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Maria Yoon hosts an open call for potential husbands for her “Maria the Korean Bride” project
2011 MCAF Grantee Maria Yoon is fielding an open call (for potential husbands) for the grand finale of her project, Maria the Korean Bride, where she'll marry for the 50th time (one in each US state) in NYC.
As a mid-thirty year old Korean-American woman I face tremendous pressure and guilt from my own parents and community today. While this may seem, at first a harmless little predicament that makes a jaunty Broadway musical or a hip sitcom, it is very REAL.
Korea is a small country steeped in many traditions. Its people are proud of their hard fought heritage. Formed from thousands of years of it’s unique culture divided by communism to the North and still coming to terms with Japan’s brutal thirty-six year occupation in the early part of the 20th Century. It’s people are protective of its rapidly fading ethic purity and culture. For many first and second generation Korean American women marriage has often meant choosing between families and following their hearts.
Maria the Korean Bride challenges and explores what marriage is as I document my cross-country journey as a forever Korean bride in my Korean bridal garb. It includes my random marriage proposals, interviews with various participants and mock wedding ceremonial performances with them. When complete, Maria the Korean Bride will be a feature documentary including highlights from most of the fifty states (+ 2 US Territories) where these marriages take place.
Click HERE to see her video on youtube
