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Through an in-depth analysis of wartime essays and literary works,
Literature and Cultural Identity during the Korean War considers the similarities and differences in the way that writers from both North and South Korea perceived and experienced the conflict.
In this book, Jerôme de Wit examines the social impact of major themes in the output of these writers, such as the notion of collaboration, the portrayal of the enemy and heroes, and the role of women during war, to further our understanding of the wartime identities that were constructed by the two Koreas. The result is a nuanced and enlightening study which provides a base for a full exploration of the role culture in the formation of North and South Korean states.
Until now, most studies have tended to focus on the Korean War's role in big power relations or on Korea's role in Cold War history.
Literature and Cultural Identity during the Korean War demonstrates that the struggle was simultaneously an international 'total' war as well as a civil one. It is an important study for anyone interested in the literature and culture of the Korean War.
List of contents
List of Illustrations
Introduction: North and South Korea State Formation and the Role of Literature
1. The Formation of the North and South Korean Literary Fields
2. The Ideology of Total War during the Korean War
3. Rousing the Reader to Action: North Korean Propaganda Literature
4. Dilemmas of South Korean Nationalism during Civil War
5. The Literary Representation of the Enemy in Wartime Stories
6. The Multifaceted Role of Women during the Korean War
Conclusion: Postwar Korean Society and the Legacy of the Culture of War
Bibliography
Index
About the author
Jerôme de Wit is Associate Professor at the University of Tübingen, Germany. His research interests are Korean wartime literature and culture.
Summary
Through an in-depth analysis of wartime essays and literary works, Literature and Cultural Identity during the Korean War considers the similarities and differences in the way that writers from both North and South Korea perceived and experienced the conflict.
In this book, Jerôme de Wit examines the social impact of major themes in the output of these writers, such as the notion of collaboration, the portrayal of the enemy and heroes, and the role of women during war, to further our understanding of the wartime identities that were constructed by the two Koreas. The result is a nuanced and enlightening study which provides a base for a full exploration of the role culture in the formation of North and South Korean states.
Until now, most studies have tended to focus on the Korean War's role in big power relations or on Korea's role in Cold War history. Literature and Cultural Identity during the Korean War demonstrates that the struggle was simultaneously an international 'total' war as well as a civil one. It is an important study for anyone interested in the literature and culture of the Korean War.
Foreword
An exploration of the pivotal role of North and South Korean writers in shaping their wartime societies during the Korean War.
