Impossible Speech: The Politics of Representation in Contemporary Korean Literature and Film

The book "Impossible Speech" challenges the idea that art should only engage with its social context in realist ways by examining the "impossible speech" of marginalized figures in Korean fiction, film, and public discourse. It proposes a new approach to literature and film that foregrounds ostensibly "nonpolitical" or nonsensical moments, challenging assumptions about the relationship between politics and art.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 26 March 2024
Publisher: Columbia University Press

Since the emergence of modern literature in Korea, authors, readers, and critics have been deeply engaged with the question of how art can or should engage with its social context. Advocates of social engagement have often focused on realist texts, believing that these works are best suited to represent injustices and inequalities by depicting them as if they were right in front of our eyes. However, Christopher P. Hanscom challenges this understanding of political art by examining four figures central to recent Korean fiction, film, and public discourse: the migrant laborer, the witness to or survivor of state violence, the refugee, and the socially excluded urban precariat. Instead of attempting to make these marginalized figures understandable to common sense, this book reveals the remarkable capacity of art to address the "impossible speech" of those who are not asked, expected, or allowed to put forward their thoughts.

Impossible Speech offers a novel approach to literature and film that prioritizes ostensibly "nonpolitical" or nonsensical moments, challenging assumptions about the relationship between politics and art that locate the "politics" of the work in the representation of content that is understood in advance as being political. By recasting the political as a struggle over the possibility or impossibility of speech itself, this book uncovers the politics of a work of art in its ability to confront the boundaries of what is sayable.

Throughout the book, Hanscom explores the ways in which these four figures are marginalized and excluded from mainstream discourse, and how art can provide a platform for their voices to be heard. He argues that art has the power to challenge dominant narratives and power structures, and to create new ways of understanding and experiencing the world. He also examines the ways in which art can be used to promote social change and to challenge the status quo.

One of the key themes of the book is the idea that art has the capacity to transcend language barriers and to communicate with people on a deep emotional level. Hanscom argues that art can provide a means of expressing the experiences of those who are marginalized and excluded, and can help to break down the walls of prejudice that divide us. He also explores the ways in which art can be used to promote empathy and understanding between different groups of people, and to create a sense of community and belonging.

Another important theme of the book is the idea that art has the power to challenge dominant ideologies and power structures. Hanscom argues that art can be used to subvert the status quo and to challenge the assumptions that underpin our society. He also examines the ways in which art can be used to promote social justice and to challenge the inequalities that exist in our society.

Throughout the book, Hanscom provides examples of Korean fiction, film, and public discourse that illustrate the ways in which art can engage with its social context. He highlights the works of writers such as Kim Young-ha, Park Chan-wook, and Bong Joon-ho, as well as filmmakers such as Park Chan-wook, Bong Joon-ho, and Kim Ki-duk. He also examines the ways in which these works have been used to address social issues such as labor rights, violence, migration, and social exclusion.

In conclusion, Impossible Speech is a thought-provoking and important book that offers a new approach to literature and film that challenges assumptions about the relationship between politics and art. By examining the ways in which art can address the "impossible speech" of marginalized figures and promote social change, Hanscom provides a valuable contribution to the field of political art. This book will be of interest to scholars and students of literature, film, and politics, as well as anyone who is interested in the ways in which art can be used to promote social justice and to challenge the boundaries of what is sayable.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231208482