• The Journal of Art Theory & Practice
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• no.16
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• pp.71-103
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• 2013

This paper explores the key figure of minjung misul ("the people's art"), Kim Bongjun, and the art collective Dureong in the relationship between 'dialogue' and the dissidents' structural critique of Korea's modernities. During the 1980s' prodemocracy movement, the minjung artists and other dissident intellectuals used the notion of dialogue as metaphor for and allegory of democracy to articulate not only Koreans' experience of modern history, which they saw as "alienating" and "inhumane," but also the discrepancies between Koreans' predicaments and their political aspirations and their working toward the fulfillment of those ideals. Envisioning alternative forms of modernities, Kim Bongjun and other Dureong members paid attention to the fundamental elements of art, which consist of art as a modern institution, as well as the everyday lives of people as the very site of Koreans' modernities. They endeavored to create "art of life," which presumes its being part of people's lives, based on the cultural and spiritual traditions of the agrarian community. They also participated in the national culture movement, the minjung church, and the alternative-life movement to radically envision everyday lives through the indigenous reinterpretation of democratic values. Despite the significant role played by the church mission and its community involvement, its effects on minjung misul have received little attention in the relevant studies. Thus, I consider in particular the minjung church's and the alternative-life movement's confluence of multiple cultural and social constituencies in relation to Kim and the Dureong collective's vision of a new art and community.

• The Journal of Art Theory & Practice
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• no.7
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• pp.7-36
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• 2009

This paper intends to examine the significance of the "Minjoong Misool(People's art)" of the 1980s emerged in Korea in its social, cultural, and art historical context. This paper also aims to provide an analysis of the meaning and form of the individual artist's works, which have been overlooked under the dominant discourse that has emphasized their political role as a collective group. In particular, this paper scrutinizes the work of "Critical Realists" by examining the way in which they perceived Korean society in the early 1980s and visualized their experiences of the period. The figurative art newly emerged in the early 1980s challenged the formalist Modernism, which was adopted into Korea and translated into monochrome paintings and the work of the conversative academicism of the 1970s. The figurative art encouraged a social communication and moreover it intended to criticize the conflicts in the political, economical, and social domains in Korea. The targets of its critique include the unavoidable results of the unprecedented development of economy, various social phenomena of the post-industrial society, and the growth of the commercialized kitsch culture. Along with Shin, Hak-chul's work that incorporates collage technique since the 1980s, the work of some members of "Reality and Utterance" and "Im- sul-nyun" exemplify their critical interests in disclosing the false dream of wealth and happiness by both referring to and drawing on the utopian fantasy manipulated and distributed by mass media and commercial advertisements. This paper pays particular attention to Nouvelle Figuration emerged in France and Europe during the 1960s, which is comparable to the new figurative art emerged in Korea during the 1980s. Nouvelle Figuration criticized the autonomy in art isolated itself from political and social reality after WWII, in particular the indifference of Informel and abstract art as well as American abstract art. Moreover it became rather politicized around May of 1968. Given that French Nouvelle Figuration was introduced in Korea in 1982 and made a significant contribution to the formation of figurative art in Korea, it should be noted that the new figurative art emerged in the 1980s in Korea cannot be categorized merely in relation to People's Art. This paper intends to critically redress the notion that People's art was formed in the particular political, economical, and cultural context of Korea independent of the contemporary artistic practices outside Korea. It will provide a critical examination and analysis of the content and form of the new figurative art, from which People's Art was germinated, in the global context.

• Cartoon and Animation Studies
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• s.50
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• pp.327-347
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• 2018

From the end of the 18th century to the end of the 19th century, the late 19th century was a genre of a new art that was in contrast to the distribution between social class and low class, and it was also a popular culture that attempted to transform the late Joseon Dynasty's social class. It is no exaggeration to say that it is the origin of the Korean folk art, started as popular art concepts, use colorful techniques and decorations which doesn't yield to ordinary iconography. But, because of the attempt of this technique was used by lower class, the meaning of the idea was lowered from iconography to secular picture. Ethics character picture, passed on to the present from going through the upheaval cultural time, was started from secular picture and transformed into hyukpil time illustration, and it represented popular arts until now. This thesis aims to reflect the meaning, various visual expressions and the lifestyle of Ethics Character Picture of filial piety and brotherly love, which is a unique genre of popular arts. Also, propose to suggest about the kinetic typography using video media, and how the traditional ethics character picture, which are combined with video technology, effects to the advertisements. These kind of attempts will show the world about the korea's traditional contents, and through the various media information it can be recreated as national symbolic key words. Furthermore, its meaningful to pass down the noble and cultural Ethics Character Picture of filial piety and brotherly love to younger generations. And by realigning to modern expression, it is predicted that it will be significantly meaningful to pass down and make the younger generations to understand to spirit of the ancestors. This will allow various attempts to reconstruct various items of contents from Korea's traditional contents to new media content that merged with video media.

• The Journal of Art Theory & Practice
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• no.7
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• pp.37-64
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• 2009

The theories of Korean Public Art originated by the artists who were against dictatorship and they associated with democratic politicians. They criticized the Fine art that were supported by the dictatorship and gave their efforts for restoration of 'resistance paintings(against dictatorship)', 'proletarian painting', 'realism painting'. In addition, they participated new social ideology(democracy) movement and demonstrated for their rights in arts. These became the main kernel the public art theory was initiated. The public artists splitted into several different parts and participated in the democratic social movement as well as the art movement for freedom. They opened various art exhibitions within different genre, diverse space for various art section such as an exhibition hall, a factories, a university, or a congregation square. Furthermore, the public art theorists published their divergent views through newspaper/broadcasting or unauthorized printed materials. Most of the public artist and the theorists kept their relationship strongly until 1985, the time when 'National Arts Association' started. In 1983 and 1984, they were clearly separated into two parts; artists(move only in art museums) and activists(move in public spaces like school, convention square etc). Their ideological separation also took out national problems. The division; professional artists and armatures, became the social issue as a social stratification matter. And in creating method, there are also other conflicts; critical realism, and public realism as well as western painting and traditional one. These kinds of separation and conflicts made different Public artists associations, under divergent names; 'Reality and Speak'(R&S), 'KwangJu Art Association', 'Durung', 'Dang(Land)', and 'Local Youth Students Association'. In addition, their ideology and pursuit toward art movements were very difference. However, the differences and conflicts weakened When the oppression of democratic education from new dictatorship(Pres. Jun, Doo Hwan) came out. In August. 1985 the government opened to the public so called, 'The draft of School stabilization law'(Hankwon Anjung Bup) to control the teachers' rights and that initiated bigger street demonstration and conflicts between police and educators. In November.1985, assembly meeting of National Arts Association in democracy opened as 'ONE' combined organization. In this presentation, I'd like to summarize the stream of art movement until 1984, and clarify the main art theories that lead the Public Art Movements in 1980s. The main theories in 1980s are crucial because they become the origin of public art theories. This presentation started with O,youn's "Hyunsil Dong In the first declaration" and explained the absent of practice in 1970s. In addition, Won, Dong Suk 's theory was mentioned as all over struggles in theories before 1980s. GA and R&S 's founding declarations in 1970s were the start of public art theorists' activities and this article reported the activities after the declarations. First, realism base on the consciousness of reality. Second, practice art democratization based on the ideology. Third, the subject of public art movement based on understanding people's social stratification structure. Fourth, the matters of national forms and creative ways in arts based on showing reality. Fifth, the strong points in arts that the practitioners accepted. About the public art theories around 1984, I discussed the dividing point of public art theories that were shown in 'generation theory', 'organization theory', and 'popularization theory' by the practitioners. The public realism theory that subjects the contradiction of reality and point out the limits of critical realism not only showing the new creative ways but also giving the feeling of solidarity to the public art activist groups. After that, public art movements expressed 'Dismentlement of Capitalism' and 'Public revolution'. In addition, the direction of public art movements were established strongly. There were various opinions and views during the start and formation of the public art theories. The foundation of theorists activities derived from the practitioners who had the concept based on stratification and nationalism. The strong trend of group division spreaded out by practitioners who opened art work together in factories, universities, squares and rural areas. Now many lively active practitioners are gone to the other field not related with arts, and others join into professional art field not public art one with unknown reason. The theorists have the same situation with the practitioners. It means to me that theory always have to be based on the practice.

• The Journal of Art Theory & Practice
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• no.6
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• pp.101-121
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• 2008

An artist, Oh Yun(1946~86)'s theory of people's art during his final period is summed up in his essay 'Expansion of Artistic Imagination and World' (1985). Emphasizing the mystic and traditional characteristics of Oh Yun's artistic oeuvre during his final period, some critics focus on Oh Yun's experience of medical treatment and shamanistic custom at Jin Do island, and his belief in Jeung San Do, the dao of Jeung-san, the Ruler of the Universe. However, they forget the practical intention and implication of his theory of art during his final period, which aimed to overcome the contradiction of revelation itself. Oh Yun's essay criticized the loss of artistic imagination and the ignorance of traditional culture that resulted from the elevation of science to a religion, and insisted that the stereotyped idealism, scientism and elitism in art should be overcome in order to recover the full reality in realism and to continue traditional cultures. The essay is comprised of 18 paragraphs. Oh Yun criticized monochromatic art, conceptual art, hyper-realistic art, objet d'art, and neo-dadaist art, saying that they were simply mechanical forms of modern art derived from scientism and a fetishistic lens culture. In addition, he criticized naturalism in art, which had continued as a tendency in the development of western art, for the same reason. He pointed out that even the world of realism had been diminished by elite stereotypes and diagrams. He declared the need to overcome the imitation of shells or stereotyped propaganda, and recover full realism, which seems to have started with a reflective examination of current problems in 'Reality and Utterance', in which he participated. Especially, he thought that universality and the extension of full realism could be achieved by building on the views of traditional cultures, which is meaningful. This logic is same as the theory of epic theatre that Bertolt Brecht(1898~1956) has developed under the ancient Greek masque and Pieter Bruegel the Elder(1525~69)'s story-like picture style. The universality of realism and the extension of acquisition to include incantation art, rather than move toward incantation art, is what Oh Yun intended to propose in 'Artistic Imagination'. This attitude is same as Bertoh Brecht's aesthetic viewpoint in the 1930s. But regrettably, Oh Yun's style wording, which seems covert and far-sighted, is often misunderstood as 'mysticism'. In the flow of people's art in the 1980s, Oh Yun was a traditionalist in a narrow sense, and an realist in a broad sense. However, his critical mind, which comprehends tradition and reality, was attempting to expand universality and extend full realism, and this attempt found many sympathizers and had an influence on the next generation of people's artists, such as "Levee" which is field-centered, to which we should pay attention. This means that while their works thought about 'tradition', we should be careful not to connect them with 'aesthetic conservatism' or 'classical art'. This is the why the meaning of Oh Yun's theory of art during his final period should be closely examined again.

• The Journal of Art Theory & Practice
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• no.5
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• pp.43-80
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• 2007

PASKYULA was formed in September, 1923 through the union of artists involved in two art groups: Kim Ki-Jin, Kim Bok-Jin, Yeon Hak-Nyeon who had previously participated in the ToWolHoi, and Park Young-Hi, Lee Sang-Hwa, An Seok-Ju, former members of the BaeckJo. After its founding, the PASKYULA artists had been searching for the social function of art to reform the harsh reality of Minjung and the nation with criticism toward society as well as art world. Their art theory for MinJung could grow relatively ease in relation to changing social and political conditions in the early 1920s. In August, 1925, PASKYULA organized the Korea Artista Proletaria Federatio with the YeomGunSa, and laid the groundwork for Proletariat art movement which was regularized in the late 1920s. From PASKYULA up to the early state of KAPF, the theory of art advocated by Kim Bok-Jin and An Seok-Ju could be summarized as "art for MinJung". At that time, widely ranging discourses on MinJung, however, was spawned in art theory, because many intellectuals-including artists and writers-begun to pay more attention to MinJung, who emerged as one of the social forces after the Samil Independent Movement. Sometimes, MinJung was construed as the target of enlightenment from a negative viewpoint. On the other hand, several intellectuals under the influence of individualism asserted that the discussion itself on MinJung exerted an evil influence on art. In contrast of these cases, the PASKYULA artists including Kim Bok-Jin, An Seok-Ju perceived that MinJung had the potential to change society, and regarded them as "a creator of genuine civilization and art". In the PASKYULA artist's writings, the concept of MinJung was often overlapped with the meaning of the Choson nation suffering under colony. Although their concept of MinJung was transformed gradually into the proletariat as they were under the strong influence of socialism, it did not change that they grasped the realities of the whole Choson Peninsula through the proletarian consciousness. In the early state of PASKYULA, the methodology for social function of art was presented in a twofold manner. First of all, Kim Bok-Jin emphasized on the necessity of education to improve MinJung's way of life through art, and it was embodied by the organization of ToWol Art Workshop and public lecture. Also, he championed "the popularization of art", which was one of methods to distribute art to MinJung. According to the PASKYULA artists, art should be not art for art' sake but art for MinJung. That was why they advocated the convergence of art and MinJung's life. Especially Kim Bok-Jin affirmed a link between art and industry because he considered industry the field inextricably linked with MinJung's life. In this context, his idea could be read as the generalization and equalization within the framework of possession. Kim Bok-Jin thought that the social ramifications of capitalism deprived MinJung of their right to enjoy art, and emphasized the artist' social role to return the right to them. That is, the even distribution of art was mainly discussed than the contents of art in the half of 1920s. By 1925, the contents of art itself became an issue in the PASKYULA art theory, and it was based in realism. Kim Bok-Jin and An Seok-Ju insisted that art should be reflection of real life. At that time, realism acquired the representation of MinJung and the nation's realities not realistic style. In fact, the various Western art styles including Futurism, Constructivism, Cubism etc. were exploited in the PASKYULA's visual images. Western art, target of criticism on theory, was selectively adopted in the works which were produced by Kim Bok-Jin and An Seok-Ju. Kim Bok-Jin's MoonYeUnDong cover design was conceived of as the example in which Western art was adopted with it's ideology under the influence of MAVO, while Western art shown in An Seok-Ju's illustrations served as a decorative function in many cases. Especially, An Seok-Ju attempted the various styles of Western art simultaneously, which may be seen as representing that PASKYULA did not have a firm ideology for their style. Also, it can be read as showing his hasty zeal to overcome Western art rapidly. The wish to establish "art for MinJung" as soon as possible was accompanied with the will to jump over the all steps of Western art though it was superficial. This aspiration of PASKYULA was expressed through the mass media, which had the potential for communicating to MinJung. At this point, there was a significant disparity between PASKYULA and another art groups in the first half of 1920s. However, the PASKYULA's method on the basis of the mass media could not but have a certain limitation because of the medium's properties. Nevertheless, PASKYULA' attempts may be considered to be valuable in sense that they expended the boundaries of Korean modern art into the commercial art questioning the matter of the distribution for art.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.10 no.10
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• pp.152-160
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• 2010

Modern comics find their roots in caricatures, which have a basic element of comics as a combination of wrings and drawings. In three East Asian countries, new media, comics have been developed by joining modern arts and cartoons which is a news form of western comics. As modern comics have evolved according to situations of the three countries, they expand from the satire on the system, foreign invasions, and internal corruption to the enlightenment of the people. However, the criticism on the system lead to the oppression, and the imperialism in East Asian countries enforce the agitation, war engagement, propaganda of the colonialism on the comics. Current East Asian comics have been occupying the largest part in the world comics, and have their roots in the modern comics. So it is meaningful to investigate the characteristic of modern East Asian comics.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.391-398
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• 2018

Analyzing the shortcomings and shortcomings of the film based on the Webtoon and the artistry as a popular artwork at the time when the filming of the webtoon is becoming the main trend of the Korean film, it is an analysis of the present state of the Korean film industry, Will be an indicator for. The present generation of young people who do not have the experience and knowledge of popular arts and culture that handed down a small number of high-quality arts by reflecting current literary, art, history, and popular consciousness are concentrating only on instinctive emotion, It is regrettable that it is consistently followed by follow-up and follow-up unconditionally. In this study, we will examine the methodology of the ideal webtoon filmization process by analyzing the structure and industry analysis of Webtoons, and analyzing the weaknesses in the transition process to the movie format. The essence of communicating with audiences will be unchanged even in the rapid change of media and technology. In the setting and expression of its essence, it is based on the humanistic authenticity mentioned above, the avant garde internal necessity of the artist seeking ideal, And the reflection of the original character of high-class culture that creates newness can be considered as a proposition that can include artistry in popular culture.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.61-72
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• 2015

The capitalistic resistance movement attempted in most modern art areas was carried out through a complete convergence of the art and skill, which was the new formation of the symbolic boundary. Although this resistance movement was aimed at restoring artisan art through the revival of tbe work of handicraftsmen, it consequently caused the stratification of the art and became a de-artisan art excluding the autonomous labor. Hereupon, this study would focus on Bauhaus which attempted to dismantle the symbolic boundary through the convergence of the technology and art which actively used the condition the great industry brought only as an effort for the restoration of artisan labor, and would examine the actor-network of Bauhaus. Therefore, this study would examine the Bauhaus' artistic trend, the 16C Renaissance art promotion movement, and the 19C art crafts movement in the network-oriented relation, and would analyze the Bauhaus' ideological source which expressed design democracy through the bridging role of and analyze the artisan art and the mechanism that had the new technology fused. Furthermore, the convergence possibility of the 'collaboration spirit' being embodied as a philosophy of the democracy in the design continues with the tremendous influence of the new technology.

• The Korean Journal of Archival Studies
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• no.74
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• pp.45-78
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• 2022

South Africa implemented apartheid from 1948 to 1994. The main content of this policy was to classify races such as whites, Indians, mixed-race people, and blacks, and to limit all social activities, including residence, personal property ownership, and economic activities, depending on the class. All races except white people were discriminated against and suppressed for having different skin colors. South African citizens resisted the government's indiscriminate violence, and public opinion criticizing them expanded beyond the local community to various parts of the world. One of the things that made this possible was photographs detailing the scene of the violence. Foreign journalists who captured popular oppression as well as photographers from South Africa were immersed in recording the lives of those who were marginalized and suffered on an individual level. If they had not been willing to inform the reality and did not actually record it as a photo, many people would not have known the horrors of the situation caused by racial discrimination. Therefore, this paper focuses on Rise and Fall of Apartheid: Photography and the Bureau of Everyday Life, which captures various aspects of apartheid and displays related records, and examines the aspects of racism committed in South Africa described in the photo. The exhibition covers the period from 1948 when apartheid began until 1995, when Nelson Mandela was elected president and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was launched to correct the wrong view of history. Many of the photos on display were taken by Peter Magubane, Ian Berry, David Goldblatt, and Santu Mofoken, a collection of museums, art galleries and media, including various archives. The photographs on display are primarily the work of photographers. It is both a photographic work and a media that proves South Africa's past since the 1960s, but it has been mainly dealt with in the field of photography and art history rather than from a historical or archival point of view. However, the photos have characteristics as records, and the contextual information contained in them is characterized by being able to look back on history from various perspectives. Therefore, it is very important to expand in the previously studied area to examine the time from various perspectives and interpret it anew. The photographs presented in the exhibition prove and describe events and people that are not included in South Africa's official records. This is significant in that it incorporates socially marginalized people and events into historical gaps through ordinary people's memories and personal records, and is reproduced in various media to strengthen and spread the context of record production.