20세기 초 활자본 고소설 연구의 지평과 전망

Abstract

The printed classical novel stands out as the most prominent genre in Korean literary history during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Rather than considering them solely as relics of the past, it is crucial to perceive them as modern entities that were vibrant and active during their time, and find the possibility of 'multipie modernities' other than western modernity in them. In this regard, it is essential to investigate the media characteristics and distribution methods of these works, as well as the cognitive systems and aesthetic perspectives of the readers who enjoyed them. The cognitive system and aesthetic perspective of the widespread acceptance of the printed classical novel can be characterized by the notions of 'popularity' and 'conventionality,' as previously noted by writers like Kim Ki-jin and Yeom Sang-seop. However, these concepts must be reevaluated in the context of the 'people' or 'democratic spirit' emphasized by Yeom Sang-seop, rather than the 'popularity' and 'conventionality' associated with colonial elite writers who catered to the vulgar interests of the masses. Understanding the popularity of printed classical novels from the perspective of 'multipie modernities’ can provide insights into the ways in which colonial subalterns pursued modern civilization via alternative paths. A prime example of a printed classical novel is Okjunghwa (1912), an adaptation of the pansori Chunhwangga by Lee Hae-jo, which ushered in the era of printed novels. The story of Chunhwang was already a top bestseller in the modern enlightenment era and beyond the colonial period. Which features a love story through a sequence of events that includes meeting, love, separation, suffering, and reunion. However, the work also contains the perceptions and aesthetics of modernity required by its contemporary audience. It make a counterproposal of how men and women should relate to each other in the midst of the turbulence of modernity, which brought about a new ethic of love based on mutual respect and trust.