This seminar explores the central theoretical and political questions posed by the rise of nationalism, the aftermath of colonialism and imperialism, and modernization in South Korea primarily through the lens of visual culture. We will investigate the course of economic, political, social, and cultural transformations that has brought the `Hermit Kingdom' into the modern world and consider salient issues such as the representation of the nation, the construction of historical memory, the formation of national ideology. We will take into serious consideration Guy Debord's dictum-that under modernity, "all of life presents itself as an immense accumulation of spectacles. Everything that was directly lived has moved away into representation." Every other week will be structured around a primary visual text-ranging from cinematic, monumental, photographic, or televisual-which will be analyzed in relation to critical-theoretical readings. By examining the multiple operations of visuality in historical context, we will address questions such as, how is nationness reproduced and consolidated, what is the relation between visual modes of address and struggles over national culture, ethnic identity, and state legitimacy, in what ways is visually inscribed in the experiences of modernity in South Korea and elsewhere, in what ways do popular forms of visual culture inform what is meant by being "Korean" and "Asian"? Format: seminar/discussion. Requirements: class participation, three seminar response papers, and a final research paper. No prerequisites. Open to all.

Hour: J. LEE