Healing Historical Trauma in South Korean Film and Literature

This book explores affect and ethics in the healing of historical trauma, offering alternatives to transitional justice measures. It analyzes South Korean filmic and literary texts, engaging with Levinas, Hannah Arendt, and others, and presents extensive research on North Korean war orphans. The ultimate themes of compassion, hospitality, humility, and solidarity of the wounded are found in these works.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 212 pages
Publication date: 01 August 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This book delves into the realm of affect and ethics in the healing of historical trauma, offering alternatives to transitional justice measures in the pursuit of national unity. The relationship between historiography and justice seeking is a contentious issue among historians and legal practitioners, and this book explores how much truth-telling from a violent past can lead to healing, forgiveness, forgetting, and ultimately overcoming resentment. Nuanced interpretations of South Korean filmic and literary texts are featured, encompassing Park Chan-wook's Oldboy, Bong Joon-ho's Mother, and literary works by Han Kang and Choe Yun. Additionally, the book engages with the ethical and political philosophy of Levinas, Hannah Arendt, and others. Furthermore, extensive research into the hitherto hidden history of thousands of North Korean war orphans who were sent to Eastern European countries for care is presented. These films and novels grapple with the evils of history, ultimately finding their ultimate themes in compassion, hospitality, humility, and solidarity with the wounded. Healing Historical Trauma in South Korean Film and Literature is a valuable resource for students and scholars of film, comparative literature, cultural studies, and Korean studies, broadening their understanding of the healing potential of art and literature in addressing historical trauma.

Weight: 440g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367650377