Submitted by: Zach Smith, zsmith@uca.edu on 11/10/2025
Celebrate International Education Week and join the Center for Asian Languages and Cultures and the Asian Studies Program in welcoming Dr. Katherine In-Young Lee as a scholar-in-residence to discuss the rise and continued dominance of K-pop! This residency includes two exciting events, both of which are free and open to the public:
Tuesday, November 18, 4:30 – 5:30pm in Irby Hall Rm 215
Teacher Workshop: Understanding the Rise of K-Culture:K-Pop Demon Hunters in the Classroom
This exciting workshop will utilize the recent Netflix hit film K-POP DEMON HUNTERS as an entry point into aspects of traditional and contemporary Korean culture. Educators who are interested in learning about how to incorporate the film in their teaching will gain practical insights into uncovering and understanding golden “easter eggs” (cultural specifics that are integrated into the film) as well as ideas for possible lesson plans. Although the workshop is intended for teachers and future teachers, it is open to everyone!
Tuesday, November 18, 6:00 – 7:15pm in Schichtl Hall Rm. 115 [The Agora]
Public Lecture: The Relevance of Madang in Global K-Pop’s Participatory Culture
This talk will explore the applications of the traditional Korean concept of the madang (literally, courtyard or village common) in relation to aspects of K-pop’s global fan communities. Inspired by recent scholarship by ethnomusicologist Donna Lee Kwon, Dr Lee explores madang as a conceptual framework for better understanding the dynamic relationship between K-pop performances, global K-pop fans, and embodied participatory culture. This analysis offers a different perspective into global K-pop fandom than has previously been considered in K-pop scholarship.