• Journal of Korean Theatre Studies Association
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• no.52
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• pp.5-59
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• 2014

This paper investigates the development and aesthetics of Korean political theatre from its quickening period 1920s to democratization era 1990s. Political theatre before 90s developed an antithesis resistant movement toward Korean modern history that had been scattered with suppressing political circumstances such as colonial era and dictatorial government, the movement has powerful activity and social influences. Just like the 20 century political theatre had been quickened under the influence of Marxism at Russia and Germany in 1920s, Korea's political theatre began in socialism theatre movement form around the same time. Proletarian theatre groups had been founded in Japan and Korea, and developed into practical movement with organized connection. However, the political theatre movement in Japanese colonial era was an empty vessel makes great sound but not much accomplishments. Most performance had been canceled or disapproved by suppression or censorship of the Japanese Empire. The political theatre in liberation era was the left drama inherited from Proletarian theatre of the colonial era. Korean Theatre alliance took lead the theatrical world unfold activities based on theatre popularization theory such as 'culture activists' taking a jump up the line and 'independent theatre' peeping into production spot as well as the important event, Independence Movement Day Memorial tournament theatre. Since 1947, US army military government in Korea strongly oppressed the left performances to stop and theatrical movement was ended due to many left theatrical people defection to North Korea. The political theatre in 1960s to 70s the Park regime, developed in dramatically different ways according to orthodox group and group out of power. The political theatre of institutional system handled judgment on sterile people and had indirect political theatre from that took history material and allegory technique because of censorship. In political theatre out of institution, it started outdoor theatre that has modernized traditional performance style and established deep relationship with labor spot and culture movement organizations. Madangguek(Outdoor theatre) is 'Attentive political theatre', satirizing and offending the political and social inconsistencies such as the dictatorial government's oppression and unbalanced distribution, alienation of general people, and foreign powers' pillage sharply as well as laughing at the Establishment with negative characters. The political theatre in 1980s is divided into two categories; political theatre of institutional system and Madangguek. Institutional Political theatre mainly performed in Korea Theatre Festival and the theatre group 'Yeonwoo-Moudae' led political theatre as private theatre company. Madangguek developed into an outdoor theatrical for indoor theatre capturing postcolonial historical view. Yeonwoo-Moudae theatre company produced representative political plays at 80s such as The chronicles of Han's, Birds fly away too, and so on by combining freewheeling play spirit of Madangguek and epic theatre. Political theatre was all the rage since the age of democratization started in 1987 and political materials has been freed from ban. However, political theatre was slowly declined as real socialism was crumbling and postmodernism is becoming the spirit of the times. After 90s, there are no more plays of ideology and propaganda that aim at politicization of theatre. As the age rapidly entered into the age of deideology, political theatre discourse also changed greatly. The concept 'the political' became influential as a new political possibility that stands up to neoliberalism system in the evasion of politics. Rather than reenact political issues, it experiments new political theatre that involves something political by deconstructing and reassigning audience's political sense with provocative forms, staging others and drawing discussion about it.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.129-139
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• 2001

Picasso had deep concern at the designs of theatre costumes as well as art. The art of Picasso influenced deeply to the fashion designs in those days. In these study, to analyze the creative theatre costumes of Parade affected by Picasso's cubism, we investigate the documentary records, photos, and sketches of Picasso. The design of theatre costumes in Parade was able to be divided by two categories, general theatre costumes and experimental theatre costumes. The first characteristic of general theatre costumes is that the designs of theatre costumes in Parade were influence by the early stages of Picasso's art. The costumes of the Chinese Conjurer influenced by the Red Era of Plcasso's art and those of the Little American Girl and the Acrobats influenced by the Blue Era of Picasso art may belong to the category of general theatre costumes. The second characteristic of general theatre costumes is the fact that the images of heavenly bodies were used in the costume of the Chinese Conjure and the Acrobats. The characteristic of experimental theatre costumes is the fact that the cubism is introduced to the designs of theatre costumes in Parade. The experimental theatre costumes were presented in the costumes of the Three Managers which were newly created under the influence of Picasso's cubism.

• Journal of Korean Theatre Studies Association
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• no.40
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• pp.207-237
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• 2010

Concentrating on the birth, life, and death of the Living Theatre, almost half a century avant-garde group, the primary purpose of this study at large is to explore its counter-cultural philosophy. While taking a chronological form adapting the biological order, the paper focuses on the troupe's productions: , , , , and . Through out these productions the philosophy of the Living Theatre seemed to included communal, anti-intellectual, politically radical, generally Utopian, and proselytizers for sexual freedom. The history of the Living Theatre interestingly parallels the history of the Beck's theatre in occupation and shut down. The first New York theatre was closed by fire inspectors for instance. The second theatre was declared unsafe, and locked up by the Building Department. The third theatre was seized by the IRS, consequently shut down. In 1984, after more than 25years from the third building, the Living Theatre settled once again on East Third Street in Manhattan. The theatre was however evacuated by the New York City Fire Department in 1993 and once more took to the road. With these struggles, the Becks' profound aspiration of the counter-cultural insurgency came to harden as strong as 'iron' in some ways. With the outstanding components of counter-cultural philosophy and style, the Living Theatre, in the course of the transformation, absorbed and then reflected virtually every phase for the Living Theatre were vehicles for more than just aesthetics. The group seemed to propagandize its beliefs rather performing productions. Accordingly, both on and off-stage action of the Living Theatre caused great controversy either through political activism of individual members or through the unconventional collective life style. No avant-garde theatre company was more emblematic of the rebellious spirit of the sixties than the Living Theatre. Like the first great transformation, the Becks' encounter, their personal values and the form of theatre they created had blended 'so inextricably that the vitality of each was dependent on the other.' The Becks always urged unity and harmony at all levels of human life, but not at any price. The anticapitalist ideal inspired the Becks to promote a politically motivated campaign throughout their productions. They believed the revolution is desirable but in the state of non-violence and the expansion of human consciousness. Julian Beck's gravestone identifies his as pet, painter, actor, and anarchist. The Living Theatre was a 'small umbrella' under which the Becks and its members could breath and unfold their dream on stage or in the street.

• Cross-Cultural Studies
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• v.21
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• pp.53-86
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• 2010

This paper is focused on splitting of the first Soviet theatre, MKhAT and collapse of Soviet theatre. A close attention has been paid to Art Theatres's circumstances leading to splitting, critical conscience about division between ideal and real theatres and other concrete situation before the verge of collapse. Administrative reform of the Soviet theatre at the period of Perestroika and Glasnost', its results and conflicts, occurred in the process of transition into market system. These are considered under the premise of that the problems of MKhAT were not so different to the other soviet theatres at that time. As it is known that Moscow Art Theatre is a symbol of Russian theatre. And the status of MKhAT as a symbol of Russian theatre had formulated not only the well-known Stanislavsky' system and his legendary performance The Seagull, Three Sisters etc. It was made by party's effort to make MKhAT as the first Soviet theatre and by directors, artists and critics, they had believed and tried to protect idea of MKhAT as the 'battlements' of Soviet theatrical art. One of them is O. Yefremov, a former leader and artistic director from 1970 to 2000. Actually from the periods of Sovremennik Yefremov knew that does not exist the ideal MKhAT, excepting myths, legends and administrative attitudes. Nonetheless he chose the duty of MKhAT's artistic director to construct ideal MKhAT, theatre as the best moral institution, theatre as union based on common belief. It is same motive that he had led split of MKhAT. But split of theatre did not bring the expected results. After spliting MKhAT has become almost collapsed under collapse of USSR and subsequent turmoil at 1990's. And as soviet theatre disappeared into history, Russian theatre became lost its special significance, the super-theatre's idea.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.48
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• pp.53-70
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• 1999

The theatre costume in English Renaissance which is scarce in its historical materials can be inferred and imaginarily reconstructed from classifying it according to types of theatre costumes and considering its specific form in that age. The history of fashion could be also approached in the light of theatre costumes and it might be some help to the present theatre costume. Thus the purpose of this thesis is for contributing to the study of theatre costume by inferring the English Renaissance theatre costume from classifications and research of its pattern in detail. This thesis consists of the overview of the periodical background of English Renaissance and then analysis of the stage surroundings ar that time and classification of the theater costume acording to the types and finally inferences of the pattern of forms of the theatre costume. The theatre costume in English Renaissance can be divided into these group:(1) for foreigners such as Roman Turk Spanish and Jews (2) for supernatural beings such as a nymph god, goddess, ghosts, and witches(3) for professionals such as a clown, a clergyman. doctors and senators(4) for cast of animals such as a lion a bear and pigs. In the Elizabethan period theatre costumes were used together with Elizabethan costumes on the stage. Generally the theatre costumes in the age were typically made of very expensive materials and spectacles to the audience and compensating for the poor stage settings.

• Journal of Korean Theatre Studies Association
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• no.48
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• pp.261-288
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• 2012

This paper attempts to research on the new language in the directing of Ara Kim. She was cranky on working on the stage to experiment with her own style since the 1980s and so opened a new dawn in modern Korean theatre. She leaded the Korean experimental theatre. The background of this experiment is her idea on theatre. And here, we have to look the subject that she setted for the work in Chuksan: Ritual Past, Ritual Present. To her, the theatre has the function of ritual and fest. The theatre suggests universal tragedy given to human as natural life force and has its own agenda to drive people to healing. For it, Ara Kim explores archetypal forms and languages before the fragmentation of genres of art. Her theatre shows the results of experiments in which such languages are recreated with modernized sensibilities. We here, for example by outdoor performance in Chuksan Human Lear, try to interpret the aesthetic principles that body out her ritual theatre. And what we looked at though, is the base of the 'complex-genre-music-theatre', the methode to 'compose' the stage elements and put it all together. The directing of Ara Kim has, in terms of the composition of the stage elements, much of the indisputable artistic value. Her theatre is, so to speak, theatre of image, and it is theatre of imagination that completed by the audience's imagination. Human Lear which has its own characteristic in image fragments, convert the original Lear into a simple tale. It serves as background of the modern ritual that shows the most basic human instincts. We meet in Human Lear a ritual tale with some list of image for the human instincts. The arrangement of image, the montage of scene shows the performance as a kind of artistic space. In Human Lear the space is the natural one. It centers around the arena stage. The objects installed in the space changes it into the laboratory for 'seeing' the happening. The spectators see the performance and at the same time see themselves in the nature laboratory. They see, and equally, they are visible objects. They see the performance and us in the space in which the performance takes place. That is what Ara Kim with her modern ritual really aims. That aim is to this days still in effect. It is a major driver of her experiments to extend the boundary of the theatre. The ritualistic site-specific performance in Akor Wat, Cambodia, A Song of Mandala is the latest great product from her experiments. On the other hand, she continues on her way to experiment with pure stage elements. The 'Station' series(Station of Water, The Station of Sand, The Station of Wind) she recently showed are the non-verbal performance with all the stage elements: movement, sound, body, light, colour, objects and so on.

• Journal of Korean Theatre Studies Association
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• no.40
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• pp.503-535
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• 2010

'Saiee', which could mean between, intra- and inter-, is a crucial topic in theatre as theatre has tension between actor and audience, reality and illusion, and everyday life and extraordinary life. Especially, it is interesting that the function of 'Saiee' is connected to extension and application of drama and theatre such as educational theatre, dramatherapy and applied drama/theatre. Such works are expected to educational or therapeutic effects, thus concern and support, demand and supply of these works is getting increased. However, it is true that researches on spirit, aesthetic and direction of these works are not sufficient, compared to quantitative increase and diversity. This study will explore Boal's Theatre of the Oppressed(TO from the below), which is key theory and technique of applied drama/theatre field with viewpoint of 'Saiee' theatre to look at spirit, aesthetic and direction of this field. Saiee's energy could observe the object with distance(distance), form the relationship with that object(inter) and create new circumstance through that relationship(intra). And Boal's TO tried to Saiee's theatre by using Saiee's dynamics variously. It bases on the phenomenon of metaxis. Boal's TO believes that drama/theatre is unique nature and ability of human being, that is to say, it is based on Homo Theatrum, human plays and does theatre. Therefore, the participant of Boal's TO is extended to everyone in everyday life. This activity is not only individual work to find his/her identity but also solidarity and possibility to change society which they belong to. It is the dynamics of 'Saiee' to make this possible. Boal's TO thinks that relationship and balance between individuality and sociality is important. The way of conversation in Boal's TO includes questioning, listening and communication. Unfamiliarity or distance of 'Saiee' makes interest in other people and question about them. Questioning through theatre and concern on other beings to search for the answer (this is listening), would be new relationship(and possibility) to extend him/herself. The communication and relationship leads to possibility and ability to create another world. This is the function of 'inter-' and 'intra-' in theatre of 'Saiee'. Lastly, it is various that Boal's TO as 'Saiee' theatre uses the dynamics of 'Saiee'. The diversity of technique comes from the application to humans in every moment and every time. To apply 'Saiee's aesthetic actively, concern and research on people 'now and here' should be proceed.

• (The) Research of the performance art and culture
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• no.38
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• pp.5-31
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• 2019

This article aims to examine the concept and historical background of Applied Theatre and its major characteristics as a newly emerging theatrical practice in recent years. With these aims, the article chronicles the history of how Applied Theatre has developed and formed as an overarching umbrella term that encompasses different theatrical praxis. Given the ambiguity and confusion of this practice, the article argues the importance of recognizing the Applied Theatre's shifting paradigm of subject and object, a crucial element in understanding the practice. Further discussed is the exploration of 'community' in regards to comparing the similarities and differences among Applied Theatre, Community Theatre, and Community-based Performance. The article concludes that the essential comprehension of Applied Theatre's uniqueness comes from noticing and perceiving the paradigm shift that places participants and community as a subject of theatrical transaction rather than as an object, as traditional theatre has done so far.

• Journal of Korean Theatre Studies Association
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• no.53
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• pp.167-202
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• 2014

When video composes mise-en-scene during the performance, it reflects the aspect of contemporary image culture, where the individual as creator joins in the image culture through the device of cell phone and computer remediating the former video technology. It also closely related with the contemporary theatre culture in which 1960's and 1970's video art was weaved into the contemporary performance theatre. With these cultural background, theatre practitioners regarded media-friendly mise-en-scene as an alternative facing the cultural landscape the linear representational narrative did not correspond to the present culture. Nonetheless, it can not be ignored that video in the performance theatre is remediating its historical function: to criticize the social reality. to enrich the aesthetic or emotional reality. I focused video in the performance theatre could feature the object with the image by realizing the realtime relay, emphasizing the situation within the frame, and strengthening the reality by alluding the object as a gesutre. So I explored its two historical manuel. First, video recorded the spot, communicated the information, and arose the audience's recognition of the object to its critical function. Second, video in performance theatre could redistribute perceptual way according to the editing method like as close up, slow motion, multiple perspective, montage and collage, and transformation of the image to the aesthetic function. Reminding the historical function of video in contemporary performance theatre, I analyzed two shows, Schaubuhne's Hamlet and Lenea de Sombra's Amarillo which were introduced to Korean audiences during the 2010 Seoul Theatre Olympics. It is known to us that Ostermeir found real social reality as a text and made the play the context. In this, he used video as a vehicle to penetrate the social reality through the hero's perspective. It is also noteworthy that Ostermeir understood Hamlet's dilemma as these days' young generation's propensity. They delayed action while being involved in image culture. Besides his use of video in the piece revitalized the aesthetic function of video by hypermedial perceptual method. Amarillo combined documentary theatre method with installation, physical theatre, and video relay on the spot, and activated aesthetic function with the intermediality, its interacting co-relationship between the media. In this performance theatre, video has recorded and pursued the absent presence of the real people who died or lost in the desert. At the same time it fantasized the emotional aspect of the people at the moment of their death, which would be opaque or non prominent otherwise. As a conclusion, I found the video in contemporary performance theatre visualized the rupture between the media and perform their intermediality. It attempted to disturb the transparent immediacy to invoke the spectator's perception to the theatrical situation, to open its emotional and spiritual aspect, and to remind the realities as with Schaubuhne's Hamlet and Lenea de Sombra's Amarillo.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.532-540
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• 2017

This study analyzes and compares the meaning and the value of storytelling with characteristics of the Playback Theatre, which is an improvisational play. On one side, the Playback Theatre, invented by Jonathan Fox in 1975, is an improvisational and communication-based theatre format; and it usually brings in the storytelling of audiences and often entails no play script. On the other side, storytelling requires imagination and creativity; presupposes the sympathy between the speaker and the listener. In fact, this theatre format is utilizing the educational and healing effects of verbal cultures, group sacrificial ceremonies, and/or psychodrama; and it is contextualizing them in our modern society. The Playback Theatre provides the audiences with opportunities to share their own stories within the play itself. The actors first listen to the stories of audiences; and then make them into a play impromptu, right in front of the speaker(s) and other audiences. For this very reason, it is called a "play-back". In this process, the individuals and the community are invited to experience the educational and healing effects.