• Korean journal of communication and information
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• v.51
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• pp.156-173
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• 2010

This study analysed the narrative of and , two history documentary broadcasted on KBS, in terms of story-telling and discourse. And it also examined whether TV as mass media could provide an alternative interpretation against the dominant historical awareness. As a result, both programmes showed limitations on representing subversive point of view to the dominant ideology. At the story-telling level, firstly, they represented in a way of male-hero narrative though they were describing the history of woman, and while representing woman as a public figure they eliminated her feminity and individuality. Secondly, before evaluating woman as a historic figure they previously appreciated her appearance in a male-point of view. Thirdly, although they were telling the story of woman in a political view, they focused on love triangle, therefore failed to make her as a public figure. The discourses of both programmes were anchoring the existing historical interpretation instead of offering an alternative historical imagination. The narrator who were telling history at the studio in a omniscient viewpoint took a role as a meaning definer, placed at the highest rank in the hierarchy of discourse structure. Especially in , the dramatized images to cover lack of visual data helped anchor the patriarchal narrative and reduced the possibility of subversive interpretation on historic figure.

• Cross-Cultural Studies
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• v.19
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• pp.181-204
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• 2010

This study analyzes the meaning of madness shown in the female narrative, focusing on two novels- "Before the Operation" by Mei Niang and "Madman's Diary" by Baek Shin-Ae. The novel "Before the Operation" reveals women's instinctive desires through an insane woman and brings up a problem of unfair suppression caused by patriarchism. On the other hand, the heroine of "Madman's Diary" shows madness when she is at a crisis to be 'the other' in the patriarchal system. Her madness is caused because she fails to find the meaning of her presence in the system. Interestingly, a woman who departs from moral standards of patriarchy (from "Before the Operation") becomes thefocus of public censure while a man (from "Madman's Diary") who also ignores those standards seems to be a victim. In "Madman's Diary", the man's wife is accused of being mad while he draws sympathy as a victim. This shows that those moral standards have duplicity. At this point, the heroines who continuously adjust themselves to the system express their madness. In other words, the madness implies a stern protest against the moral standards applied differently to men and women. It is unique that the two heroines of the novels become 'sane' when they encounter thematter of 'being a mother'. When it comes to "Madman's Diary", 'being a mother' of the insane woman who becomes 'the other' in the system foretells dismal future. Meanwhile, Mei Niang indicates the way- 'being a mother'- to overcome the dismal future through "Before the Operation". In this case, the mother is not a figure that reproduces the patriarchal power structure, but an independent figure who wants to change it. For that reason, 'being a mother' has the meaning of subversion and resistance.