-
“THROUGH SONGS and stories [one can] learn about the world, and about the people who live in it”—such is the sentiment of Korean American author Axie Oh’s novel The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea. A retelling of the Korean folktale The Tale of Shim Cheong, Oh’s novel expands the original story of fil
Review
Brooklyn Hollander
2023.05.04 12:48
-
WHETHER PRODUCED in a Hollywood studio or abroad, the recognition of recent films such as Everything Everywhere All at Once in the Academy Awards and beyond seem to indicate the greater presence, popularity, and influence of Asians in Hollywood[1]. The growth of Asian cinema in Hollywood is multi-di
Culture
Lee Young-bean
2023.05.04 12:41
-
INTUITIVELY, ONE would identify North Korea—a rogue state embodying dictatorship and violent repression—as antithetical to the United States, the epitome of freedom and robust democracy. However, to the eyes of a North Korean defector who desperately escaped from destitution in North Korea and from
Review
Lee Jae-hyeon
2023.04.04 22:28
-
FOOD HAS been inextricably linked to the human experience from the earliest of times. As such, it is no surprise that it has made its appearance in literature, one of the artistic mediums that attempts to make better sense of the human experience. By paying close attention to the foods an author inc
Culture
Lee Young-bean
2023.04.04 22:23
-
EVERYONE WANTS to live a good life; a life that is healthy, happy, meaningful, and fulfilling. Yet, to most people, the notion of a good life is intangible and enigmatic, difficult to grasp, and out of reach. The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study on Happiness sheds light o
Review
Lee Jae-hyeon
2023.03.07 22:03
-
AN ENIGMATIC profundity—at once enlightening and familiar—exists within the mundane nature of films and novels where nothing much happens. In fact, such pieces are devoid of dramatic moments and lack a visible climax; even if there was a story arc, its slopes are ever-so-slight and the narrative com
Culture
Lee Ho-Yeon
2022.12.07 03:58
-
AS THE anticipation grows for the Christmas holidays, the cold winter air might inspire you to cuddle up in a blanket with a warm drink in hand. Just like how good wine gets better when paired with the right cheese, selecting a book that “tastes” like your favorite drink can help make your cozy wint
It-selection
Park Jin-seo
2022.12.07 03:58
-
SHAPED LIKE a stable, a square stage greets the audience as they file into the theater. A pale blue light encompasses the area with an ominous glow, and the minimal set design with the prop of two simple stools that promise potential. Sure enough, the tiny space is all it takes to transfer the audie
Review
Park Jin-seo
2022.12.07 03:40
-
A SOUNDLESS cry, a cracking voice, and a trembling musical note that persists over the lonely wind: these are just some of the examples of what han, a sadness that best reflects the Korean sentiment. It is a mother’s sorrow, the loss of one’s homeland, and above all, the crushing burden of life that
Culture
Park Jin-seo
2022.11.03 19:45
-
HAVE YOU ever wondered what it would be like to have God appear before you in a time of dire need? In his book, The Stranger in the Lifeboat, Mitch Albom presents an answer to this question. Following his candid and straightforward writing style, Albom describes how ten people stranded in a lifeboat
Review
Park Jin-seo
2022.11.03 19:30
-
THE POPULARITY of horror is rooted in the fact that the genre reflects the collective consciousness of the public as shaped by shifting social circumstances. Through the world of horror fiction, writers and film directors have used metaphors to project the complex fears of society into their work. W
Culture
Park Jin-seo
2022.10.05 18:20
-
IN THE past, cafés in South Korea were places one would go to listen to music or to go on blind dates while enjoying a cup of brewed coffee. As caffeinated drinks became more prevalent and accessible, cafés emerged as the primary area of casual social gatherings. Nowadays, café owners are looking to
It-selection
Lee Jae-hyeon
2022.10.05 18:19
-
BLUE IS often regarded as the color of tranquility, intelligence, and freedom. It can be connected to the divinity of the blue sky, or the sign of global peace on the United Nations flag. At times it is a color of melancholy or even solitude. The enticing nature of the color blue to many people arou
Review
Park Jin-seo
2022.09.03 14:46
-
CHARACTERIZED BY family gatherings and plentiful food, Chu-seok is an important holiday for Korean people that brings families together. Deriving from the agricultural custom of celebrating the year’s first harvest, Chu-seok is also a time to relax and celebrate the hard work you have done during th
It-selection
Park Jin-seo
2022.09.03 14:46
-
KOREAN CHILD variety show content on YouTube and Netflix has been continuously gaining attention as a distinct brand, with viewers appreciating the endearing children appearing in programs like The Return of Superman and Cool Kids. However, in recent years, Korean child variety content has become mo
Culture
The Annals Staff
2022.06.10 00:34
-
SITTING IN the dark while the spotlight shines on the actors on stage, the role of the audience has always been to “observe” rather than “participate.” The play Shear Madness challenges this notion by incorporating the audience within the plot. The story takes place in a hairstyling salon where, wit
Review
Park Jin-seo
2022.06.10 00:19
-
A CERTAIN creative mastery is required to translate the abstractness of the human subconscious into a tangible, visual form of art. Unlike fast-paced blockbuster movies, experimental films that seek to capture the more delicate poetry of the human condition—specifically, our mysterious psyche—oftent
It-selection
Lee Ho-yeon
2022.06.10 00:18
-
“MY PROJECTS usually come from a very personal place, a place with a mix of emotions, a place of love, fear, and isolation,” are Alex Prager’s introductory comments as you walk through her first solo exhibition at the Lotte Museum of Art in Seoul. In her showcase titled “Big West,” Prager walks the
Review
The Annals Staff
2022.05.06 22:10
-
CHOOSING THE right music playlist can make or break the quality of your concentration during a study session. When used correctly, musical stimulation can turn tedious tasks into the most pleasant and productive experience. However, the process of finding the perfect playlist to listen to is a poten
It-selection
Park Jinseo
2022.05.06 22:08
-
FINDING PERSONALIZED stores can be hard in a flurry of fast fashion brands that sell mass-produced, identical items. True personalization takes commitment and a passionate interest in each customer as you create a product specifically catered for them. This is the beauty of customization and it is b
It-selection
The Annals Staff
2022.04.03 11:32