Browsing by Author "Kim, Hoseok"

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    A theological-ethical critique of Korean entertainment television in the light of Alasdair MacIntyre's ethics
    (2019-04) Kim, Hoseok; Forster, Dion Angus; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology.
    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.