KJCKorea
Journal Central

TV drama <Heard it through the grapevine> satirizes by looking furtively & eavesdropping the hierarchical power relations(so-called "Gab-Eul relations") in the genre of black comedy. Noticing the struggle for hegemony of “A” and “B” generating at that time, this paper intends to view how the line of vision of persons acquires power and to investigate struggle of discourse generating in each world of “A” and “B.” Han Jungho possesses formidable power by owning a lot of information through omniscient line of vision. The core of his power is information by which he can sway the political and industrial circle on the basis of manpower pool called ‘Law Firm Hansong.’ Contrary to the affirmative evaluation in the mundane world, Han Jungho acquires information by using all kinds of methods to satisfy his hypocritical greed for power. When information is furtively exchanged in the exclusive club of Hansong, camera highlights the exaggerated & absurd reality by drawing the perverted and split shape of person. On the contrary, the private life of Han Jungho couple is not protected and fully revealed by ‘B’ even in the house of Han Jungho. Satirical laughter arises and the relation of power is overturned as hypocritical and snobbish bare face is exposed unlike their archaic manner of speech. As shown in the lexical meaning of grapevine, ‘speech’ is the point that should be emphasized. Thus, the topography of grapevine is largely divided into 3 categories of discourse composition. First, it is internal discourse composition which is mainly occupied by hypocritical and snobbish speech and which pursues vertical human relation. Second, it is external discourse composition which is not brainwashed by the world of “A” and which speaks veracious speech, being satisfied with its own position. Third, it is discourse composition which is at the position of boundary. After grasping the reality of power by entering the internal world, Seobom who had once lived in the external world influences those who are at the boundary line as he changes to an independent person. Helped by Seobom and Park Kyungtae, they are incorporated to external discourse composition as they begin to speak in their own voice. Although this work is meaningful in that it presents the sense of solidarity of “B”, it is somewhat regrettable in that it stays at the poetic definition, the imaginary solution of ‘victory of B’ in the realization of genre feature of black comedy.

black comedy, discourse composition, grotesque, <Heard it through the grapevine>, hegemony, hierarchical power relations(Gab-Eul relations), line of vision, sense of solidarity