University of UtahKOREA 3100
KOREAN CULTURE THROUGH LITERATURE AND FILM
(KOR 3100)
Spring 2018
TH2:00-3:20BUC 206
Instructor: Deberniere Torrey(대명숙)/ Office: 1221 LNCO / Office Hours: Tues. 3:30~4:30; Fri. 2:00~3:00 (or by appointment) / Phone: 801-581-7990 / E-mail: / Mailbox: 01400 Languages and Communication Bldg.
Please note: As a general rule, please allow 24 hours for responses to emails during the week, and 48 hours on weekends. Usually I will respond in less time, but I often do not check work email during the weekend, or after 5 p.m. and before 10 a.m. on week days. Exceptions to this rule will be made as necessary to adjust for assignment submission schedules, etc.
Course Description:
This course offers an introduction to Korean culture through engagement with Korean literature and film in English translation, with the addition of selections of Korean American literature. Secondary source readings on cultural and historical themes will be accompanied by the close reading of selections of early modern and modern literature and the viewing of contemporary films, followed by discussions of these texts (films included) both as cultural artifacts and as self-contained works of art. Students will also analyze selected texts in writing, and will evaluate their own preconceptions of Korean culture against what they have learned in the course. By engaging with literary and cinematic texts through class discussion and written assignments, the course will also explore themes that are universal to differing cultural and disciplinary genres.
Course Objectives:
By the end of the semester, you should have acquired
a general understanding of the history of the Korean language; basic grasp of KoreanRomanization systems
an overview of early modern and modern Korean history
intermediate literacy in Korean culture
familiarity with several well-known names and titles in Korean literature and film
a solid grasp of the themes, symbols, characters, plots, and contexts of course texts and films
practice closely reading/viewing and analyzing literary and cinematic texts
a contextual framework and specific insights to facilitate further engagement with Korean cultural production, and/or comparative explorations of other non-Korean cultural production
Required Texts (all available at the University Book Store):
- Coursepack (CP)
- An Introduction to Korean Culture. Ed. John H. Koo and Andrew C. Nahm. Elizabeth, NJ: Hollym, 1997.
- Kim, Richard. The Martyred.New York: Penguin, 2011.
- Lee, Changrae. Native Speaker. New York: Riverhead Books, 1996.
- Yi Munyol. Our Twisted Hero. Trans. Kevin O’Rourke. New York: Hyperion, 2001.
- Additional materials will be available on Canvas via hyperlinks or as PDFs. These are indicated by “(CANVAS)” in the course schedule.
Course Requirements:
Attendance and Participation10%
Your attendance grade is based on your timely completion of the assigned reading, attendance, active participation in class activities, and collegiality. In advance of each week’s readings, you will have a list of “Lesson Points,” which you are expected to give thought to and be ready to discuss in class (FYI: the quizzes will be based mostly on these points).Please read the additional information about this category on Canvas by clicking on “Attendance and Participation.”
You are allowed twounexcused absences. Each unexcused absence beyond this will result in a one-point deduction from your participation grade, up to the total 10 points for participation. Three late arrivals (10 minutes or more) will count as one absence.An absence may be excused if supported by documentation, such as a doctor’s note. See also:
Please note: Cell phones should be turned off during class, and laptops and tablets kept off desks unless a class activity requires their use. If you wish to use a tablet to access your readings, please speak with the instructor about this.
Short Written Assignments(25%)
You will have 6 short written assignments (SA), as listed below.
SA 1: Response to the Korean Language segment of the course (Due: midnight, 1/21)
SA 2: Film annotation (Due: midnight, 2/4)
SA 3: Close Reading exercise (Due: midnight, 2/18)
SA 4 ~ 6:Each of these will be a1~2 page response to one of the assigned readings/films since your last response paper. You may write on any of the primary source readings/films. For these response papers, do not simply summarize a plot or recap the discussion, but engage with the material. You do not need to present a formal argument, but the paper should show your original thoughts about the text/film. What sparks your interest, and why? How does the text/film fit into our class discussions so far? What further questions do you have? Etc. These response papers will be graded on the basis of engagement with the material, understanding of themes and issues, original insight, and clarity of communication. Aresponse paperwill have a more personal voice than a formal academic essay, but you will still be expected to use proper mechanics, citations, and other academic writing conventions. You may submit SAs 4~6 at any timeup to the last dates to submit these assignments, which are noted on the schedule as follows: SA4-3/4; SA5 –4/1; SA6 – 4/22.
For more information onthese assignments, click “SA1,” “SA2,”etc. on Canvas.
Quizzes25%
Quiz 1, which will test your knowledge of the course syllabus, is due on Sun. 1/14 on CANVAS. Quiz 2 will take placein class on Thurs. 1/18 and will cover the Korean Language segment. The remainder will be in-class pop quizzes based on assigned readings and Lesson Points. Your lowest quiz grade will be dropped.
Presentation5%
At the end of the semester we will have a round table discussion on your choice of two general topics: stereotypes about Korea; or how this course has changed, confirmed, and/or expanded your perception of Korea and Korean culture. Each of you will submit an outline of your points to the instructor (you may keep a copy for yourself), and then give a 5-minute presentation focusing on one or two themes from the course, citing specific examples from course readings and/or films.Please read the additional notes about this assignment by clickingon “Presentation” on Canvas.
Exam35%
Your final exam will be comprehensive. The exam is designed to give you the chance to review and re-process the course content, and you will receive specific preparation guidelines to this end. There are no surprises on the exam. If you have been paying attention, participating, and taking good notes during the course, you should have little difficulty reviewing and thinking about the material in a way that will prepare you for the exam.
Grading Policy
Attendance and Participation10 %
Short Written Assignments25 %
Quizzes25 %
Presentation5 %
Final Comprehensive Exam35 %
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Total100 %
Grading Scale
A94.00% and above
A-90.00-93.99%
B+87.00-89.99%
B83.00-86.99%
B-80.00-82.99%
C+77.00-79.99%
C73.00-76.99%
C-70.00-72.99
D60.00-69.99%
F59.99% and below
NOTE re. Late Papers: Unless you have a documented excuse for missing the deadline, or have otherwise received an extension from the instructor, 10% will be taken off the final grade for each day the paper is late, and papers will not be accepted after four days past the deadline.
Tentative Schedule
Changes to the schedule will be emailed or posted on CANVAS.
Readings, films, and assignments for each class are given in bullet points under the class date. Unless indicated otherwise (“view in class,” etc.), these must be completed before class.Films will be listed as PURCHASE, ON RESERVE, or STREAMING, depending on the format in which they will be available.The links to streamed films will be given on CANVAS.
Part I: Course Overview and the Korean language
Week 1
Tues. 1/9Overview of the course; overview of the history of Korean; Sino-Korean
Thurs. 1/11Issues in Korean Romanization; practice using Romanization
Korean Culture, pp.101-120
Holstein, “The McCune-Reischauer Korean Romanization System,” pp 1-2 (up to “Chronology…”), and p. 10 (“Conclusion”) (CANVAS)
McCune Reischauer Korean Romanization conversion table from UC Davis site (CANVAS)
Wikipedia, “Korean Romanization”
DUE by Sunday, 1/14: QUIZ 1 on CANVAS (syllabus quiz)
Week 2
Tues. 1/16Issues in translation; Korean poetry
“Korean Poetry in Translation” (CANVAS)
Br. Anthony, “Translating Korean Poetry” (CANVAS please print and bring to class)
Thurs. 1/18QUIZ2(Reminder:all other quizzes will be pop quizzes)
The concept of han
In class, view segments of Sopyonje by Im Kwontaek.
DUE by Sunday, 1/21: SA 1 (Response to Korean Language segment)
Part II: Aspects of Korean Values, Spirit, and Psyche
Week 3
Tues. 1/23 Spirits everywhere
Baker, Korean Spirituality, pp.18-29 (CANVAS)
“The Shaman Painting”(CANVAS please print and bring to class)
Glossary of Film Terms (CANVAS)
Thurs. 1/25 Buddhism and suffering
Korean Culture, pp.155-61
Baker, Korean Spirituality pp. 32-42, 108-112 (CANVAS)
Kim Ki-duk,Spring, Summer...(Film: ON RESERVE/PURCHASE)
Week 4
Tues. 1/30 Confucianism, filial piety, and human affections
Korean Culture, pp.136-42, 145-6, 149-50
“Simch’ŏng: the Tale of a Filial Daughter”(CANVAS please print and bring to class)
Thurs. 2/1 Lyric and sublimation in nature
“When the Buckwheat Blooms”(CANVAS)
Entry on Yi Hyosŏk from “Twentieth Century Korean Literature,” pp. 22-23. (Spoiler alert: read AFTER you’ve read the story.) (CANVAS)
Charles, “Let a Thousand …”; “Found on Web #14” (CANVAS)
DUE by Sunday, 2/4: SA 2 (Film Annotation)
Week 5
Tues. 2/6 Christianity, sacrifice, and truth
Korean Culture, pp.179-80, 189-199
Baker, Korean Spirituality pp.58-77(CANVAS)
Richard Kim,The Martyred, chapters 1 to 25.
Thurs. 2/8(continued)
The Martyred, chapter 26 to end.
Part III: Traditions Questioned and Culture in Flux
Week 6
Tues. 2/13 Challenging the yangban culture of late Chosŏn
Korean Culture, pp.59-69
“The Tale of a Yangban” (CANVAS please print and bring to class)
“The Tale of Master Ho” (CANVAS please print and bring to class)
Thurs. 2/15 Court tragedy, duty, and self-defense
Korean Culture, pp.265-267
Tennant, A History of Korea pp.190-192 (CANVAS)
The Memoirs of Lady Hyegyŏng (selections) (CANVAS please print and bring to class)
DUE by Sunday, 2/18: SA 3 (Close Reading exercise)
Week 7
Tues. 2/20 Crossing class boundaries
Korean Culture, pp.421-2
The Song of a Faithful Wife, Ch’unhyang (CP)
Im Kwon-taek,Ch’unhyangjŏn(Film:STREAMING)
Thurs. 2/22 Modern vs. traditional values
Korean Culture, pp.72-8
“Mama and the Boarder” (CP)
“The Photograph and the Letter” (CP)
Part IV: Formative Twentieth-Century Events
Week 8
Tues. 2/27 The Japanese occupation
Korean Culture, pp.79-85, 452-458
“Lost Names” (CANVAS please print and bring to class)
“Wings” (CP)
Thurs. 3/1(continued)
“A Ready-Made Life” (CANVAS please print and bring to class)
DUE by Sunday, 3/4: SA 4 (Response Paper)
Week 9
Tues. 3/6 War and post-war
Korean Culture, pp.86-97
“Cranes” (CP)
“A Stray Bullet” (CP)
Thurs. 3/8 Economic progress and alienation
OPTIONAL: Korean Culture, pp.230-242
Watkins, “The Park Chung Hee Regime in South Korea” (CANVAS)
“Seoul: 1964, Winter” (CP)
Week 10
Tues. 3/13 The struggle for democracy
“Students in 1980”; “General Chun Doo Hwan Takes Over”; “The Kwangju Uprising,” from Library of Congress country studies website (CANVAS)
“Shared journey” (CANVAS please print and bring to class)
Thurs. 3/15(continued)
“The Gray Snowman” (CP)
Im Sang-soo, The President’s Last Bang(Film:STREAMING)
Week 11Spring Break
Week 12
Tues. 3/27(continued)
Our Twisted Hero
Thurs. 3/29 Koreans overseas
“Annotated Chronology of the Korean Immigration to the United States” (CANVAS)
Changrae Lee, Native Speaker (pp. 1-81)
- DUE by Sunday, 4/1: SA 5 (Response Paper)
Week 13
Tues. 4/3(continued)
Changrae Lee, Native Speaker (pp. 82-292)
Thurs. 4/5(continued)
Changrae Lee, Native Speaker (pp. 293-end)
Part V: History and Tradition Revisited in Cinema, and the Korean Wave
Week 14
Tues. 4/10 Korean Cinema
- Paquet, “A Short History of Korean Film” (CANVAS)
- Lee Jun-ik, The King and the Clown(Film: PURCHASE/ON RESERVE)
Thurs. 4/12 The Korean Wave
Hong, The Birth of Korean Cool (CANVAS) pp. 163 (starting at "But in the 1980s...")-171; pp.195-199.
Hua, “Korean Soaps Cleaning Up,” Asia Times Online (CANVAS)
Kositchotethana, “A Lesson from South Korea,” Bangkok Post (CANVAS)
In class, view clip of Winter Sonataand/or episode of Daejangeum
Week 15
Tues. 4/17 Round Table Discussion
Thurs.4/19 Round Table Discussion
DUE Sunday, 4/22: SA 6 (Response Paper)
Week 16
Tues. 4/24
Review for exam
FINAL EXAM: Wednesday, May 2, 2018 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Accommodations Policy
If you are in need of special accommodations, please refer to the university policy:
ADA Statement
The University of Utah seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services and activities for people with disabilities. If you will need accommodations in the class, reasonable prior notice needs to be given to the Center for Disability Services, 162 Union Building, 581-5020 (V/TDD). CDS will work with you and the instructor to make arrangements for accommodations. (For more information, please see:
Faculty Responsibilities
All students are expected to maintain professional behavior in the classroom setting, according to the Student Code spelled out in the Student Handbook. Students have specific rights in the classroom as detailed in Article III of the Code. The Code also specifies proscribed conduct (Article XI) that involves cheating on tests, plagiarism, and/or collusion, as well as fraud, theft, etc. Students should read the Code carefully and know they are responsible for the content. According to Faculty Rules and Regulations, it is the faculty’s responsibility to enforce responsible classroom behaviors. This enforcement will begin with verbal warning, and if disorderly conduct continues, the student will be dismissed from class and receive a failing grade. Students have the right to appeal such action to the Student Behavior Committee.
Disclaimer
Some students may find that material presented or discussed in this course conflicts with core religious or personal beliefs. Please review the entire syllabus well before the drop-add period ends. Please see the following link for further clarification of this policy:
Academic Misconduct
According to the University of Utah Student Code, plagiarism is defined as “the intentional unacknowledged use or incorporation of any other person’s work in, or as a basis for, one’s own work offered for academic consideration or credit or for public presentation. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, representing as one’s own, without attribution, any other individual’s words, phrasing, ideas, sequence of ideas, information or any other mode or content of expression.” Any student found to have plagiarized material will be reported to the Student Behavior Committee and will automatically receive an “F” on the assignment in question.Cheating and Falsification will be addressed likewise. (See:
Non-Contract Note
Please be aware: this syllabus is not a binding legal contract. The instructor may choose to add, omit, or change certain readings or requirements with advance notification.
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