Advanced Topics in Korean Literature and Culture (340-0-20)
Topic
The Rise of K-Culture: Korean Media and Cultural I
Instructors
Dahye Kim
847/491-1350
1880 Campus Drive, Kresge 4-441
Office Hours: varies by quarter, please contact instructor
Meeting Info
Kresge Centennial Hall 2-425: Tues, Thurs 3:30PM - 4:50PM
Overview of class
AY24 This seminar on Korean media culture explores the development of various media technologies, institutions, and practices that have shaped contemporary South Korean popular culture and its global ascendance. Drawing from critical theory, cultural studies, communication studies, and media history, the course equips students with the theoretical tools and concepts necessary for a comprehensive understanding and analysis of this cultural phenomenon. The course especially focuses on the question of national culture, engaging in critical reflections on dichotomies such as national vs. global, East vs. West, and the universal vs. the particular. Throughout the quarter, we will explore a range of questions and topics, including the concept of Korean popular culture as a global phenomenon, the attribution of nationality to culture through a focus on cultural production, and the significance of circulation (distribution) and consumption in our comprehension of cultural phenomena. Moreover, students are encouraged to contextualize the discourse, institutions, and everyday practices of cultural globalization in the 1990s, fostering a deeper understanding of the historical foundations of the contemporary global media landscape.
Teaching Method
Discussion with lectures. Students are required to actively participate in class discussions and activities. Active participation requires completing all assigned readings before coming to class and being prepared to contribute to a lively and informed class discussion.
Evaluation Method
Grades will largely be determined by student comprehension of lectures and readings, discussion, and a combination of smaller and in-depth writing assignments.
Class Materials (Required)
All assigned readings are accessible through Canvas.
Class Attributes
Advanced Expression
Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline
Literature & Fine Arts Distro Area