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The Characteristics of Young Ha Kim’s Novels as Approached from the Perspective of ‘Ubiquitous-Sigongganseong (時空間性)’

  • Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University
  • 2017, 74(4), pp.325-359
  • DOI : 10.17326/jhsnu.74.4.201711.325
  • Publisher : Institute of Humanities, Seoul National University
  • Research Area : Humanities > Other Humanities
  • Received : October 10, 2017
  • Accepted : November 1, 2017
  • Published : November 30, 2017

Kim, Eunkyung 1

1서울대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

This essay intends to consider the following two problems. One is on the reorganization of Sigongganseong in ‘the novels of the present time’. Discussions of this problem have been developed from a historical perspective, comparing ancient novels, Sinsoseols, and the modern novels of Korea. The other is on ‘the economy of emotion’. I discuss on the problem through an extension of my existing research contents. The arguments about these two problems are continued focusing on the effects of Information Technology (IT) on ‘the Novels of the present time’. In relation to the first problem, through Young Ha Kim’s novels, it can be discovered that he subtly represents the reorganization of Sigongganseong based on the development of IT. The representations have two directions. One is the ‘extension’ of Sigongganseong in the direction of keeping one’s distance from reality, which become first point of issue. The other is the ‘compression’ of Sigongganseong in the direction of involving with reality, which becomes the second debatable ground. I consider that these reorganizations of Sigongganseong correspond to the problems of ‘prospect in existence’ of human beings. That it, the extension of Sigongganseong corresponds to the extension of the prospect in existence and the compression of Sigongganseong corresponds to the compression of the prospect in existence. In relation to the first point of issue, I reveal two points. One is ‘discontinuity’ in the historical stream of Korea novels. Plural Sigongganseongs can be found in Young Ha Kim’s novels, which consist of Sigongganseong in the standard sense and Sigongganseong extended by IT. There are heterogeneous aspects of life; the disparate aspects of life are simply in switch. Sublation or transcendence does not exist, in comparison to Korean ancient novels. The other point is ‘continuity’ in the history of Korea literature. It is possible to catch aspects of transcendence in the events that occur in the Sigongganseong extended by IT. It may be safe to say that they succeed the tradition of the ancient novels. In connection with second debatable ground, the ‘contingency of literature’ is discussed. As a result, it can be disclosesed that ‘contingency’ has not robbed Young Ha Kim’s Novels of their ‘probability’. It is proposed that the Sigongganseong compressed by the global network is a very resonant reason of such a phenomenon. It is comparable to the ‘contingency’ of Sinsoseols causing the ‘improbability’. In the third section, the problem of emotion in relation to the Sigongganseong is discussed. The focus of the discussion is on ‘access’ through IT gadgets and ‘sexual intercourses’. In this regard, the novels of Kim manifest tendencies. Before sexual intercourses, the connection between ‘emotion (/access)’ and sexual intercourses is tenuous. Such aspects of sex are called ‘the practical sex’. The reason for these aspects is seen to be ‘the accessibility of access’ through IT devices. On the other hand, after sex, the connection is closer. Manifest is Kim’s novels is the so-called phenomenon of ‘pre-sex after-emotion (先-情事 後-愛情 現象)’. The ‘ever-present possibility of access’ can be regarded as the physical foundation of such a phenomenon. Depending on the ever-present possibility of the access, the heros and heroines of Kim’s novels repeat partings and reunions. There are drift and loose streams of heterogeneous feelings. This is referred to as ‘the beat phenomenon (mecnory hyunsang) of emotion’. The following two points can be proposed as the significance of this paper: first, the discussion on the reorganization of Sigongganseong and it’s impacts on novels in the history of Korea literature; second, the discussion on ‘the economy of emotion’ which focusus on the connection between emotion and the Sigongganseong.

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