When people who are living in the 21st century face the culture of the 20th century, one person might think nostalgically and another might find something interesting. Reflecting on this psychology of the public, a recently released Korean drama, ‘Response’, which is set in the 1990s, has received tremendous popularity. Through this drama, the public, who live in the digital era, are enthusiastic about its ‘analog’ sensibility. In addition, the issues and social background of that time have gotten a lot of attention.
  On the other hand, dramas that are set in the 1990s are not just in Korea. The British also have one that is famous in Korea. ‘My Mad Fat Diary’ is a teenage drama that is set in the 1990s in British Lincolnshire. The story of the drama is the events of the leading actor, ‘Rae Earl’, who attempts to commit a suicide at home. After spending 4 months in a hospital, the story begins with her returning home.
  Through this drama, we can ascertain that music was the central culture of British people in the 1990s. Most of the O.S.T (Original Sound Track) is composed of ‘Britpop’, which means British popular music, from the 1990s. ‘Britpop’ attracts viewers’ fascination. Actually, the 1990s were the glory days of ‘Britpop’, so there were a lot of rock bands who dominated those times all around the world. Typical bands were ‘Oasis’, ‘Blur’ and ‘Radiohead’. Their music is still loved by fans around the world. Besides, parties were in fashion in this period. In the drama, Rae and her friends dance to the music without sleep in a warehouse. This scene describes a ‘Rave party’. It started in the 1980s in Europe and spread across the whole world. The original meaning of ‘Rave party’ was dancing all night in an unconventional place. However, it has changed now in a negative way involving drugs and changing the venue to enclosed places. Nevertheless, rave parties are still held here and there.
  Cultures evolve in our lives by creation and transition. According to this cycle, cultures which represent the age are the fruit of people’s lives. Thus, it plays a role of estimating the era. In other words, the culture that we are enthusiastic about now will be remembered as the 21st century in the future.

By Oh Ah-ra
ar34@cbnu.ac.kr