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Drama: June 06, 2018 Issue [#8940]

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Drama


 This week: International Drama
  Edited by: Kitti the Red-Nosed Feline Author IconMail Icon
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Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

Have you ever watched a movie or TV series that was set in another country? Have you ever written a piece that highlights aspects of your nation and culture?

This week's Drama Newsletter is all about International Drama. *Smile*

Kitti the Red-Nosed Feline Author Icon


Word from our sponsor



Letter from the editor

Some weeks ago, I was browsing through Netflix for something new and interesting to watch. I wanted to find something that wasn’t too heavy, as I was still working on my final paper of the year. When you’re writing about politics, morality and global poverty, you don’t want to fill your mind with more negative stuff... or, at least, I don’t. I’d already re-watched the series I recognised, however: The Big Bang Theory, Friends, The Fresh Prince, Full House, the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth. I’d watched Fuller House. I began to think that I’d run out of options, when I stumbled upon Reply 1997.

Reply 1997 is a South-Korean TV series that ran for one season. It centres around friendship, romance, family and education. I have to admit that I wasn’t too certain about it for the first couple of episodes – it is quite different than what I am used to from British and American TV shows. For example, I am not too keen on laughter tracks or live audience laughter, as I can figure out for myself whether or not I find something funny. It’s a feature of some British and American shows, however, so I am familiar with it. Reply 1997 is free of that, thankfully, but when something embarrassing or awkward or amusing happens, it plays a sound that I am pretty sure is a bleating goat...

Considering I had nothing else to watch, I stuck with the series and with each episode I began to love it more and more. I smiled, laughed at times, and yes, I cried. The characters were endearing. The insights into South-Korean life and culture were fascinating. I think I would have been completely stressed out being a South-Korean student, because the pressure is one that I never experienced. And it covers the rise of K-pop culture, which attracts the type of fandoms that are beyond anything I had ever imagined in its intensity. I did some research into it afterwards, as the makers of the TV series could have exaggerated it, but it seems to be true.

Having enjoyed the experience, I was happy to discover the existence of Reply 1994, by the same makers. This series centres around a family who move to Seoul and open a boarding house. They have to adapt to life in the big city, as do the young people who come to stay at the boarding house – they are all from different provinces. Friendships form, and love blossoms, and they grow up together through the events of the 90s, including the economic recession. Again, I smiled, and laughed, and cried. I actually have the final episode to go still, and as each series has a mystery of who the main female character will marry, and in Reply 1994 she married the guy I wasn’t rooting for, I think it will be the same this time around.

There is a Reply 1988, but Netflix UK doesn’t have it. *Sad*

Watching these series made me think of the limits of my knowledge of different nations and cultures. I have never travelled outside of Europe, and even as a tourist you don’t gain a whole lot of insight into the day-to-day lives of the people who live there. Of course, not everything you see in TV series is true. I can’t base my view of American families on Full House, nor my insights into the dangers of city life on The Wire. Likewise, all Brits are not like Mr. Bean. Honest. I do feel that the Reply series have given me some glimpses of insight, though, and I definitely want to learn more and, perhaps, one day visit the country.

And that made me think of how, as writers from around the world, we can share some of our culture with our readers. There are some excellent authors who do so already – for example, THANKFUL SONALI Library Class! Author Icon has some wonderful pieces in her portfolio. It’s always worth checking out her writing.

I was born and raised in the Netherlands, and apart from my blog entries, I have never really written a piece that contains glimpses of my birth country. Strange, now that I think about it. I might have to give it a go.

What do you think... will you join me? *Smile*

Kitti the Red-Nosed Feline Author Icon


Editor's Picks

Some contests and events that may inspire you:

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The Bard's Hall Contest Open in new Window. (13+)
DECEMBER is HOLIDAY RUSH: Shape Poetry Prompt!
#981150 by SantaBee Author IconMail Icon


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The Lodestar Contest Open in new Window. (13+)
Looking for a guiding light. Next round opens Feb 2025.
#2130938 by Satuawany Author IconMail Icon


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The Writer's Cramp Open in new Window. (13+)
Write the best poem or story in 24 hours or less and win 10K GPS!
#333655 by SophyBells Author IconMail Icon


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#2040737 by Not Available.


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The Dialogue 500 Open in new Window. (18+)
Dialogues of 500 words or less.
#941862 by W.D.Wilcox Author IconMail Icon


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Cards Against Authors Open in new Window. (18+)
A poetry game inspired by Cards Against Humanity!
#2045467 by Jayngle Bells Author IconMail Icon


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No Dialogue Contest-CLOSED Open in new Window. (E)
Write a story containing no dialogue, in 700 words or less.
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#2085951 by Not Available.


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Holiday Short Story Contest - closed Open in new Window. (E)
Write a short story based on a random holiday; prompt provided.
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And don't forget:

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Journey Through Genres: Official Contest Open in new Window. (E)
Write a short story in the given genre to win big prizes!
#1803133 by Writing.Com Support Author IconMail Icon



 
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Ask & Answer

The Drama Newsletter Team welcomes any and all questions, suggestions, thoughts and feedback, so please don't hesitate to write in! *Smile*

Wishing you a week filled with inspiration,

The Drama Newsletter Team



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