Creative Student Projects for ASIA 347, Fall 2015

ASIA 347 is a survey course in traditional Korean literature. Although the assigned readings date as far back as 1500 years ago, they live on in the Korean cultural memory, and specifically through the broad stream of Korean oral literature, performance aspects of which can be seen even today in Hallyu, the wave of Korean popular culture that is sweeping the globe.
Among the extra-credit options for this course are creative projects that tap into a variety of artistic talents. The four student projects that follow are very different from one another, but all are inspired by works of literature, recorded or oral, from traditional Korea, and by the sentiments kindled by those works.

Heejin Kim’s “Stepping-Stone” was inspired by a shijo by an Early Chosŏn master of the form, Chŏng Ch’ŏl, as she explains in a commentary that locates her poem in Korea’s drinking culture.
“Stepping-Stone” by Heejin Kim
 
Minju Shin, a composition major, has penned a ballad to accompany one of the exquisite love songs that survive from Koryŏ times (918-1392).
Ballad Composed by Minju Shin (Lyrics)

 
In “Outside” Elaine Ham has combined her own artwork with a variety of images that contextualize two often cited Korean emotional responses—those of hŭng (excitement; defined by translator and poet Kevin O’Rourke as the feeling one gets from the tug of a fish on your fishing line) and han, a combination of regret, sorrow, bitterness, and chagrin.
“Outside” by Elaine Yeeun Ham
 
Christine Lee’s “The Tale of ‘Shim Ch’ŏng’” has as its subject the female exemplar of filial piety. Her tale has been retold countless times in a variety of genres. Here Shim Ch’ŏng is dumped Terminator-like into the past, along with her gambler father, but everyone ends up living happily ever after!
“The Tale of ‘Shim Ch’ŏng” by Christine Lee