In my latest blog on Geography Directions I draw attention to Nebahat Tokatli’s (2012) Geography Compass paper, which discusses the relationship between place and image for profit-making strategies within the fashion industry. In the same way that Paris and Milan have their positive place-image exploited by companies, I consider the global chart hit “Gangnam Style” by South Korean rapper Psy. Embodying a similar technique, the song’s producers have used the stereotype of a certain area of Seoul (and its associations) to generate millions in revenue and render Psy a global phenomenon. Read the blog post here:
Capturing the Soul of Seoul: ‘Gangnam Style’ and the Profits of Place-making
Dr. Jennifer Turner 