Introductory Topics in Korean Literature and Culture (240-0-20)
Topic
The End of a World: South Korean Fictions, Films,
Instructors
Jeong Eun We
847/467-5941
Kresge 1880 Campus Drive, #4-419
Office Hours: varies by quarter
Meeting Info
University Hall 101: Tues, Thurs 11:00AM - 12:20PM
Overview of class
AY 23-24. What does one talk about when one talks about disasters? Whose world ends in "end of the world" narratives? This course invites students to read and watch South Korean and diasporic narratives centered around disasters, both real and fictional, to engage questions of politics, representation, and inequalities that shape disaster narratives.
Ranging from disasters of the past to more contemporary ones such as pandemics and Sewol ferry, the disasters examined in this course have sparked complex conversations surrounding a more just society and the doomed end of the "normal."
Engaging scholarship on disasters, speculative fictions, critical race theory, and gender studies, the course introduces students to the varied academic and cultural responses to disasters and the underlying stakes that drive these responses.
Students will be assigned a variety of texts to analyze, such as film, paintings, novels, webtoons, and news, as well as choosing a disaster narrative of their own interest to examine.
No prior knowledge of Korean culture or language are required to take this course.
Students are expected to actively participate in class and work in groups on collaborative projects as well as producing two short papers. Waitlist will be enabled for the course, and all inquiries to the instructor once the course is full should state relevant coursework and why you wish to take the course for permission number considerations.
Learning Objectives
1. Critical Thinking
Develop the skills to build layered and well-reasoned arguments on Korean literature and culture. Engage the arguments of authors without reducing or unquestioningly accepting them as one's own.
2. Communication
Practice expressing advanced, multi-stage arguments in both writing and verbal presentation. Provide analyses of adequate and well-chosen evidence. Develop clarity and creativity of expression on Korean literature and culture.
3. Analysis
Identify the differences between literary and cultural representation, what is represented, and positionality. Adopt analytical approaches to scenes and texts paying attention to different elements of the material. Offer analysis, not opinion.
Teaching Method
Discussion, Group Work
Evaluation Method
Two short papers, 1 Group Presentation, 1 Group Creative Final Project
Class Materials (Required)
1. The Disaster Tourist: A Novel by Yun Ko-eun. ISBN: 1640094164
2. City of Ash and Red: A Novel by Hye-young Pyun.
ISBN: 1628727810
3. "My Daughter is a Zombie" - Lee Yun-chang. Naver Webtoon
Class Attributes
Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline
Literature & Fine Arts Distro Area