1. Boys over Flowers class discussion Lili Ferguson, Taylor Friedlander, Jaeyeon Choi, Porsche Dames October 28, 2009

2. How the F4 Enter: Japanese version: (@ 5:00) http://www.mysoju.com/ha na-yori-dango/episode- 1/part-1/ http://www.mysoju.com/ha na-yori-dango/episode- 1/part-1/ Taiwanese version: (@ 1:05) http://www.mysoju.com/me teor-garden/episode-1/part- 2/ http://www.mysoju.com/me teor-garden/episode-1/part- 2/ Korean version: (@ 4:01) http://www.mysoju.com/bo ys-before-flowers/episode- 1/part-3/ http://www.mysoju.com/bo ys-before-flowers/episode- 1/part-3/

3. Things to consider… What themes appear in all clips? What themes appear in all clips? What themes dont? What themes dont? Do we know anything about the F4 thanks to their appearance, the staging of their introduction, and peoples behavior towards them? Do we know anything about the F4 thanks to their appearance, the staging of their introduction, and peoples behavior towards them?

4. Gender Construction-Male Arashi music video (Japanese cast members band): Arashi music video (Japanese cast members band): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4TnUdKa56E http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4TnUdKa56E http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4TnUdKa56E Fire escape scene 3 ways: Fire escape scene 3 ways: http://www.mysoju.com/hana-yori-dango/episode-1/part-3/ http://www.mysoju.com/hana-yori-dango/episode-1/part-3/ http://www.mysoju.com/hana-yori-dango/episode-1/part-3/ Japanese version @ 2:54 Japanese version @ 2:54 http://www.mysoju.com/meteor-garden/episode-1/part-5/ http://www.mysoju.com/meteor-garden/episode-1/part-5/ http://www.mysoju.com/meteor-garden/episode-1/part-5/ Taiwanese version @ 1:50 Taiwanese version @ 1:50 http://www.mysoju.com/boys-before-flowers/episode-1/part-2/ http://www.mysoju.com/boys-before-flowers/episode-1/part-2/ http://www.mysoju.com/boys-before-flowers/episode-1/part-2/ Korean version @ 7:10 Korean version @ 7:10

5. Gender Construction- Female The girls introduce themselves…what strikes you? The girls introduce themselves…what strikes you? Korean version (@ 2:27): Korean version (@ 2:27): http://www.mysoju.com/boys-before- flowers/episode-1/part-2/ http://www.mysoju.com/boys-before- flowers/episode-1/part-2/ http://www.mysoju.com/boys-before- flowers/episode-1/part-2/ http://www.mysoju.com/boys-before- flowers/episode-1/part-2/ Japanese Version (@ 1:54): Japanese Version (@ 1:54): http://www.mysoju.com/hana-yori-dango/episode- 1/part-3/ http://www.mysoju.com/hana-yori-dango/episode- 1/part-3/ http://www.mysoju.com/hana-yori-dango/episode- 1/part-3/ http://www.mysoju.com/hana-yori-dango/episode- 1/part-3/

6. Images to think about…

7. Gender Questions Masculinity: what features make the F4 alpha males? Masculinity: what features make the F4 alpha males? Watching the music video: When people view these singers, do you think they view them as attractive 'males'? The degree of masculinity or femininity that can be found in the males: does this affect their sexual identity or gender construction? Watching the music video: When people view these singers, do you think they view them as attractive 'males'? The degree of masculinity or femininity that can be found in the males: does this affect their sexual identity or gender construction? Female Protagonist: How is the female protagonist portrayed? What does her actions and her clothing say about her? Female Protagonist: How is the female protagonist portrayed? What does her actions and her clothing say about her? Female Protagonist, or the good girl vs. the bad girls. How does aesthetics help bring out the two different types of characters? Female Protagonist, or the good girl vs. the bad girls. How does aesthetics help bring out the two different types of characters? Can you find any differences in the way the ideal male and female was portrayed in the three different series? Can you find any differences in the way the ideal male and female was portrayed in the three different series?

8. Social Class Is it a requirement for this show to be situated in a very wealthy school? Would it work if it were a middle- class school and a lower-class protagonist? Is it a requirement for this show to be situated in a very wealthy school? Would it work if it were a middle- class school and a lower-class protagonist? Positive or negative connotations associated with upper class/lower class? Moral values associated with one or the other? Positive or negative connotations associated with upper class/lower class? Moral values associated with one or the other? In a school where everyone but the F4 wear uniforms, did you notice other ways people set themselves apart based on class? In a school where everyone but the F4 wear uniforms, did you notice other ways people set themselves apart based on class? Think about Fashion (note the capital F)…is this the ideal environment for the development of such a system? Think about Fashion (note the capital F)…is this the ideal environment for the development of such a system?

9. Social Class: Consumerism and Money http://www.viz.com/onlinemanga/om.php?chap=bo f-hi-chapter-1 http://www.viz.com/onlinemanga/om.php?chap=bo f-hi-chapter-1 Is the show critical of status symbols? Or does it encourage them, in a way? Is the show critical of status symbols? Or does it encourage them, in a way? What does the show say about consumerism? What does the show say about consumerism? How does the consumerist mentality idealize the Western aesthetic? How does the consumerist mentality idealize the Western aesthetic? Does this suggest there is something innately consumerist about Asian aesthetics? Does this suggest there is something innately consumerist about Asian aesthetics?

10. Social Class and Home Life Korean version, lower class family time (@ 3:38): Korean version, lower class family time (@ 3:38): http://www.mysoju.com/hana-yori-dango/episode- 1/part-2/ http://www.mysoju.com/hana-yori-dango/episode- 1/part-2/ http://www.mysoju.com/hana-yori-dango/episode- 1/part-2/ http://www.mysoju.com/hana-yori-dango/episode- 1/part-2/ Japanese version, upper class family time (@ 9:50) Japanese version, upper class family time (@ 9:50) http://www.mysoju.com/hana-yori-dango/episode- 1/part-3 http://www.mysoju.com/hana-yori-dango/episode- 1/part-3 http://www.mysoju.com/hana-yori-dango/episode- 1/part-3 http://www.mysoju.com/hana-yori-dango/episode- 1/part-3

11. Family How are family/familial relationships portrayed differently amongst the series? How are family/familial relationships portrayed differently amongst the series? How does the main female character in each series relate to the members of family? How does the main female character in each series relate to the members of family? What correlations do you see between familial relationships and class? What correlations do you see between familial relationships and class? Who bears the burden of preserving traditional Asian culture in the respective families? Who bears the burden of preserving traditional Asian culture in the respective families? Compare the home life of the main female character and the lead F4 member in the Japanese version of Boys Over Flowers. Compare the home life of the main female character and the lead F4 member in the Japanese version of Boys Over Flowers.

12. Last thought… Can you really separate these themes from one another?