In 1930's, capitalism gradually became established in Chosun. As Chosun's economy was incorporated into the global capitalistic system, the domestic economy became dependent on the international market. During this time, Kyeong-Seong was transformed i...
In 1930's, capitalism gradually became established in Chosun. As Chosun's economy was incorporated into the global capitalistic system, the domestic economy became dependent on the international market. During this time, Kyeong-Seong was transformed into a capitalistic city. Various forms of modern facilities appeared, while urban consumerism constituted the city life. Thus, the everyday life in Kyeong-Seong demanded the acceptance of modern culture in order to adapt to the changing environment. Inside the city, people experienced modern civilization and urban consuming life, and came to adjust their form of living and their viewpoint of the world.
This thesis examines the advertisement and text that appears in the newspapers, magazines, and other journalistic material of the thirties in order to determine how the commercials, romance, hobby or entertainment, and the newly discovered "pastoral" influenced the contemporary life and mind. Also, we intend to reveal how these factors took form in the contemporary literature.
The contemporary Korean writers were inevitably surrounded by the popular and urban sensibility mentioned above. Even though unconsciously, or sometimes through negative criticism, this sensibility was included in their text. Even the nature that was considered to be a replacement of the desolate and inhuman city life was in fact a filtered form of nature - an image constructed by the popular culture and advertisements. Also, the romance described by the sensitive authors often took the form of a consumer love. Meanwhile, judging from the penetration of commercial statements which appears in several works, there was a growing desire to consume the image. Along with the newly adapted hobbies and leisure culture, the Korean life style went through a significant change, and so did the content of the contemporary novels.
The urban sensibility formed in Kyeong-seong during the nineteen thirties can be defined as the common popular sensibility attained by people living in a capitalistic consuming culture. It is attitude of setting the commercial image as a model of life, and is the search of individual life in the standardized and uniform life style of the popular culture. Whether they chose to criticize it or saturate themselves in it, the contemporary writers were unavoidably related to this sensibility and life style.