ART413-pjt #1 first thoughts

For ART413's historical research project I chose to look at Korean culture.

My parents (both caucasion) adopted my older sister and I then had my younger sister. Melanie was adopted from Sueol, Korea and 3 years later they adopted me from Pusan, Korea when I was 4 months old. Melanie and I are not blood related. Then 2 years after they adopted me, Joy was born, surprise! After adopting, my parents taught other parents around the area the process of adopting from Korea. Three of the adopted girls' parents i know were taught by my parents.
I never knew much about Korea. I never had the desire to learn more about a culture that was so distant from me as anyone else. No history classes ever taught much about Korea except about the war. Not until recently have i learned to be comfortable enough with myself to be able to explore my heritage. I never felt any different from everyone else. I grew up in a 97% white school in the country where i was harassed all the time for being different. it was so difficult when i didn't see myself as being different from them. I grew up just like everyone around me. As far as i can remember, kids would make fun of the way i looked. Racial slang yelled at young child can really do some damage. To this very day i still get rude remarks but i learn to live with it. Most of it comes with the territory of living in a small town. I think i'm old enough where i can accept myself for who i am and i can be proud of being different. I can look at it as being a positive instead of a negative.
People used to ask me, "Do you know your biological parents? Can you speak korean? Do you remember what it was like there?". No, I was only about 4 months old when I came to the US. Do you remember anything when you were that young? Now that i'm doing research I can tell people more about the culture instead of getting angry about it. One of the main things i want to come across in this project is that i will be proud to wear whatever i make. i want it to be out there and close to the heart. I don't want to feel ashamed anymore. I'd like the piece to be beautiful, unique, and korean.

I am researching korean adornment like crowns, jewelry, decorations, and the traditional dress. I'm learning about symbols, colors, animals, etc and what they mean. The designs that were cut out of sheet metal or sewn into fabric are beautiful. They are one of the most inspiring things i have found yet.