Unwritten Korea: Understanding Korean Society and Culture through Contemporary Arts and Films

The course aims to familiarise students with Korean society and culture through an analysis of films, dramas, and music. The course is structured chronologically, beginning with films and dramas set in the Joseon era, colonial rule, the Korea war, authoritarian rule and social contention, and, lastly, the more contemporary period. The course topics include Korean society in history and under the colonial rules, inequality, urban culture, gender inequality, Korean Noirs (the dark side of societies), generational gaps, and multi-culturalism. Students will use interdisciplinary methodology from social science debate to review and interpret arts and popular culture.   Credit level: 10 Year taken: Year 4 Undergraduate SCQF level: 20