150441 PS PS Advanced Knowledge of Korean Culture and Society (Gr. 1) (2025S)

The people on the Korean peninsula have had a turbulent 20th century. In the first half of the century Japan encroached on the peninsula leading to the colonization of Korea.

Eventually this period ended in 1945, but not before the Japanese had implemented a full- scale mobilization of Korean society in World War II. After liberation, the peninsula quickly became divided which ultimately led to a devastating war. After these traumatic events both Koreas managed to build up their respective state from the ashes at a breathtaking pace. While South Korea managed to continue its rapid economic expansion in the 1970s and 1980s, North Korea’s economy eventually regressed and even collapsed in the 1990s, leaving the country isolated in the world. All these historical and social upheavals left a huge mark in the culture of both Koreas throughout the century and into the contemporary period.

In this proseminar students will engage with important topics in modern and contemporary North and South Korean cultural texts in the shape of literature, film, music, and art. Students will examine the ways in which Korean intellectuals came to grips with the ever-changing social and political environment in which they found themselves. The course will also include academic readings about modern and contemporary Korean culture that are important in Korean Studies. Among the themes that will be discussed are those of Modernity and Colonialism, Feminism, Mobilization and War, Economic Development and Urbanization, Authoritarianism versus Democratization, National Division and Contestation through Soft Power. In class, students will be provided with the knowledge and skills to read, analyze and assess critically the forms and themes that are most often discussed in scholarship on modern Korean culture.

Course Objectives:
- At the end of the course, students will be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of the forms and themes of modern Korean culture with respect to its socio-historical context and cultural developments.
- Students can compare and engage with different scholarly approaches to the study of modern Korean culture and critically assess the materials and themes explored in the course and apply this knowledge by writing an essay about a related topic of their choice.
- Students will practice and polish reading and writing skills for close analysis of diverse media genres.
- Have practice in presentation techniques and develop research and cooperative teamwork skills.
- Have acquired more knowledge on scientific methods and theories that are commonly used in Korean Studies.
- Have acquired more experience and know-how on the usage of specialized Western- and Korean language literature.