At the turn of the 20th century, the cities of Britain were over-crowded and polluted as well as being infested with numerous diseases like tuberculosis and cholera due to the poor sanitation. Large numbers of people worked in factories and trade unions were set up to improve the working conditions. The turn of the century also saw advances in technology and a change in government. Britain's prosperity in wealth due to its Empire was nonetheless recognised. A bit like something out of Oliver Twist, to be honest.
Was Edwardian Britain 'A Golden Age'?
introduce that Britain faced many significant changes at the turn of the century, i,e, the death of Queen Victoria in 1901 and the rise of King Edward VII.
a new system of parliament to represent public opinion
GOOD: a long-term improvement as it gave Britons their first taste of democracy.
BAD: parliament was dominated by the upper class and could not vote.
a division in class
new acts established in favour of working class people, e.g. the National Insurance Acts, Old Age Pensions Act, plus charities.
GOOD: long-term improvements
BAD: some were still living on subsistence levels with poor living conditions, women still faced inequalities, upper class was at the 'top of the food chain' and workhouses
new inventions like the camera and the bike as well as new machines in factories; the upper class lived in luxury.
conclude that whether it was a 'Golden Age' depended on class but even though it wasn't perfect, it is important to realise that working class citizens weren't neglected.
The Philanthropists- A shining beacon of light in the dark abyss
Charles Booth
from 1886 to 1918, he sent people to investigate the living conditions of the poor as he refused to believe only 25% of the population in London were living in poverty- in fact, he proved it was almost a third, due to unemployment and low wages.
he made people realise that it wasn't one's fault to be poor.
Seehohm Rowntree
he was interested in Charles Booth's findings and wanted to compare them to York
he found out 28% were living in poverty in York
he divided poverty into primary and secondary
primary: a family never able to earn enough
secondary: a family just able to survive
he created a poverty line and predicted when one might find themselves above or below it.
They all showed that the problem if poverty was at its peak despite the 'Golden Era' and the Victorian idea that poverty was as a result of the poor themselves was false.
This is a bit of old news now but Orange Caramel's back with their 2nd comeback of the year, My Copycat, and they are better than ever!
Honestly, I have never seen a music video as crazy as this- I think it has the potential to top their mv for Catallena. In this mv, the viewers are encouraged to interact in a 'game' of spot the difference and Where's Orange Caramel? I had to watch it like a million times but even to this very moment, I'm far from being bored of it. They're truly entertaining.
So my question to you: are you up for the challenge?
Were you a bit freaked out by the eyes (you'll know what I'm talking about if you've watched the video above)? It gives me the shivers...
On top of their amazingly catchy song, their choreography is simple yet fun to watch, if that makes sense. It really suits their quirkiness and the girly nature of the song.
Check out videos of their performances on stage- they've done different versions of the song, including Michael Jackson and characters from the movie Frozen.
I’m not suggesting that my recognition of Korean dramas is
vast. However, I have been watching k-dramas since birth due to my upbringing
in Burma and I still continue to watch them after I moved here in London. To be
honest, I have lost interest in watching TV because I’m always on the computer
watching episodes after episodes of dramas. The same goes for my mother- no
wonder my father’s always agitated when there’s no one there to watch TV with
him at night.
To be honest, I am slightly ashamed to have never watched a
single episode of East Enders or TOWIE, being a Londoner myself. It is also a
pain when I can’t understand what on earth my friends are talking about when it
comes to TV shows. (Sigh)
But, let me make one thing clear; I don’t have the slight
intention of giving up K-dramas. It’s hard to say why I think they are so much
better than American and British soaps. You’ll only understand if you’ve
watched one.
I cannot guarantee 100% satisfaction. Unfortunately, there
have been a number of occasions where I had to stop watching certain dramas
because the plot and/or the characters were a total bore (not to mention any
names here...but the Heirs, though
the actors were amazing seemed to have a more modern copycat plot of Boys over Flowers- it was really
disappointing).
Before I list my top 10, I’d like you to know that I have
only included the ones that I have watched. I could not include other ‘amazing’
kdramas like To the Beautiful You or
The Running Man that my friends have
recommended simply because I haven’t had the time to watch them.
So, here goes my top 10…
No.10
High kick 3:
Revenge of the Short-legged
This sitcom aired from 2011
to 2012 and revolved around the Ahn family who suddenly went bankrupt which led
to a whole chain of seriously hilarious events. Every single character has
their own unique touch on the audience but most of all, Ahn Nae-sang, whose has
such a peculiar style of acting that he has always sent me off in tears from
laughing. He’s absolutely sensational.
No.9
Jumong
This historical drama
that is set during the time of the Gojoseon era in Korea tells the story about
Jumong Taewang a Prince who beomes a lengendary figure. I have to say that even
my dad who very rarely compliments k-dramas have said it was one of the best
things he has ever watched. I agree- the plot and the battle scenes are
ingenious! No wonder it had the highest
views in 2006 when it was first aired.
No. 8
You’re all
surrounded
Four newly recruited
rookie detectives at Gangnam Police Station who joined to meet their own needs
and not out of genuine enthusiasm to protect the citizens of Korea, learns what
it really takes to become detectives. They later learn the tragic past of their
team mate Eun Dae-Gu and struggle to fight for justice. A must-watch for 2014!
No. 7
God's gift: 14 days
After Kim Soo-hyun’s
little daughter gets kidnapped and murdered, she is given another chance to go
back in time exactly two weeks before the murder. Determined to save her
daughter, she works with a former detective Ki Dong-chan but as they race
against the clock, they discover even more sinister secrets they could never
have imagined.
No. 6
Boys Over
Flowers
This is quite an old
k-drama now but it is something that every true k-drama lover would have
watched. Its ratings for cheesiness would be off the scale at many points in
the drama but I believe it tears me up nearly everytime I watch it because it
reminds me of my young teenage years spending my days lounging on the sofa with
my sisters. The main storyline is on a poor struggling student being offered a
scholarship in the most prestigious high
school in Korea, where she after many fights and hardship befriends the famous
gang F4.
No. 5
Gap-Dong
Based on the
real-life unsolved Hwaseong serial murders caseof the rape and murder of ten
women from 1986 to 1991 in the Taean neighborhood of Hwaseong City, this
drama is absolutely chilling and makes you reconsider how dangerous psychopaths
really are.
No. 4
Full House
‘Full House’ the name
of the house, built by Han Ji-eun’s father, which later becomes her only
inheritance and memory left of her parents after they pass away. But she is
embezzled by her two closest friends whilst she is sent away on holiday to
Japan, and finds her precious house sold to Lee Young-Jae, a popular actor.
This drama, aired in 2004 (wow, it’s been 10 years now) is based on the lives
of these two characters whose lives took an unlikely turn of fate. I usually
hate all the lovey-dovey stuff but this is the only drama that not only can I
tolerate but actually enjoy watching it over and over again.
No.3
I Hear Your
Voice
This is a beautiful combination
of courtroom drama and romantic comedy with a few elements of fantasy. Jang Hye-sung,
a public defender, finds her life changed forever when she encounters Park
Soo-ha, a high school boy with the supernatural ability to read other people's
thoughts and a dorky ‘cop-turned-lawyer’ Cha Gwan-woo.
No. 2 Oh! Pil-seung and Bong Soon-young
This is one of those
dramas that leave you at the end with awe and a lump in your throat. Oh
Pil-seung is a free-spirited character who is somewhat lazy and uneducated but
somehow touches the bottom of your heart as he suddenly transforms from an
ordinary guy to the long-lost grandson of a wealthy CEO and finds himself
competing with a gang of snobby rivals. Bong Soon-young finds the man of her
dream after so many failed relationships but later become attracted to the
warm-hearted Pil-seung. The love triangle isn’t what interested me but the fact
that I had never felt that much empathy towards a character like Pil-seung
before. I’m not surprised he actually managed to get two Best Actor awards out
of this drama, aired in 2004.
No. 1
Jewel in
the Palace- Dae Jang Geum
This historical drama
first aired in 2004 tells the true tale of Jang-geum an orphaned kitchen cook
who becomes the first female royal physician of the Joseon Dynasty. In n era
when women had little influence in society, Jang-geum struggles to learn the
secrets of traditional Korean cooking and medicine as well as to uncover her
late mother’s cruel past. This is truly the best thing I have ever watched in
my life. Every aspect of this drama is pure intellect and can’t be anymore
perfect. Don’t assume it’ll be boring because it’s historical- I was only 6
when I first watched it and I love it even now.
It all happened too quickly for me to catch up, actually. SM
entertainment released an official notice at the end of September this year to
expel Jessica from Girls Generation or otherwise known as SNSD. I initially did
not believe my friend who broke the news to me but now I just can’t believe it.
I have never really been an SNSD fan but I am very much
aware of their songs and concerts and whatnot. That’s because if you know Kpop,
you can’t miss SNSD. Girl’s Generation is part of the foundations that are
supporting the ever-growing wall of Kpop. Basically, they were there since the
dawn of Kpop. It’s true and I very much respect that.
Anyways, those of you who don’t know SNSD, they consist of 9
members...oops 8 members now, specialising in a very girly aspect of Kpop
though that’s not true now. They rose to fame in 2009 with their release of Gee that was classified by the online
music store MelOn as the most popular song of the decade in South
Korea. In 2010 alone, they sold more than 11,730,000 digital albums and singles. Their
immense popularity in South Korea has earned them titles such as "The
Nation's Singers" and "The Nation's Girl Group".
The old SNSD
To be honest, I’ve always said that there were way too many
girls in that group but I never really expected them to take one out. The reasons
behind Jessica leaving to me is totally unclear- some say it’s because she
wants to get married, she was kicked out because she was using SNSD’s
popularity to promote Blanc her personal fashion company, or that she has always
wanted to leave. The fact is, I don’t know.
Jessica and Krystal the Korean variety TV show takes
the viewers behind the scenes of the two sisters, Jung
Soo Yeon (Jessica) and Jung Soo Jung's (Krystal from f(x)) normal, everyday life.
Jessica and her little sister Krystal - cute
It is a sad truth. I am actually deeply sorry that
Jessica has to leave and that there is 99% chance of her not returning, but I
wish her all the luck in whatever she wishes to do next in her career.
Will Jessica and Krystal continue? I just can't imagine how Krystal will take it...:(
One of the most difficult tasks in my life aside from exam revision is finding the right sorts of clothes for the right occasions and I have to admit that I never really know what's best when it comes down to the airport. When it comes to long flights, you NEED to be comfortable in what you're wearing because if you're not, you'll feel like jumping out of that plane- or at least that's how I felt when I wore skinny jeans on a 12-hour flight to Hong Kong. I sometimes wish that I could just wear pyjamas as I've seen a few other people do every once in a blue moon but let's just say, I'm not that brave. But I don't intend on looking like I live in a cave or something so I say the clothes need to be reasonably chic.
Now, I take my inspirations from K-stars and I thought it would be nice to say the ones that I liked. I've included guys too though I ain't a guy. But anyway, here's my top 10.
No.10
Chanyeol
On some occasions a hat is a must-have especially when you fear of ending up with a bad hair day and a woolly jumper can't look any more comfortable
No.9
Tiffany from SNSD
Another hat here, but the addition of a back-pack is essential when you want to keep your hands free for your phone for instance.
No.8
Chen
This outfit is simply adorable and chic.
No.7
Sulli from f(x)
Simplicity is best for warm weather and nothing says 'fresh' like white.
No.6
Taeyeon from SNSD
A pair of denim shorts and the occasional going-out look is sometimes suitable
No.5
Jonghyun
In rags and Timberlands
No.4
Seohyun from SNSD
From head to toe, she can't look any better.
No.3
Jinwoo from Winner
Back in black and leather- for guys this look can't get old.
No.2
Krystal from f(x)
Her over-coat is simply too cute.
No.1
Jooyeon from After School
This definitely has to be the best one yet! It's a casual comfortable look with an essence of chic added by her long trench coat.
Most of you may be familiar with Gangnam Style. Let's just say from that, people came to know Huyna. But I suppose many of you don't know that she's actually from a Kpop group (and one of my favourites) 4MINUTE- and no, it doesn't have an 's' at the end, that's just one of those peculiar things about Kpop names which you'll never really understand.
The one holding her hair is Huyna and the rest is her group members.
'Whatcha doin' today?' was crazy and fun and nonetheless catchy
What really caught my eye was their clothes, make-up and hair! I just think their clothes are simply to die-for! I am so jealous at what they can wear and if anyone knows where I can get some of their types of clothes around London, please don't hesitate to tell me.
Here's the mv for one of their best songs- enjoy...
WARNING: Don't be put off at the start because as the mv goes on, it gets better.
This is another K-pop girl group (sub-group of After School) that I have discovered on YouTube, who has instantly became my FAVOURITE GROUP OF ALL TIME!!! I cannot stress how good they are! People who aren't familiar with K-pop at all would even agree that it's AWESOME!! In my opinion, they have made the most unique K-pop MV that I've seen (sorry Crayon Pop). I mean, they have spent a fortune on the stage settings and the costumes; the fish costumes actually look like fish and yet cute. Normally in K-pop MVs, girls sometimes get on my nerves because they try to act too cute or sexy (not naming anyone here...). But Lizzy, Nana and Raina here have made everything look so natural and I really like the fact that they've actually began to make fun of themselves. Eat Your Kimchi seems to agree as well:
Nana, Raina and Lizzy (from top to bottom)
You just need to check them out RIGHT NOW and tell me what you think! This is called Catellena which came out in March 2014 ( it's got a few lines of a Punjabi folk song; the combination of Korean and Punjabi is truly quite...something)
Lipstick, released in 2012, is also very much on the same lines as Catellena. They're both awesome!
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