Korean Job Discussion Forums

[JeJuJitsu]

Talking about wrestling---well, fake wrestling of the WWE variety with my high school boys, and was astonished that these 15 year old boys had no idea that this variety of "fighting" was fake, and in fact use elaborate scripts and all.
Some boys started a shouting match with me on this topic, as class let out, my 32 year old male co-worker asks what the rukus is, and when I told him, he paused, then with this "you've got it all wrong" look, told me that "It was not possible. I watched this the other day and one man hit another man in the head and he was bleeding very much. So he must have hit this man very very hard, no?"

At this point, I was a bit freaked out that a grown man of this age who watches fake wrestling--does not know it's fake wrestling. I thought I'd try to explain how they use scripts and such, but to no avail. He kept telling me that it would be impossible to script a fight (especially when they 'draw blood' with chair hitting and the like).

Anyway, as I am trying to explain how 99% of people who actually enjoy this kind of redneck entertainment do so with a wink and a nod, he didn't believe me ("Well if it is a determined outcome and the hitting is fake, how is this a popular thing?). So he tells me simply, "I do not believe you about this being fake. It would be too difficult to make this as a production in such way."

My question to you all would be, am I just in a Twilight Zone hagwon or is this a common belief from your experiences? It touches on a mindset for me that he couldn't believe that it was fake because the production value was so flawless, and admittedly, I never thought of WWE as "art" or anything really approaching it, but in the context of creatively lacking Koreans, maybe I underestimate how good those steroid underwear guys are at what they do....

[Rteacher]

...Maybe the Korean commentators do a really good job of selling it.

...Actually, although it's scripted, there are a lot of real elements to it including controlled - but violent - physical contact (the documentary "Beyond the Mat" shows real damage to Mick Foley's busted-open head caused by repeated "chair shots" by the "Rock"...) There are many serious injuries, and the high degree of risk inherent in many of the stunts performed can be appreciated as real - it's not completely fake in sense that movie action is fake.

Of course, the characters are ridiculously over-the-top - but so are the freaks showcased on "Jerry Springer" (also shown around the world as an example of American culture...)

I think that in order to vicariously enjoy extreme "sports entertainment" there has to be some suspension of disbelief. Many older wrestling fans - like myself (I was into it when I was very young, and got back into it after age 40 ...) enjoy critiquing the storylines and appreciate the campy slapstick humor - and brazen exploitation of scantily-clad women..

As a learning tool for teaching English as a foreign language, it's useful for conveying the meaning of such important terms as "clothesline", "chair-shot", "power slam"... and "you suck" "Stone-cold" Steve Austin advanced the cause of non-verbal communication by demonstrating the emotionally-charged and emphatic middle-finger gesture (learned well by many Korean students...)

[igotthisguitar]

Drug Testing Coming to TV Wrestling
By JOHN CHRISTOFFERSEN, Associated Press Writer
Sun Dec 4, 7:09 PM ET

STAMFORD, Conn. - Following the death of one of pro wrestling's biggest stars, World Wrestling Entertainment says it is starting random drug testing to detect illicit drugs, steroids and prescription drug abuse among its performers.

( Question: Aren't steroids illicit drugs? Why the repetition? )



Eddie Guerrero, 38, had struggled with drug abuse for years before he was found dead last month in a Minneapolis hotel shortly before a show.

The medical examiner has yet to rule on the cause of death, but Guerrero's widow has said she was told an autopsy showed signs of heart disease, which she blamed on his past alcohol and drug abuse combined with an aggressive workout regimen.

"This is the first time a superstar of this magnitude has passed away on a national promotion," Dave Meltzer, editor of Wrestling Observer, said. "I'm sure they are going to have to do a lot of thinking."

WWE, whose wrestling programming is among the highest-rated on cable television, said it will announce details of the new testing procedure in the coming weeks. Chairman Vince McMahon told wrestlers last week that the new policy would involve frequent, random tests conducted by an independent agency

The policy is going to be very fair. No special consideration for any one," McMahon said

[Swiss James]

I used to love wrestling when I was maybe 11 or 12 and am pretty sure I thought it was real- I thought "Sure these characters are a bit over the top, but they're Americans, that's what it's like over there".

When I figured out it was all fake I was disgusted and couldn't watch it without getting really angry at all the backwards baseball cap, hollering fools who were holding up signs and cheering for their favourites as though it was a real sporting event.

Then I figured out that everybody knows it's fake, but they watch it anyway because it's like a violent, camp soap opera and some of the moves are just frigging amazing. Now I understand that the fact it's fake makes it more impressive- what's easier, smacking someone in the face with a chair, or convincing an audience of millions that you're smacking someone in the face with a chair without hurting the other guy (too much).

Anyway, I don't know what my point is except that your 32 year old co-worker is a bit simple.

Oh and how come RVD is never allowed to be world champion?

[Hater Depot]

It's comic book + soap opera.

Anyway, if you keep up on your WWE news you can impress the boys. All the more so if you are willing to stand in front of a class of 38 kids and freak them out by doing your impression of the Undertaker.

Uh.. that's what my friend said anyway.