1980-1987 한국영화의 관람 공간 - 관객, 장르, 극장을 중심으로

Abstract

The paradigm of ‘place’ as a new methodology for urban studies proliferated to explain changes of Western cities in 1980s. Since then, the matter of spatiality has permeated into such areas as literature, art, history, visual arts, architecture, international politics and economics. The post capitalism in the latter half of the 20th century brought about a grand change in meanings of temporality and spatiality. Whereas in the classical industrial capitalism the space of production had been organized on time table with which the capital could extort surplus profits by exploiting labor hours, in the post capitalist society of the late 20th century the space was efficiently organized and expanded in a way to maximize profit. As a part of the process urbanization has been accelerated to organize spaces for accumulation of capital. Place is a fruit of social products or relations, and social space is fluid and constantly changing. Place is also practical and symbolic, and it can be expanded into a place of system that contains social order and structure. The spatiality constructed in Korean cinema is not just an aesthetic choice but something practical, symbolic and fluid, and it reflects changes in people’s recognition of time-space. To analyze spatiality in Korean cinema I adopted four dimensions of place, that is fluidity·practicality·interaction and symbolization, and looked in the ‘viewing of Korean cinema’ in 1980s when space had begun to be charged with the meanings of commodity and the established system. In general production of films in 1980s were under political and cultural control be the extension of 1970’s dictatorship, however it began to change in relation with social movements. Urbanization that represents social transformation of space in Korean society in 1980s and corresponding middle class consciousness was a deciding factor in film-goer’s choice of film. Wile in the first half of 1980s melodramatic, erotic, christian and nation-code films enjoyed their popularity, in mid 1980s mystery-melodrama and youth films with refined Hollywood style standed out. In the middle of 1980s, multi-theaters with several small screens attracted diverse groups of audiences by implementing various promotional programs like film festivals, film-lovers’ club and previews. During 1980s the Korean people experienced social changes with acceleration of urbanization due to economic growth. Such a changed environment brought about changes in film viewing. The proliferation of middle class caused a dramatic change in popular genres. Naturally the main characters and the way of representation went through corresponding changes, and life style of the middle class represented in films was spread out nationwide. With building of large scale apartment complexes the areas outside of central Seoul began to have theaters, and movie-going culture went through dramatic changes. I looked into the place of Korean cinema viewing reshuffled in the period of 1980 through 1987, focusing on audience, genre and movie theater.