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The “Miracle” Narrative of the Korean Cultural Industries: Perspectives from the Middle East International Conference May 8-9, 2013The Harry S. Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace, The Hebrew University of JerusalemIn the Middle East, as in other parts of the world, the Korean cultural industries have proved extremely efficient in introducing new images of Korea to new audiences. Known as the ‘Korean Wave’, TV dramas, Korean pop music, and Korean cinema has been successful not only commercially, but has also left viewers with an image of Korea as a home of a vibrant culture and artistic innovation. This impression has stimulated interest in Korea and its culture, resulting in a rise in tourism and in the establishment of new Korean studies programs in institutions of higher education. Korea has never been so popular and familiar in the Middle East as it is today.The purpose of this conference is to examine the way Korean popular culture is being appropriated and received in the Middle East, and to examine the social and academic developments it inspires. The conference presentations will attempt to develop an integrative framework to analyze the dynamic relations between cultural industry, cultural consumption, and academic studies through a focus on the experience of the Korean Wave in the Middle East.In a broader sense, looking at the Middle East allows us to examine how Korean culture is being received outside the geographically and culturally-proximate markets of Asia and outside the major economic markets of North America and Europe.The conference will focus on four major issues: (a) Harbingers, industries, agents, and fans involved in bringing the "Korean Wave" to the Middle East (b) Acceptance and integration of the Korean Wave within the local and other imported (American) popular cultures (c) Relations between Korean cultural presence and Korean academic studies (d) Perspectives, images, and stereotypes of Korea in the Middle East.Proposals (both individual and panel proposals), including name, institutional affiliation, the title of the paper, and an abstract of 400 words (with relevant keywords listed), should be sent by December 10th, 2012 to KoreanWaveMiddleEast@gmail.com. Successful applicants would be asked to send the complete paper of 5,000 words by April 10th, 2013. The organizers will make an effort to secure funding for accommodations to presenters from abroad.Sponsor: The Harry S. Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace and The Louis Frieberg Center for East Asian Studies, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.For inquiries please contact: Dr. Nissim Otmazgin (nissim.otmazgin@mail.huji.ac.il) or Mrs. Irina Lyan (irina.lyan@mail.huji.ac.il).