@article{ART003340708},
author={LEE MINYEONG},
title={The Vital Rhythm: Creative Principles in Kim Woo-jin’s Expressionism},
journal={The Journal of Korean drama and theatre},
issn={1225-7729},
year={2026},
number={88},
pages={53-84},
doi={10.17938/tjkdat.2026..88.53}
TY - JOUR
AU - LEE MINYEONG
TI - The Vital Rhythm: Creative Principles in Kim Woo-jin’s Expressionism
JO - The Journal of Korean drama and theatre
PY - 2026
VL - null
IS - 88
PB - The Learned Society Of Korean Drama And Theatre
SP - 53
EP - 84
SN - 1225-7729
AB - This study aims to elucidate the creative principles behind Kim Woo-jin’s expressionist plays, The Shipwreck(Nanpa) and The Wild Boar(Sandwaeji), by examining the expressionist theater theory of Kitamura Kihachi a prominent director at the Tsukiji Little Theater and a translator of Japanese expressionism.
Until now, discussions on Kim Woo-jin’s expressionist plays have primarily focused on textual analysis, with the concept of "vital force"(elan vital) understood as the core of his theory and utilized in interpreting his works. However, the connection between this concept and his theater has not been fully clarified, as the "vital force" concepts of Bergson and Bernard Shaw did not transition smoothly into expressionist theatrical aesthetics.
By referencing Kitamura Kihachi’s texts on expressionist theater theory, this study argues that the "rhythm of life"(the rhythm of curves) representing the movement of vital force rather than the concept itself serves as both the philosophical principle and the aesthetic background of Kim Woo-jin’s expressionist theater. This rhythm is the essence of Kim’s theatrical aesthetics and is manifested through his plays The Shipwreck and The Wild Boar. In particular, the condensed and screaming linguistic ambiguity, along with the musical characteristics found in his works, demonstrate that the philosophical principle of the "rhythm of life" is realized through the medium of sound.
KW - Expressionism;Kim Woo-jin;Kitamura Kihachi;Life Force;Rhythm of curves;Shipwreck(Nanpa);The Wild Boar(Sandwaeji)
DO - 10.17938/tjkdat.2026..88.53
ER -
LEE MINYEONG. (2026). The Vital Rhythm: Creative Principles in Kim Woo-jin’s Expressionism. The Journal of Korean drama and theatre, 88, 53-84.
LEE MINYEONG. 2026, "The Vital Rhythm: Creative Principles in Kim Woo-jin’s Expressionism", The Journal of Korean drama and theatre, no.88, pp.53-84. Available from: doi:10.17938/tjkdat.2026..88.53
LEE MINYEONG "The Vital Rhythm: Creative Principles in Kim Woo-jin’s Expressionism" The Journal of Korean drama and theatre 88 pp.53-84 (2026) : 53.
LEE MINYEONG. The Vital Rhythm: Creative Principles in Kim Woo-jin’s Expressionism. 2026; 88 : 53-84. Available from: doi:10.17938/tjkdat.2026..88.53
LEE MINYEONG. "The Vital Rhythm: Creative Principles in Kim Woo-jin’s Expressionism" The Journal of Korean drama and theatre no.88(2026) : 53-84.doi: 10.17938/tjkdat.2026..88.53
LEE MINYEONG. The Vital Rhythm: Creative Principles in Kim Woo-jin’s Expressionism. The Journal of Korean drama and theatre, 88, 53-84. doi: 10.17938/tjkdat.2026..88.53
LEE MINYEONG. The Vital Rhythm: Creative Principles in Kim Woo-jin’s Expressionism. The Journal of Korean drama and theatre. 2026; 88 53-84. doi: 10.17938/tjkdat.2026..88.53
LEE MINYEONG. The Vital Rhythm: Creative Principles in Kim Woo-jin’s Expressionism. 2026; 88 : 53-84. Available from: doi:10.17938/tjkdat.2026..88.53
LEE MINYEONG. "The Vital Rhythm: Creative Principles in Kim Woo-jin’s Expressionism" The Journal of Korean drama and theatre no.88(2026) : 53-84.doi: 10.17938/tjkdat.2026..88.53
