Violence and Trauma in Contemporary Korean Literature
Course Cross-listings: KOREAN 360 A, C LIT 421 A, GLITS 253 C
This course explores the different theories and usage of trauma and violence within Korean literature, and how these works reflect the cultural narratives of Korean society. We will explore various types structural and personal violence seen in works such as One Left; White Badge; Our Twisted Hero; Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982; The Vegetarian, as well as short stories and webtoons. We will also analyze the effect of war, division, and government violence on literature and how these experiences created transgenerational trauma that still resonates in Korean society and shapes literature. We will then show how certain historical incidents and cultural practices shape depictions of violence and trauma within literature and genres.
Instructor: Dr. Emily Marie Anderson Hall
Time: MW 12:30-2:30 PM
Place: MGH 228
Required Readings:
- KIM Soom. Bruce Fulton, Ju-Chan Fulton, and Bonnie B. C. Oh. One Left: a Novel. Translated by Bruce Fulton and Ju-Chan Fulton. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2020. [ebook available]*
- AHN, Junghyo. White Badge: a Novel of Korea. New York, NY: Soho, 1989. [reprint 2003] [ebook available]*
- YI Munyol. Our Twisted Hero. Translated by Kevin O'Rourke. 1st ed. New York: Hyperion East, 2001.
- HAN Kang, and Deborah Smith. The Vegetarian: a Novel. Translated by Deborah Smith. First United States paperback edition. New York: Hogarth, 2016. [ebook available]*
- CHO Nam-joo. Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982. Translated by Jamie Chang. First American edition. New York: Liveright Publishing Corporation, a division of W. W. Norton & Company, 2020. [ebook available]*
- Webtoons from LINE Webtoon App (TBA)
- All other readings are available on Canvas
*ebooks are available for purchase.
ALL readings will be in English. No Korean language knowledge required.