KOREAN 231: ELEMENTS OF KOREAN CULTURE
Instructor: Chan Park
Office: Cunz 394
E-mail: chanpark+@osu.edu
Course Objectives:
This course aims to introduce students to the fundamental elements of Korean culture developed in the crossroad of East
Asia. The challenge is to identify the salient patterns of cultural construction in the major aspects of history, rite
s and ceremonies, thoughts and beliefs, literary works, arts and crafts, and performative behavior among the Koreans anc
ient and modern. Such a task becomes particularly significant in the study of Korean culture which, in the span of near
ly five millenia, has evolved into a uniquely artistic, politically resilient, and socio-economically dynamic existence
in today's global community.
Instructional Contents:
1. For the promotion of in-depth cross-cultural understanding, the course consists not only of lectures but also studen
t participation in discussions, projects and presentations.
2. Effective use of audio-visual materials as important tools.
3. In addition to the survey of the performance tradition, the students will participate in the performance workshop of
p'ansori singing and drumming.
4. Guest speakers who will help reinforce the students' cultural awareness with their personal narratives and viewpoint
s.
Required Textbooks: Available at SBX
1. Nahm, Andrew C. A Panorama of 5000 Years: Korean History
2. Sallee, Hyun-jae Yee, Ed. The Snowy Road and Other Stories
3. Lee, Peter H., Ed. Anthology of Korean Literature
4. Course packet, containing syllabus, weekly schedule, daily schedule, and lecture summaries, projects and assignments
, to be purchased at Ohio Union Copying Service.
Requirements and Grading:
2 Quizzes (10x2 = 20 %): effective maintenance of important socio-historical facts.
Quiz 1:
Quiz 2:
1 Take-Home Essay Exam (10 %): attempts at cultural analysis. (2-3 double-spaced typed pages in length)
Performance Workshop Participation and Report (10%): 2-3 double-spaced typed pages.
Presentation:
Group (20 %): Cultural experience in performative expression: The students decide on their respective group p
rojects, partners, and the dates of presentation in the first two weeks into the course.
5 %: The preliminary presentation plan due at the end of Week 2, including:
-group research topic, the objectives, and methodologies in 1 or 2 paragraphs,
-participants' names and their respective roles stated in one paragraph each.
5%: Group organization and presentation
10%: Individual effort.
*Use of charts, slides, videos, interviews, role-playing, demonstrations, and displays are strongly encouraged.
Individual (20 %): oral presentation; debates, storytelling, reports. (Each student decides on his/her preferr
ed format and topic by the 4th week into the course)
Final term paper (20 %): Research based: Due on the last day, 5-7 double-spaced typed pages with notes and so
urces properly cited; on any aspect of Korean and Korean-related culture.
*For the written reports and presentation, the students are strongly urged to utilize the updated periodicals and int
ernet system among others.
*Good attendance is the proof of a strong commitment. You are allowed 4 or less unexcused absences during the quarter
. At the 5th unexcused absence your grade will be lowered by one level, i.e., A to A-, A- to B+...etc.
*No make-up exam is allowed, unless notified in advance of a legitimate reason.
*Please check daily the important dates, weekly & daily schedules, reading and other assignments.
*In reading the Korean history, read for the outlines and their historical, socio-cultural significances, and do not
let the numerous names and dates discourage you.
Areas to be covered weekly
1.1. Geography and general background
1.2. History, ancient to the fall of Unified Silla
2. Ancient history continued, Koryo & Early and Mid Yi, han'g l practice
3. Religion, rites and ceremonies
4. Literature, classical, folktales
5. Performing arts survey
6. Performance workshop
7. History, modern
8. Literature, modern
9. Koreans abroad
10. Current issues
Reference Books
(In English)
An, Hosang. The Ancient History and Culture of Korea. Seoul: Institute of Baedal (Korean) Culture, 1986.
Gale, James S. Korean Folk Tales. Translated from the Korean of Im Bang and Yi Ryuk, New York: E.P. Dutton
& Co. 1913.
Han, Suzanne Crowder. Korean Folk & Fairy Tales. Seoul: Hollym, 1991.
Hendrik, Hamel. Hamel's Journal and a Description of the Kingdom of Korea, Translation from the Dutch manuscri
pt, Br. Jean-Paul Buys, of Taiz . Royal Asiatic Society.
Huhm, Halla Pai. Kut: Korean Shamanist Rituals, Seoul: Hollym International Corp., 1980.
Lee, Du-Hyun. "Korean Shamans: role playing through trancd possession," in Richard Schechner and Willa Appe
l Eds., By Means of Performance. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990.
Patterson, Wayne. The Korean Frontier in America: Immigration to Hawaii, 1896-1910. Honolulu: Univeristy of Ha
waii Press, c1988.
Takaki, Ronald. Strangers from a Different Shore: A History of Asian Americans. Boston: Little, Brown, c1989.
(Periodicals in English)
Koreana.. Overseas Subscription: The Korea Foundation C.P.O. Box 2147, Seoul, Korea.
Fax: (02)394-7822
Korea Journal. Korean National Commission for UNESCO, C.P.O. Box 64, Seoul 100-600, Korea. Fax No. 82-2-568-7
454
(In Korean)
Kim, Mose. Iyagi han'guk y ksa (Korean history as storytelling). Seoul: Mins h Ch'ulp'ansa, 1994.
Yi, Kwanggyu. Han'guk ch nt'ong munhwa i kujoj k ihae (The systematic understanding of the Korean traditional
culture). Seoul: Seoul National University Press, 1993.
Yun, Ih m et al. Han'gugin i chonggyo (Religions of the Koreans). Seoul: Mund ksa, 1994.
Created June 5, 1997 by Syeng-Mann Yoo.
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