Abstract
This paper explores how public art and literary expression contribute to reframing collective memory in postcolonial contexts, focusing on Korea’s “Statue of Peace” and the poetry of Emily Jungmin Yoon. Both the statue and Yoon’s poetry engage with the complex legacies of Japanese colonization (1910-1945) of Korea, offering alternative narratives that challenge dominant historical discourses. The Statue of Peace, erected in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul, commemorates the Korean “comfort women” forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese military during World War II. This paper examines how the statue, in its highly politicized space, functions not only as a site of mourning but also as an ongoing act of resistance, shaping collective memory and challenging historical narratives that have marginalized these women’s experiences. In parallel, Emily Jungmin Yoon’s poetry provides a literary space that resonates with the themes embodied by the Statue of Peace. Through close readings, this paper explores how Yoon’s work captures the emotional and psychological dimensions of “han,” a sentiment of unresolved trauma rooted in Korean culture. Yoon’s poetry serves as a cultural critique, engaging with the historical trauma of colonization and offering a space for collective grief and resilience. By employing interdisciplinary approaches, including art history, postcolonial theory, and literary analysis, this paper demonstrates how the Statue of Peace and Yoon’s poetry function as mediums for social engagement, reshaping collective memory, and fostering a more inclusive understanding of Korea’s past.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
The Arts in Social, Political, and Community Life
KEYWORDS
POSTCOLONIALISM, COLLECTIVE MEMORY, PUBLIC ART, DECOLONIZATION, TRAUMA, CULTURAL RESISTANCE, POETRY
