Introductory Topics in Korean Literature and Culture (240-0-20)
Topic
In a Divided Country: Literature and the Arts in C
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 2-435: Mon, Wed 3:30PM - 4:50PM
Overview of class
AY25 IN A DIVIDED COUNTRY: LITERATURE AND THE ARTS IN COLD WAR KOREA AND BEYOND
This course examines how the Cold War division of the Korean Peninsula has shaped art, cultural representations, and cultural politics from 1945 to the present. Through the analysis of literature, film, visual art, and popular media, we explore how artists, writers, and ordinary people in both South and North Korea have navigated ideological boundaries, trauma, and national identity under the constraints of state censorship, Cold War-era politics, and global superpower influence. Focusing on themes of division, collective memory, and reunification, the course investigates how creative works not only engage with historical and contemporary realities but also use imagination to reflect on the past, present, and future of both the nation and the world. While providing a broad overview of Korean arts since the division, the course also examines contemporary works—including popular K-dramas—that reimagine separation and reunification in new and thought-provoking ways.
Teaching Method
Interactive discussions supplemented by targeted lectures
Evaluation Method
1. Regular Attendance, Weekly Reading Responses, and Active Class Participation: 35%
2. Midterm Essay: 15%
3. Individual Discussion Leading: 20%
4. Final Essay: 30%
Class Materials (Required)
All academic readings will be accessible on Canvas. Please purchase the following two novels:
The Guest by Hwang Sok-yong (ISBN: 9781583227510)
Your Republic Is Calling You by Kim Young-ha (ISBN: 978-0151015450)
Additionally, we will be watching two TV shows on Netflix.
Class Attributes
Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline
Literature & Fine Arts Distro Area