일제강점기 아동문학 비평 논쟁의 양상과 의미

Abstract

There were several debates surrounding the criticism of children’s literature during the Japanese occupation. These debates included the 「Sogeumjaengyi (Water Strider)」 plagiarism debate, the 『Saero pin mugunghwa(Newly Blooming Rose of Sharon)』 plagiarism debate, the pro/anti children’s literary movement debate, the children’s song/poetry debate, and the ‘Dongsimjapgi’(Children’s Innocence) debate, among others. The debates on plagiarism were fueled by the desire for publicity and honor. These debates hold historical significance since they give us a glimpse into the perception of plagiarism at the time and remind us of the importance of original creation. The children’s song/poetry debate revolved around naming a representative branch of children’s literature. It was debated both directly and indirectly by numerous people over an extended period, but a clear conclusion was never reached. The ‘Dongsimjapgi’ debate presented an opportunity to broaden the horizons of the concept of children’s innocence but ultimately devolved into a contentious dispute. Other debates focused on differences in the perspectives of proletarian children’s literature and personal opposition to criticisms. A debate is valuable only if it leads to insights into issues and guides the direction for solving problems through arguments, counterarguments, and rearguments. Some of the debates previously described have their significance, while most did not reach a desirable level due to numerous personal reactions and unilateral attacks based on one’s political orientation. Nevertheless, the critical debate on children’s literature during the Japanese occupation should be recognized for its significance as highly developed criticism that attempted to address problems by sharing various perspectives and issues in a challenging environment.