Ah yes, the giant pink stiletto near Ehwa Women's University. Nothing says 'neo-feminist' like the ultimate sign of womanhood. This shoe is two stories tall, and represents a side of Korea that not many understand: Large, iconic symbols. Sure, we have our large Lincoln sitting himself in a chair to remind us of things, like freedom and equality and all that jazz. But we don't have a giant dress in front of Smith's College. To be honest, I think the shoe symbolizes nothing and everything at the same time. Sure, there are tons of shoe stores in the area, and sure, there are lots of makeup shops, hair salons, alteration stores, and clothing boutiques a stone's throw away. But perhaps the shoe represents an acknowledgement of all that and a reminder that sometimes the clothes really don't make the [wo]man. Think of it as a memorial of sorts, like the Vietnam Memorial, where you go to it, you shed a few tears, feel bad, but in an hour you are back to eating hot dogs, buying cheap Chinese made t-shirts from Wal-Mart, and forgetting just what international wars were fought for. Granted, this shoe doesn't necessarily scream 'end of communism', but it does bring capitalism front and center.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Day 43: Eat Your Heart Out, Sarah-Jessica Parker
Ah yes, the giant pink stiletto near Ehwa Women's University. Nothing says 'neo-feminist' like the ultimate sign of womanhood. This shoe is two stories tall, and represents a side of Korea that not many understand: Large, iconic symbols. Sure, we have our large Lincoln sitting himself in a chair to remind us of things, like freedom and equality and all that jazz. But we don't have a giant dress in front of Smith's College. To be honest, I think the shoe symbolizes nothing and everything at the same time. Sure, there are tons of shoe stores in the area, and sure, there are lots of makeup shops, hair salons, alteration stores, and clothing boutiques a stone's throw away. But perhaps the shoe represents an acknowledgement of all that and a reminder that sometimes the clothes really don't make the [wo]man. Think of it as a memorial of sorts, like the Vietnam Memorial, where you go to it, you shed a few tears, feel bad, but in an hour you are back to eating hot dogs, buying cheap Chinese made t-shirts from Wal-Mart, and forgetting just what international wars were fought for. Granted, this shoe doesn't necessarily scream 'end of communism', but it does bring capitalism front and center.
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I never understood women's obsession with shoes.. ain't I a woman?
ReplyDeleteEven though I'm Korean-American, I think you are now more Koreanized than me. Yay.
Can't wait until you get here, Timbo. :D