A theological-ethical critique of Korean entertainment television in the light of Alasdair MacIntyre's ethics

Date
2019-04
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Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The mass media is exerting an enormous influence on Korean society today, especially television media. The latter does not only mirror Korean norms, but also determines and reinforces current ethical trends. Amongst others, survival audition programs have gained much popularity in recent years. This study argues that the neoliberal values embedded in these programs are impacting on the moral formation of viewers, and thereby facilitating the ethical deficiency of Korean society. To understand this phenomenon further, this study examined the specific values of Korean television entertainment, and took cognizance of why and how these programs should be critiqued. This analysis was done from three different perspectives: A socio-historical perspective, a media theoretical perspective, and an ethical-theological perspective. The former tracked the origin of neoliberalism in Korean society and how it has evolved over time. Neoliberalism in Korea started with the influence of the economic policies of Western countries, but there were already traces of neoliberalism before that, i.e. during the Korean War and monocracy. Through the theories of representative media scholars, namely, Walter Benjamin, Harold Innis, Marshall McLuhan, and Günther Anders, it was found that media is no longer just a tool to deliver content, but also exercises a profound and powerful influence on the moral trends of society. Finally, this study critiqued neoliberalized Korean television entertainment from an ethical-theological perspective. Alasdair MacIntyre's ethics formed the basis for this critical reflection, and his virtue ethics, which emphasizes community, was proposed as an alternative. MacIntyre’s ethics was introduced as an ethical foundation to critique Korean television entertainment in conjunction with the theological viewpoints of John Milbank, Stanley Hauerwas, and Graham Ward.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die massamedia oefen vandag 'n geweldige invloed op die Koreaanse samelewing, veral televisie-media. Laasgenoemde weerspieël nie net Koreaanse norme nie, maar bepaal ook en versterk huidige etiese tendense. Oorlewings-oudisieprogramme het onder andere in die afgelope jare baie gewild geword. Hierdie studie beweer dat die neoliberale waardes wat in hierdie programme ingesluit is, 'n impak op die morele vorming van kykers het, en sodoende die etiese tekort van die Koreaanse samelewing vergemaklik. Om hierdie verskynsel verder te verstaan, het hierdie studie die spesifieke waardes van Koreaanse televisievermaak ondersoek, en kennis geneem van waarom en hoe hierdie programme gekritiseer moet word. Hierdie analise is gedoen uit drie verskillende perspektiewe: 'n sosio-historiese perspektief, 'n media-teoretiese perspektief en 'n etiese-teologiese perspektief. Die voormalige het die oorsprong van neoliberalisme in die Koreaanse samelewing opgespoor en hoe dit met verloop van tyd ontwikkel het. Neoliberalisme in Korea het begin met die invloed van die ekonomiese beleid van Westerse lande, maar daar was voorheen spore van neoliberalisme, dws tydens die Koreaanse Oorlog en monokrasie. Deur die teorieë van verteenwoordigende media-geleerdes, naamlik Walter Benjamin, Harold Innis, Marshall McLuhan en Günther Anders, is bevind dat die media nie net net 'n instrument is om inhoud te lewer nie, maar ook 'n diepgaande en kragtige invloed op die morele tendense van die samelewing. Ten slotte het hierdie studie die neoliberaliseerde Koreaanse televisievermaak vanuit 'n eties-teologiese perspektief gekritiseer. Alasdair MacIntyre se etiek het die basis gevorm vir hierdie kritiese refleksie, en sy deugde-etiek, wat die gemeenskap beklemtoon, is as alternatief voorgestel. MacIntyre se etiek is bekend gestel as 'n etiese grondslag om Koreaanse televisievermaak te kritiseer in samehang met die teologiese standpunte van John Milbank, Stanley Hauerwas en Graham Ward.
Description
Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2019.
Keywords
MacIntyre, Alasdair C., Ethics, Television, UCTD
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