovela is defined as a limited run serial

melodrama that Latin literature associate with medium span of romances.

Significance of the Study

This study will serve as contributory information for the students who wants to

study Korean Literature through their media production of Korean drama.

This may also serve as a contributory to those who want to attempt to study the

understanding why there is widely acceptance of Korean tele novelas in Philippines.

Definition of terms

Telenovela - A telenovela (also spelled telenovella) is a limited-run television serial

melodrama the word combines tele, short for television, and novela, a word that Latin

literary studies associate with medium-span romances.(wikipedia.com)

Soap Opera- a series of television or radio programmes about the lives and problems

of a particular group of characters. The series continues over a long period and is

broadcast (several times) every week. (http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp)

Koreanovela - is a shortened term used for Korean telenovela.(kwon,2005)

Culture – all shared products of society material and non material, the totality of learned

socially transmitted behavior. I include ideas, values and customs of groups of people.

Korean Wave – a phenomenon of becoming popular of Korean films, and drama and

pop music (Kwon, 2005)

Hallyu – term synonyms the Korean Wave. Korean term for Korean Wave. ( Cultural

Space and Public Sphere in Asia 2006, Seoul, Korea / 260)

Analysis- as a process of isolating or working back to what is more fundamental by

means of which something, initially taken as given, can be explained or reconstructed.

The explanation or reconstruction is often then exhibited in a corresponding process of

synthesis. (plato.stanford.edu)

Interpretation-a teaching technique that combines factual with stimulating explanatory

information (merriam-webster.com)
 Chapter II

Review of Related Literature

This chapter presents the conceptual framework of the study and the related

studies .

Conceptual framework

In this study, Korean novela will be revealed by construction of meanings by

watching Korea novela. The themes that will be developed will do the understanding of

Korean culture as well. The cultural context will gives the crucial cues for rejecting or

accepting or rejecting certain interpretation in certain interpretation in analyzing theme

through a certain media context.

The concept of analyzing the theme will also be based into the Korean culture

view when it comes to romantic relationship since Telenovela speaks about the study

associated with medium span romances. In Korean culture where a Korean couple

wishes to be married, a great deal of things happens. First some marriages are still

arranged. This is mainly found in the upper class society of Korea. Wealthy families

wish for their children to be married to a son or daughter of a wealthy family. Social

class is important in Korea. They believe that wealth will bring a long, happy life. The

arranged marriage gets started when a person with a great deal of information is
pointed to find a spouse for a family’s son or daughter. This person researches

candidates and comes to a conclusion. (Tae, 1958)

This analysis will also consider the culture of Korea that all things are done with

the family’s permission. Where the oldest living relatives take acre of this group officials

are appointed, and the family has a type of small government running the show.

Children as well are taught to respect their elders (Chun, 1982).

Review Related Studies

This research borrowed and modified the framework of Cultural space and

Public sphere in Asia 2006, Seoul Korea/260) that uses communication and culture

interact model by Pernia, Pascual and kwon (2004

With the popularity o Korean Telenovelas’ scholars from media studies as well,

have attempted to analyze the “Korea Novela Phenomena” in Asia. A cultural proximity

thesis based on Cultural proximity thesis (Staubhar, 1999), Ryu and Lee (2001

analyzed the contents of accepted Korean telenovela among East Asia countries to find

out the commonalities. From the content analysis, they concluded that Korean dramas

have been widely accepted in Asia contain the Confucian values that are close to

Chinese culture

Another study was done because of the existence of the first study above. In a

thought that aside from western countries Philippines was also had adopted some of

Chinese culture in hard relation through trade (kwon 2005). The study is entitled “Is it

too early to talk about “Hallyu” in the Philippines? Koreanovela and its Reception among

Filipino Audiences. This research focuses on the Filipino experiences of the flow of
Korea Novelas in the Philippine free TV to find how Filipino audiences have received

the Korean Telenovela. The study is done though a discussion to two FGD (focused

group discussion).conducted at the University of the Philippines in both undergrad and

graduate students of Mass communication. The research also intended to understand

the koreanovela by having construction of meaning.

Through this study closer viewership of Korean Telenovela, they had perceived

that are liked by Filipino audiences because koreanovelas dealt with the universal love

stories in different and fresh manner, with the plot that is simple, fast and funny and the

manner of dealing with love story which is not sensual compared to western soap

operas (Kwon, 2005)

The ending of koreanovelas as fresh and different from a typical ending, which

sometimes made then disappointed and unsatisfied. Realistic seems to be happening in

the life made them disappointed and unsatisfied. Realistic plot seems to be happening

in the life made audiences interested in Koreanovelas id dot attempt to mystify the story

in the soap opera. The story projects the life of the contemporary koreans (kwon, 2005)
 Chapter III

Research Design and Methodology

This chapter presents and discuses the research design and the data analysis of this

study.

Research Design

The research design of this study is thematic analysis. The subject of the

study is the theme of the selected Korean Telenovelas popular in Philippine television.

Since the Korean Telenovela started to be aired in the Philippines in 2003 the random

selection will start at 2003 to 2009 the year when the study will be conducted. The

theme that will be analyzed will be guided by the Korean culture for the validation of the

theme.

Data Gathering

To gather data for this study, the researcher will watch the selected Korean

telenovela that has been aired in the Philippines. The researcher will also read books in
the library of Mindanao state University- General Santos City. The researcher will also

chose books that talks about the written culture of Korea specifically their culture.

The researcher will also gather information’s internet through the websites

where Filipino journalist post their commentaries reflecting a deeper emotional

involvement on koreanovela and the books provided by the scribd.com that is related to

the topic.

Data analysis

The researcher will use cultural approach in analyzing the theme. After collecting

data patterns of experiences about love in telenovela can be listed this can come from

direct quotes or paraphrasing common ideas. (Aronzon, 1992)

The next step is to a thematic analysis is to combine and catalogue related

patterns into subthemes. Themes here are defined as units derived from patterns into

subthemes. Coherence of idea rests with the analyst who has rigorously studied how

different ideas components fit together in a meaningful way when linked together.

(Leigninger, 1985, p60) “Interpretative approach should be considered as a distinct

point of origination”.

The next step is to build a valid argument for choosing the themes. This is done

by reading the related literature wherein there speaks about the culture of Korea. In

referring back to related literature the analyst gains information that allows her to make

inferences.
 Once themes have been collected and the literature has been studied the

researcher is now ready to formulate the theme statement to develop a story line. When

literature is interwoven with the findings, the theme that the researcher constructs is one

stands with merit. (Aronson, 1992)

 References

Dong Hwan Kwon,(2005)Study of Hallyu “Koreanovela and its reception among

Filipino audiences University of the Philippines ,Manila, Philippines
Chun,shin-yung. Korea society. Seuol, korea: international
Cultural foundation,1958.
Tae, B. hung- Ha. Folk customs and family life. Yonsei University
Press, 1958.
The Straits Times “KOREAN DRAMA SERIALS “-sappily ever after
By: Andy Ho

Aronson, Jodi, “Performing thematic analysis”

The Qualitative Report, Volume 2, Number 1, spring, 1994