The Korean War and Postmemory Generation: Contemporary Korean Arts and Films (Routledge Advances in Korean Studies)

This pioneering volume navigates cultural memory of the Korean War through the lens of contemporary arts and film in South Korea.Cultural memory of the Korean War has been a subject of persistent controversy in the forging of South Korean postwar national and ideological identity. Applying the theoretical notion of ‘postmemory’, this book examines the increasingly diversified attitudes toward memories of the Korean War and Cold War from the late 1990s and onwards — particularly in the demise of military dictatorships. Chapters consider the tension between personal and collective memory, as well as efforts from younger generations to distance themselves from the trauma of war survivors. Extensively illustrated, this is one of the first volumes in English to provide an in-depth analysis of work oriented around such themes from twelve renowned and provocative South Korean artists and filmmakers. This includes documentary photographs, participatory public arts, independent women’s documentary films, and media installations.The Korean War and Postmemory Generation will appeal to students and scholars of film studies, contemporary art and Korean history. Read more