Quietude: A Musical Anthropology of "Korea's Hiroshima"

Quietude: A Musical Anthropology of Korea's Hiroshima is an ethnography of Korean first- and second-generation victims of the atomic bombing of Japan that sheds light on the overlooked and abused people who have lived and died on the margins of East Asian modernity. It recounts the stories and songs of atomic bomb survivors and their children in Hapcheon, Korea, and considers their uses of voice, speech, song, and movement in the struggle for national and global recognition, the ongoing work of negotiating the traumatic past, and the effort to consolidate and maintain selves and relationships in the present.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 216 pages
Publication date: 21 February 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

Most of us around the world have limited knowledge about the nuclear experience, let alone the 70,000 Korean victims of the atomic bomb and their unique ways of life and survival. Quietude: A Musical Anthropology of Korea's Hiroshima offers fresh perspectives on the often overlooked and mistreated individuals who have lived and perished on the fringes of East Asian modernity. This book is an ethnography of Korean first- and second-generation victims of Japan's atomic bombing, with a particular focus on the everyday arts that sustain and enrich life. Author Joshua D. Pilzer recounts the stories and songs of atomic bomb survivors and their children in Hapcheon, Korea, challenging the persistent neglect and marginalization they have faced. Pilzer's fascination with the quietness of Korea's Hiroshima leads him to explore various sources of this serenity, including notions of Japanese soft-spokenness, vocal disability, the contemplative nature of reading, the changes that occur in the human heart with age, the experience of war, social exclusion, traumatic experiences, and various social movement discourses. He delves into the victims' use of voice, speech, song, and movement in their quest for national and global recognition, in the ongoing process of negotiating the painful past, and in the effort to consolidate and nurture selves and relationships in the present.

Quietude: A Musical Anthropology of Korea's Hiroshima is a groundbreaking work that sheds light on the experiences of those who have been marginalized and overlooked in the history of the atomic bomb. Through meticulous research and heartfelt storytelling, author Joshua D. Pilzer provides a corrective to the enduring neglect and marginalization faced by Korean victims of the bomb. The book offers a rich and nuanced understanding of the ways in which these individuals have used music, speech, song, and movement to express their identities, negotiate their trauma, and assert their place in the world.

One of the key themes of Quietude is the notion of voice and speech as tools for resistance and empowerment. Pilzer highlights the ways in which victims of the atomic bomb have used their voices to express their pain, trauma, and resilience, and to advocate for their rights and recognition. He recounts the stories of survivors who have used their songs and speeches to raise awareness about the bomb and to mobilize support for their cause. These individuals have used their voices to challenge the dominant narratives of the bomb and to demand justice and compensation for their suffering.

Another important aspect of Quietude is the exploration of the relationship between music, speech, and movement in the lives of atomic bomb survivors. Pilzer argues that these arts are not just means of survival but also sources of creativity, expression, and healing. He demonstrates how survivors have used music, speech, and movement to cope with the psychological and physical effects of the bomb, and to find meaning and purpose in their lives. Pilzer also explores the ways in which these arts have been passed down from generation to generation, and how they have become integral to the cultural identity of Korean communities.

Quietude is a deeply moving and thought-provoking book that offers a new perspective on the nuclear experience and its impact on individuals and communities. It is a testament to the resilience and creativity of the human spirit, and to the power of music, speech, song, and movement to heal and transform. Through its exploration of the overlooked and abused people who have lived and died on the margins of East Asian modernity, Quietude provides a valuable contribution to the field of musical anthropology and to our understanding of the human experience in times of crisis.

Weight: 312g
Dimension: 156 x 234 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197615096