Introductory Topics in Korean Literature and Culture (240-0-20)
Topic
Colonial Korean Literature & Culture
Instructors
Jeong Eun We
847/467-5941
Kresge 1880 Campus Drive, #4-419
Office Hours: varies by quarter
Meeting Info
Harris Hall L28: Tues, Thurs 3:30PM - 4:50PM
Overview of class
AY22-23
Why is the Korean-Japanese relationship so strained to this day? How might we think about the colonial period (1910-1945) on the Korean peninsula from our present and about intra-Asian colonialism? This introductory course offers students some snapshots of colonial era Korean literature and culture and tackle difficult but rewarding questions about this period. We will read feminist, socialist, and modernist short fictions from prominent authors of the time and discuss visual cultures (illustrations, art, films) surrounding New Woman, Indigeneity, race, and wartime mobilization. The course also invites students to consider the often-forgotten Korean diaspora and migrations created under the vast Japanese empire that exceed the limits of the peninsula: what does it mean to be "Korean" in the shifting identities of the colonized in these different places around the empire? Finally, the course examines more contemporary representations of the colonial period to think about how the colonial period haunts the present as we desire and consume the colonial. No prior knowledge of Korean language or culture is necessary to take this course. Course assignments include two short papers, a group presentation, and a final creative group project. Student participation, discussion, and peer collaboration are important aspects of this course, and all students are encouraged to speak in class.
Learning Objectives
Critical Thinking; Communication; Analysis
Teaching Method
Discussion Based, Mini Lectures
Evaluation Method
Students will be evaluated on two short papers, a group presentation, a final creative group project, and participation.
Class Materials (Required)
All materials will be made available through Canvas.
Class Attributes
Literature & Fine Arts Distro Area