연쇄하는 재난의 세계를 건너기: 묵시록적 포스트모던 재현의 양상

Abstract

This article examines a few cases of apocalyptic postmodern representations, such as apocalyptic subjects and incantation devices, and traces the social conditions and the political feeling of contemporary Korean people, which has drawn this phenomenon. Since its modernization, Korean society has suffered from a series of events that have caused social trauma. Art plays a key role in dealing with social trauma through its artistic representation. Art has dealt with social trauma in Korea in two ways. First, it has used an accusing representation that has a clear political direction; second, it has used imaginative representation, which focuses more on the narrative side. These two representational methods depend on modern attitudes. However, as many of contemporary disasters have arisen from modernity itself, a noteworthy representational method that is different from established modern representational trends is emerging; this relates to the absence of narrative-centeredness, the emergence of the post modern subject, an apocalyptic atmosphere that envelops both the cinematic setting and the protagonist’s mode of behavior, and the use of incantational tools to cure the trauma. Considering these tendencies, labelled “apocalyptic postmodern representation” here, this article examines the specific disasters resulted from Korea’s social precondition and the structure of political feelings of the Korean people.