Words with Nerds Comedy Show
January 15, 2026. 7PM
Tickets

Book talk for K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television on Friday, November 21st. 2PM ET at Big Red Books in Nyack, NY

Book Talk at Hudson Valley Books for Humanity
for K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television
Friday, November 21st. 5PM ET

Headlining at Fifth Ward Brewing Company
1009 S Main St, Oshkosh, WI 54902

2/19/25

7 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Madison Central Library
201 W Mifflin St, Madison, WI 53703
Community Rooms 301 & 302

From the Emmy Award-winning Squid Game to streaming sensations like The Glory and Crash Landing on You, Korean television has emerged onto the global pop culture scene as compelling television—but what exactly makes these shows so irresistibly bingeable? And what can we learn about our societies and ourselves from watching them?

From stand-up comedian and media studies PhD Grace Jung comes a rollicking deep dive into the cultural significance of Korean television. K-Drama School analyzes everything from common tropes like amnesia and slapping to conspicuous product placements of Subway sandwiches and coffee; to representations of disability, race and gender; to what Korea’s war-torn history says about South Korea’s media output and the stories being told on screen.

With chapters organized by “lessons,” each one inquiring into a different theme of Korean television, K-Drama School offers a groundbreaking exploration into this singular form of entertainment, from an author who writes with humor and heart about shows that spur tears and laughter, keeping us glued to the TV while making fans of us all.

Shows discussed include: Squid Game, SKY Castle, Crash Course in Romance, Extraordinary Attorney Woo, My Mister, Something in the Rain, One Spring Night, DP, Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, Autumn in My Heart, Winter Sonata, Our Blues, and more.

https://www.wisconsinbookfestival.org/events/k-drama-school

Voyager Comedy Show in Milwaukee
Landmark Lanes
February 11, 2025 at 8PM

Center for East Asian Studies (CEAS) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Book talk with Grace Jung for K-Drama School
4PM

Peanut Butter Clown Jam!
February 2, 2025.

Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 7:00 PM at Art Lit Lab in Madison, Wisconsin.

for our January Watershed Reading featuring Grace Jung, Ayokunle Falomo, and Patrycja Humienik. Followed by a short Q&A, the authors will be signing and selling their books.

Peanut Butter Clown Jam

Goodman Community Center Brassworks Building
206 Waubesa St.
Room Bolz B
Free parking in the back

December 1, Sunday
2:15-3:45 PM

Peanut Butter Clown Jam is a clown workshop and open mic to play, explore new ideas, and learn something new about ourselves as clowns and performers.

Breakdown:

Group warm-ups guided by Grace and Lauren
2-minute solo open mic (optional)
3-minute group clown jam (optional)

Costume and Props Guidelines:
Show up in costume or just whatever you’re comfortable in.

MMoCA Cinema: A-Town Boyz, J&S Auto

Wednesday, November 6 • 7 PM • Lecture Hall • Free for Members, $7 for Nonmembers

J&S Auto | Grace Jung | USA | 2021 | 12 minutes
A-Town Boyz | Eunice Lau, Grace Jung | USA | 2023 | 72 minutes
Q & A with Grace Jung

Visiting Professor at UW-Madison, Grace Jung, is a stand-up comedian, writer, filmmaker, scholar, podcaster, and author of the recent book K-Drama School. In addition to receiving her MA and PhD from UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television, she has directed the short film J&S Auto, and served as a producer on the documentary A-Town Boyz which will be presented at this screening. Grace will be present to participate in a Q & A session.

Peanut Butter Clown Jam

Goodman Community Center Brassworks Building
206 Waubesa St.
Room Bolz B
Free parking in the back

November 3rd, Sunday
2:15-3:45 PM

Peanut Butter Clown Jam is a clown workshop and open mic to play, explore new ideas, and learn something new about ourselves as clowns and performers.

Breakdown:

Group warm-ups guided by Grace and Lauren
2-minute solo open mic (optional)
3-minute group clown jam (optional)

Costume and Props Guidelines:
Show up in costume or just whatever you’re comfortable in.