이문열 문학 연구 현황에 대한 비판적 점검

Abstract

Age of Hero and Border by Lee Moon-Yeol have not been studied as it is even though there are lots of product of researches Age of Hero was written in 1984 and Border was set in August, 1986 and finished in November, 1998. These novels can be vital nucleuses in studying about literature world of Lee Moon-Yeol. So these novels absolutely should be studied. The study of these novels can complete the understanding of history of tragic family in two generations as well as to overcome the limit of study of literature aspect hidden by the writer's social influence. Neither single thesis nor critic can not replace academic research of these works. If the novel of Lee Moon-Yeol get a great interest in Korean literature whether in good way or not, it connotes that the volume of his writing in Korean literature history is great, too. Therefore his novels, especially Age of Hero and Border, which describe the violently changing society, the age of tragedy, should not be neglected because of prejudice and excess social and political interest about the writer. It is decolonial theory that can be applied usefully to appreciate these novels in consistent views. Age of Hero with postwar Korea in 950s as a background, shows the process of worship and skeptics about socialism in the family relationship of Dongyoung, Jungin and their mother. Border is still centered in the frame of the family life without paternity but covered wider aspects of the world history, such as international situation around imperial United States of America and dictatorship of Park Junghee in 1960s. Cultural attack by western imperialism and its irony are shown in comprehensive aspect in the form of life of members of one family. If Age of Hero is centered on microscopic subordination while Border rather on macroscopic subordination, the common point of these novels is colonial situation. The introduction of decolonial theory is quite essential in the process of recognition of colonial ruling and response against it. When the colonial logic is presupposed, the epics of Age of Hero and Border would be stories about defamation of self-identity and confrontation of beings thrown away into the border by the power of the family itself and outside. If decolonialism is the general consciousness of anti-colonialism which is based on the establishment of independent identity against injust colonial control, Age of Hero and Border are deserved to be examined by decolonial theory.