» Sung Kang’s Officer Couture for Jump Shoes » Ningin

As promised, here’s the latest installment in the Jump Shoes promotional short films by Sung Kang and Arowana films. This one elicited some interesting buzz on Sung’s blog. Sung claims that the New York City cops didn’t like him standing in the middle of Times Square. I will say, Sung, your body language is pretty intimidating. The Naked Cowboy also makes an appearance in this vid–and we all know that’s a no-miss. Strangely, this film is stirring up some deep thoughts…

This short film series has become a frequent blog topic because it’s hitting me on several levels–as a Sung Kang fan, an advertising writer, and an aspiring filmmaker. One of my favorite aspects of the film genre is the “afterplay.” That’s the best word I can find to describe the way some films stay with you after you watch them. The meaning behind the images, words, and events continues to unfold in your mind’s eye.

The premise of these Jump Films shorts is simple: Sung Kang plays a variety of characters to show the many styles and moods of Jump Shoes. But this Officer Couture has a few more layers than the previous two. This character, this tough soldier, is so controlled, so hardly and agressively strong. He inspires fear, yet you sense his uniform covers an unseen weakness. He’s sharply juxtaposed against the open sexuality and lawlessness of the Naked Cowboy.

What’s more, Sung Kang appears raceless as the Officer Couture. We all know he’s of Korean descent. But when he dons the uniform and dark glasses, he appears as a man, not a man of any particular ethnicity. It’s amazing, really, how the uniform identifies a person with a role, rank, or cause–usually one they took on by choice–and covers the other markers of our identity. They’re still there, but they are secondary to the role.

I’m still struck by this image of the powerful soldier. I know some of you, my readers, come from military families. What are your thoughts–both about this video, and the persona that develops behind a uniform? And what kind of feelings are stirred up by military attire as a fashion trend?