KJCKorea
Journal Central

Television melodrama is representing more perfect male image that female viewers desire in neoliberalism throughout male main characters with supernatural power. By the way, could we tell that male main characters with fantasy in melodrama evolve? The objective of this study is to get the conclusion on approaching this issue. In order to achieve this objective, first I examined how male main characters of Neoui Moksoriga Deulryeo (I Hear Your Voice) and Byeoleseo On Geudae (My Love from the Star) embody the ideal male image that female viewers desire. Then, I considered what is the meaning and limit of fantasy granted to male main characters in melodrama. In both dramas, male main characters with supernatural power are first portrayed as younger men of a young age image, reflecting women's desire for ‘youth.’ Also, women's desire for ‘romantic love’ is reflected through the reclusive, innocent man image that only dedicate female characters. As the object of this desire for women, the male main characters with supernatural power provide visual and imaginative pleasure to female viewers. Meanwhile, supernatural power of male main characters remains private romance territory without expanding public territory. The supernatural power of male main characters in the melodrama is appropriated by convention of melodrama genre without showing subversion. Eventually, it was concluded that the male main characters with supernatural power cause more variations than evolution of male main characters in the melodrama, and were being used as a device for variations and expansion of melodrama genres.

Byeoleseo On Geudae(My Love from the Star), Fantasy, Female's Desire, Imaginary pleasure, Male Main Character, Melodrama/Romance-drama, Neoui Moksoriga Deulryeo(I Hear Your Voice), (reclusive) Pure-hearted Man, Supernatural Power, Television Drama, Visual Pleasure, Younger Man/Juniority