This study explores how the official memory of Seoul Olympic is socially constructed. The Seoul Olympic Museum is chosen as the object because it represents and integrates the official memory of the event. At first, this study considers social constru...
This study explores how the official memory of Seoul Olympic is socially constructed. The Seoul Olympic Museum is chosen as the object because it represents and integrates the official memory of the event. At first, this study considers social construction of memory and cultural representation of memory and monuments, and foundation process of the Seoul Olympic Museum. After that, exhibition, the way of exhibition, flow of exhibition, the equipment of the museum are analyzed using social-semiotic method. As a result, they imply adversarial values titled Soviet Union and Eastern Europe vs. United States, harmony and peace vs. conflict and dispute, security vs North Korea, voluntarity vs. mobilization. And they boil down to justify the dominant ideology such as nationalism, developmentalism, and economic omnipotence. Absence of various memories which are not represented exist, which means that olympic memory is singular rather than plural and dissemble. Furthermore, those official memory is reproduced and passed down to the next generation through memorial ritual held every year, and education to the youth as a commemoration business at the museum. By examining official construction of Seoul Olympic memory, we may better the process of discursive (re)production of memories, that of the construction and distribution means of national ideology.