City of Sediments: A History of Seoul in the Age of Colonialism

Seoul, the former capital of the Chosŏn and Taehan dynasties, faced challenges in urban reform and modernization under Japanese colonial rule. Colonial authorities attempted to erase the pre-modern past and impose a new visual language of power. Se-Mi Oh's book, City of Sediments, explores how Seoul became a site to articulate a modern mode of time that defined the place of the colonized in accordance with the progression of history. It challenges this visual language by revealing the underbelly of the city, filled with the chatters of the alleyway, and overlapping histories of earlier times.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 11 April 2023
Publisher: Stanford University Press

Seoul, once the capital of the Chosŏn dynasty and the Taehan Empire, faced unique challenges during Japanese colonial rule in the early twentieth century. The city's intricate built environment, dating back centuries, posed a significant barrier to urban reform and modernization efforts. Colonial authorities sought to impose a strategy of erasure, overlaying monumental Japanese architecture on existing palace structures. This was done to convince colonized Korean subjects that the transition from pre-modern to modern times was inevitable and that colonial rule was a natural part of history.

City of Sediments, a groundbreaking book by Se-Mi Oh, delves into the complexities of Seoul's urban transformation during this period. By drawing from a diverse range of materials, including architecture, photography, print media, and sound recordings, Oh demonstrates how Seoul became a site for articulating a new mode of time—modernity—that defined the place of the colonized in accordance with the progression of history. At the same time, the book explores the hidden corners of the city, where the underbelly of the city, filled with the chatter of alleyways, challenged this visual language of power.

Oh's innovative approach to history is characterized by the notion that discrete events do not unfold sequentially, but rather overlap and accumulate, forming layers like sediment. This allows for a new map of colonial Seoul to emerge, one where the material traces of the city are intertwined, with vibrant residues of earlier times defiantly visible amidst the superimposed signs of modernity and colonial domination. Through meticulous analysis and synthesis of these diverse sources, City of Sediments offers a fresh perspective on the history of Seoul and sheds light on the complex processes of urbanization, colonialism, and cultural transformation.

In conclusion, City of Sediments is a groundbreaking work that challenges traditional narratives of colonialism and urbanization. By examining the layered history of Seoul and the ways in which it has been shaped by colonialism and modernity, Oh provides a valuable contribution to our understanding of the complex processes of cultural transformation and the enduring legacies of colonialism. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history, architecture, and culture of Seoul and beyond.

Weight: 426g
Dimension: 153 x 229 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781503635524