Performing Korea

This book offers an exploration of the intersection of Korean theatre practice with Western literary theatre. Gangnam Style, K-Pop, the Korean Wave : who hasn't heard of these recent Korean phenomena? Having spent two years in Korea as a theatrical and cultural 'tourist', Patrice Pavis was granted an unparalleled look at contemporary Korean culture. As well as analyzing these pop culture mainstays, however, he also discovered many uniquely Korean jewels of contemporary art and performance.

Examining topics including contemporary dance, puppets, installations, modernized pansori, 'Koreanized' productions of European Classics and K-pop and its parody, this book provides a framework for an intercultural and globalized approach to Korean theatre. With the first three chapters of the book outlining methodology, the remaining chapters test often deconstructing and transforming in the process - this framework, using focused case studies to introduce the reader to the cultural and artistic world of a nation with an increasing international presence in theatre and the arts alike.

Includes detailed first hand accounts an analysis of key performances by one of the leading scholars in the field Offers an accessible and highly readable introduction to Korean theatre Takes a multidisciplinary approach to Korean performance, drawing on traditional and contemporary cultural touchstone alike

Auteur
Patrice Pavis is Professor in the School of Art of the University of Kent, UK. Formerly a professor in Paris and Seoul, he has taught at universities across the globe. Publications include Theatre at the crossroads of Culture (1992), Dictionary of the Theatre (1999), the Intercultural Performance Reader, (1996), Contemporary Mise en Scène (2012) and the Dictionary of Performance and Contemporary Theatre (2016).

Contenu
Prologue. Empire of Signs.- Part I. Introduction to the examples and to the method.- Chapter 1. Theatre and Theatre research in Korea and elsewhere.- Chapter 2. Globalization in a few Korean examples.- Chapter 3. Mise en scène made in Korea.- Part II. On a few theatre productions.- Chapter 4. A few contemporary French and Korean playwrights.- Chapter 5. Questions to the Past.- Chapter 6. Moi Hye-Seok, L'indésirable .- Chapter 7. A few productions of Kim, Hyun-Tak.- Chapter 8. On Lee, Young-Seok's production of Orwell's Coming up for air .- Chapter 9. Is modernized Pansori political?.- Part III . On a few theatre-dance and dance performances.- Chapter 10. Woyzeck as dance theatre.- Chapter 11. A Seoul song for Hong Sehee.- Chapter 12. Self-Portrait .- Part IV. On a few cultural performances.- Chapter 13. Parody in K-pop.- Chapter 14. Flowers and tears.- Chapter 15. A Fall.- Epilogue. Chapter 16. A Foreign Spectator?