Sunday, May 9, 2010

Finding A Place in Society... Have You Found Yours?


I grew up in the era where Breakdance was slowly making its way into our society and it wasn't welcomed with open arms and heart. Unlike traditional dances, such modern 'artwork' was considered as unbecoming because the adults thought it's too modern (when they couldn't see its beauty) and it's worthless (looking at the kind of youths it appeals to).

This morning, I happened to watch an inspiring "Planet B-Boy" on SMV. It is is a 2007 documentary film that focuses on the 2005 Battle of the Year ("BOTY") - a platform for B-Boys and Hip Hop culture in general and an opportunity for all participants to express themselves in a peaceful and non-racist environment.

In 2005 BOTY, energetic "Last For One" clinched the first place. I knew they would win looking at their impeccable and synergistic artwork. Since then, these have been recognised as a worldwide known name and a contributor to the Korean wave , their fans respectively calling them the 'Dancing Taeguk Warriors' - its national dancing team - that has graced myriads of art scene like performing along with Seoul Traditional Orchestra, featuring in South Korea Tourism Commercial, performing all over the world including 2006 Munich World Cup.

"The final win is not the leap you took from the starting point. It is all the effort and patience it took to reach it" ~ B-boy Fresh (Park Kyung Hoon) (1983)

Their story is heartwarming and inspiring considering they have went through a lot of hardships before and now, they have found their place in our global society. Their presence, not only making the art scene more vibrantly colourful, their passion changes their life and many more hopefuls B-Boy out there.

"I want to be a person that always smiles and becomes a source of strength for someone" ~ A.k.a Min (Jun Hyo Min) (1985)

But, Last for One is where they are today because the society gives them the opportunity to grow and be different. They live in a society that rewards those who are diligent , competitive and brave enough to bring and embrace changes. They have found their place in their society.

This could happen to them because they are, after all, come from South Korea - a dynamic high-income, highly competitive country which has outperformed us in many ways.

Extrinsically, we are no different from them but we are what Albert Camus drew some inspiration from when he said, "Man is the only creature that refuses to be what he is".

So, have you found your place in the society?

"This is the true joy in life - being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy" ~ George Bernard Shaw

2 comments:

Oscar the Grouch said...

I always knew the 80s past will catch up with me one day.

It is always hip to be able to dance. And during that era, it is definitely hip to break-dance.

And there I was, in the VHS video rental - after a dosage of Breakin’ and Beat Street - with a video aptly entitled How to Break-dance (in the mould of Jane Fonda’s Workout series).

It has the A-Z of break-dance, with a step-by-step manual.

Later, we all performed in a friend’s house, amidst coy laughter, as we all looked terribly silly, gyrating like Chinese vampires.

And the girl that I was trying to impress later squeaked to me, “What were you doing?”

Oh, the horrors of break-dance ...

Fi-sha said...

hehhehehhehehehehehehhe

Dear Mr Oscar The Grouch

That's so so cute and if i were the girl, I would fall head over gyrating hips for you and your fellow B-Boys!

Scientifically, all dancers and sportmen are smart - thanks to their super efficient circuit of their grey matters that result in those movements that not everyone could perform.

Keep on dancing Sir!

p.s. Chinese vampires gyrating? Wooo, i recall them jumping to the tune of Kris Kross Jump, JUmp, Jump :)