매체사로 다시 보는 북한문학:『조선문학』 연구 서설

Abstract

This paper presents an overview of characteristics of edit format (editorial style), such as transformation of editors, arrangement of table of contents and main text, etc., starting from biblical works in connection with history of Joseon Literature(From October 1953 to July 2015), one of the most prominent media in North Korean literature. Based on whole survey of publications of Joseon Writers' League launched in October 1953, we examined transformation by time period, such as titles, format, covers, typesetting and transcriptional method, number of publication, date of publication by issue, number of pages by page, publishing organizations and agencies, editing team, fixed price, etc. For example, cumulative 813 issues in publication, as of July 2015, was calculated by redefining the January issue of 1956 as 101th issue. The vertical typesetting exclusive for Koreans(Chinese letters were limited to numbers) at the launch of the publication was shifted to horizontal typesetting exclusive for Koreans including the numbers from February issue of 1957. The volume ranging from 100 to 300 pages was reduced to current 80 pages from February issue of 1975. In addition, we paid attention particularly to the layout of table of contents, arrangement of main text, and special feature (themed article) system in connection with editing principle of Joseon Literature. The results showed that the editing team designed edit format to be biased towards conveyance of party politics and propaganda functions of personality cult based on the policy shift of Writers' League and party which is the upper-rank organization. The editing team in 1950s and 1960s sometimes curtailed propaganda functions and showed inclination for literary magazine characteristics. However, Juche ideology took root in the period between 1967 and 1968, leading to a shift towards an editing system that minimized functions of literary magazine and drastically expanded propaganda functions. As the edit format changes, the message contents were mostly comprised of extreme personality cult beyond the propaganda level of party politics. Monthly special features in 1950s and 1960s focused on prominent writers, anniversaries of parties and state, and had a preponderance of contents related to anniversaries of Kim Il-sung and his family members after 1970s. As the 80-page system was fixed in 1975, the state management system relegated literature magazine to propaganda materials for personality cult.