샘 오취리의 스타 이미지 분석을 통해 본 한국 다문화주의의 발전과 한계

초록

Facing the current state of multiculturalism and the emerging racial issues, this study aims to examine the development and limitations of multiculturalism through the case of Sam Okyere, a Ghanaian TV star in South Korea. Appearing on various Korean TV programs, Okyere has formed stardom but discontinued his activities due to the recent controversy on blackface. We interpret him as a discursive text through which we can diagnose the multiculturality of Korean media and society. As star image is not merely formed by the specific characteristics of an individual star, but in a relation to society and the public, Okyre’s star image articulated by his racial traits and star personality reveals the current stage of multiculturalism and racism in Korean society. This study looks into various media texts that arguably function as promotion, publicity, role, and criticism in making star image. The findings show that Okyere was embraced in the Korean media and society through the star image as a ‘quasi-Korean’, ‘raconteur’ who successfully understood and mediated Korean humour, and ‘representative of black people’ that proved the advancement of multiculturalism in Korea. However, the controversy of blackface deviated his star image, and his image was thereby replaced and reconfigurated with the conventional negative stereotypes on black people. Exploring how Okyere’s star image is constructed and dismantled, this study discusses the contradictions and limitations embedded in Korean multiculturalismty. Finally, this study argues for a higher cultural sensitivity to multiculturalism and anti-racism.

키워드