Korean History through Film

Catalog description

Cinema is a powerful medium for historical storytelling, reflection, and imagination. This course examines Korean history through the lens of film, focusing on how cinematic representations interpret and reimagine historical events surrounding the Korean peninsula from the premodern era to contemporary times. Students will explore a wide range of film genres, including an action movie about the mythical founders of ancient kingdoms, a historical drama on royal life in the Choson dynasty, a romantic comedy set in colonial Korea, a ghost film set during the Vietnam War, a sci-fi monster movie from 1960s South Korea, and a documentary on North Korea's mass games. By engaging with primary and secondary sources alongside the films, students will gain a deeper understanding of the historical events and socioeconomic contexts depicted on screen. They will also develop critical media literacy skills, learning to analyze cinematic representations beyond surface-level narratives and challenge the assumption that historical portrayals in film are factual. No prior knowledge of Korean language is required, and all instruction and materials will be in English.