Couldn't be long before a clearly comedic video going viral had to be considered an ethical dilemma by someone in the Guardian.

This really is the most miserable paper in the UK sometimes. Can't you just let it be?

Arwa

Shouldn't you be haranguing Psy rather than anyone else?

The South Korean pop video taking the internet by storm does little to overturn tired stereotypes of east Asian men.

Was it supposed to?

This stands in high contrast to many western hip-hop stars who have been slow to relinquish control of their "intellectual" property in the same way

Speaking of stereotypes, are those knowing speech marks meant to suggest that Western hip-hop stars are thick?

And it's hard to escape the uncomfortable feeling that this stereotype is contributing something to the laughter around Gangnam Style.

Just as the British felt stereotyped when the US took to Benny Hill.
Ergh, no we didn't.
Lighten up.
It's pop music.
Why do certain Guardian writers spend so much time looking for the 'socio-political' context ?

Sometimes things are just funny.

The North Korean parody with Park Geun-hye was pretty excellent, they've taken it down since (probably because North Korea runs its web servers on a Commodore 64 and more than three people trying to watch a video crashed it out). It reminded me of the Worker & Parasite mock-Soviet cartoon on the Simpsons.

I have the feeling this whole Gangnam style thing is a clever marketing push by K-pop promoters. I vaguely remember reading somewhere they were trying to crack the western market. It's worth a huge wad of cash over there.

As for the broader point about stereotypes? Phfft. The internet doesn't take anyone seriously. You might as well say the condescending Wonka meme is indicative of a deep cultural malaise the West has as a result of mass deindustrialisation and an increasingly aloof capital class.

Actually, that may be the Guardian's next comment piece.

Was it supposed to?

What did you think pop music was for?

It's the HORSEY DANCE. That's why it's funny, that's the only reason.

The stereotype of a portly, non-threatening Charlie Chan-type who speaks "comical" English is still very much alive,

A stereotype in mass-produced popular music? Are you sure?

Doenjang jjigae is really tasty.

I would happily forego a latte from Starbucks for a bowl of Doenjang jjigae.

Starbucks is crap

Excellent PoP video ... such fun!

The South Korean pop video taking the internet by storm does little to overturn tired stereotypes of east Asian men

This article does little to overturn tired stereotypes of overly PC liberals with no sense of humour.

"Why do certain Guardian writers spend so much time looking for the 'socio-political' context ?"

To earn a crust ! Quite shameful really, but that's the Guardian !

And here was I thinking it was all just a bit of harmless fun.
That's because it is.

It must be horrible waking up every morning looking for offence in the most innocent of things.

The puppet had a point: popular western media doesn't tend to take east Asian men seriously – even when they're brutal dictators.

Talk about scraping the barrel looking for examples. Charlie Chaplin mocked ol' Adolf (Godwin claxon sounds). It's just a bit of fun.

Also, I've never been to Korea so I only think this is a stereotype of Korean men because Arwa Mahdawi suggested it was.

Could Arwa be projecting?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLH6PidZ-7I
The only version that matters.

It's a catchy tune that is it.

I honestly don't know how you get out of bed in the morning.

Looking forward to watching my daughters trying to crack this dance, not looking forward to full-scale media carpet bombing with this video/song until it's not funny anymore. Don't want to see Richard and Judy or their modern day equivalent trying it out for the housewife/student demographic.

And there was me thinking it was just bloody hilarious. I'll remember to check my brain impulses for prejudice the next time I watch it.

The South Korean pop video taking the internet by storm does little to overturn tired stereotypes of east Asian men

If you are that worried, then why did you post a link to the video?

You have to laugh at the liberal guilt complex. You have re-enforced THAT stereotype really well.

The fact that people get annoyed by po-faced articles like this is half the reason why the Guardian does it. People will read them if only to get annoyed. Don't you get it???

Step 1: Find latest pop culture phenomenon.
Step 2: Desperately seek a way to hang wring about it.
Step 3: Somehow get published in the Guardian.
Step 4: No profit. Profit is for fucking capitalists.

I've got to say that I do think this is a super-funny video and all the parodies are just lighthearted fun.
But I do reckon that Western media does tend to portray stereotypes of East Asians as either slightly comical or Kung Fu masters. Just the same way that Arabs are often terrorists and Brits are often uptight and posh in American movies.
And it seems that this would inevitably play some part in the way that the West is consuming the video. Its looking at in the context of other stereotypes that its used to seeing on screen.
But I'm certainly not finding offence in Gangnam - just raising a point which I think is valid.

haha gotta love the Guardian

HEYYYYYY
SEXY LAAA-DY

Ah, The Guardian, where laughing at a joke from overseas is inherently racist.

"And there was me thinking it was just bloody hilarious. I'll remember to check my brain impulses for prejudice the next time I watch it"

To be on the safe side,run it past a Guardian writer.:they will be able to tell if you are being prejudiced. Do not trust yourself. You have been warned !

'If a spoof spoofs a spoof then what's that spoof spoofing? '

Erm..what? You lost me there.

I assumed it just a video of a portly south korean man doing a silly dance while singing a catchy tune in Korean

Or maybe I overanalysing it?

I love K-Pop. Its fun, light hearted, cheesy and perfect pop. People who don't get it are probably trying to over-analyze it in the manner of Sheldon from Big Bang Theory, once you try and over analyze something simple and fun, you ruin it!

I watched it, but didn't get the joke. It was just another pop video.

The South Korean pop video taking the internet by storm does little to overturn tired stereotypes of east Asian men

Trust me, South Koreans are delighted to be noticed internationally for any reason. My wife, who is South Korean, tells me with pride everyday about the latest american TV show Psy has been on. She is completely unconcerned by whatever stereotype foreigners may or may not be erroneously decoding from it

I dislike the uniformity and cliched nature of K-Pop in general but finding anything negative about Psy or Gangnam Style, which is just not-taking-itself-seriously unpretentious fun, seems ridiculous to me.

Your connection to Kim Jong Il is baffling too. The only link being that they are both slightly tubby Koreans. Living in Korea, lot of my friends in England chat to me about it as a natural topic of conversation and you are the first westerner I have ever heard make the connection.

fat man horsing about and taking the piss. what's not to like?

* it is just...

* I'm overanalysing

(edit function please....)

Good lord.

The Guardian truly has become a parody of itself.

I can see now how the Nazis and fundamentalists you know what but I cannot say as I'll be arrested types have managed to gain power leading to repression and eventually, major loss of life.

Those with little to no sense of humor, and a huge chip on their shoulders are unable to take a joke.

I saw the video for the first time yesterday and thought it was great fun and made me want to dance in that funky way. I made no judgement on the race or other of the participants, just as I make no judgement on the participants of any other video.

Get over yourself before this country becomes as bad as NORTH Korea.

He's not fat - he's just not as paper thin as western models

The stereotype of a portly, non-threatening Charlie Chan-type who speaks "comical" English is still very much alive

really? damn, i must be really behind the times. there was i thinking of all east asians as martial arts experts like bluce ree.

I'm not sure about the socio-political argument presented here. I think it is overstated just a little.

But I did watch the video and thought it was just plain unfunny. Really bad.

It's a shame that 262 million people can get behind something like this and ignore so much else in the world more worthy of their attention.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JsE024yedM&feature=related

Newport State of Mind.... go on you know you want to watch it again.

"It is a pastiche of pop video cliches so familiar you almost feel you know what Psy is singing."

I think you might have just answered your own question Arwa.

Why do people keep saying that the video is funny. Since when was bad dancing and mild mysogynism funny?

Actually...I just remembered that lame dance teacher and the number of hits his "hilarious" videos got. I must just not be normal...I thought it was shit, but it was at least aware of the fact, unlike numerous western acts, who think they are actually ganstas or divas, rather than just. playing at one.

The Guardian truly has become a parody of itself.

Ha ha, excellent! Would you mind if I borrowed it?

"The Guardian truly has become a parody of itself."

The Guardian has become a parody of itself! Take a drink everyone!

Why do certain Guardian writers spend so much time looking for the 'socio-political' context

Why do so many Guardian readers complain when other people use their brains? It's not like anybody's forcing you to read it.

I generally agree with the sentiment here, but that said it is legitimate to analyse cultural phenomena like this.

Where you are right is that laughing at someone who is deliberately being comically and feeling guilty as to why you are laughing and imagining deep-seated psychological racism, evinced by 10 year old minor T-shirt scandals is a fairly tedious Guardian trope.

"Essentially, it is just an over-the-top video where a fat man does a comical dance and sings repetitive lyrics that don't make sense to most of us."

1. he's not fat, especially by western standards.
2. the colour is super-saturated, like most of the crap you watch on tv - your brain is addicted to bright colours.
3. what is over-the-top about it? looks like my average weekend.
4. it's awesome.

Was he fat? Honestly, I hadn't noticed--he looked pretty normal to me.

This guy and Crazy Frog belong in a steelcage death match.