CFP: “Political Popular” Conference, UC Irvine

Call for Papers
‘Political Popular: Intersection of Democracy and Popular/Public Culture in South Korea’ Conference
University of California, Irvine
September 20-22, 2012

Proposals may address (but are not limited to) the following topics:

  • Critical analysis of Korean popular culture ranging from music, theater, film, television, manhwa, etc. Post-1980s literature and poetry beyond ‘autonomous literature’ (sunsu munhak 순수문학) vs ‘engaged literature’ (ch’amyô munhak 참여문학)
  • Aesthetic negotiations in minjung visual culture and “post-minjung” art production
  • Protest culture (both on-line and off-line)
  • New political media such as SNS activism, Nakkomsu, and internet blogging
  • Cinema, music, television at the age of blockbuster, super-talent agency, and neoliberalism
  • New youth culture, consumerism, and urban space

Held concurrently with a film series that highlight both fiction and documentary independent production in South Korea and an art exhibition that showcases the visual culture of South Korea’s democratization over the past three decades (1980s to the first decade of the 2000s), we invite proposals for unpublished, original individual papers (pre-constituted panels may also be given consideration). All presenters of selected papers will have their travel, hotel, and meal expenses remunerated by the organizing committee. A brief bio and a 500-word abstract should be submitted electronically to Kyung Hyun Kim (kyunghk@uci.edu) no later than April 15, 2012. Conference will be held on September 20-22, 2012 at UC Irvine campus. This event is co-sponsored by Academy of Korean Studies.