In Literature
The Gwangju Massacre has also influenced various literary works. Parallels can be seen between the Gwangju Massacre that occurred and events described in the novel and poetic anthology Dance Dance Revolution by Cathy Park Hong. The novel, set in the future, refers back to a revolution, which occurred in Korea many years prior. In her novel, Hong describes a utopia known as the Desert, which is shattered by an uprising and an unrest, which forever changes the city. One of the main characters, referred to as the Guide, is said to have led the uprising, encouraging civilians to revolt via her broadcasting over the radio. Troops soon attack the city, trying to restore order as the uprising spread, destroying public buildings as well as schools, and disrupting the calm of the city, much like what was described with the Gwangju massacre. The novel describes students being attacked as the Guide continues to insight an uprising. Throughout the novel various references are made to Western cultures, as well as democracy, which ties in strongly to the democratic movement made in Gwangju. The Desert is described as a rebuilt oasis for tourists, with the pain of the city masked by hotels and various attractions, much like Geumnamno.
Read more about this topic: Gwangju Democratization Movement
Famous quotes containing the word literature:
“Views of women, on one side, as inwardly directed toward home and family and notions of men, on the other, as outwardly striving toward fame and fortune have resounded throughout literature and in the texts of history, biology, and psychology until they seem uncontestable. Such dichotomous views defy the complexities of individuals and stifle the potential for people to reveal different dimensions of themselves in various settings.”
—Sara Lawrence Lightfoot (20th century)
“The literature of the poor, the feelings of the child, the philosophy of the street, the meaning of household life, are the topics of the time. It is a great stride. It is a sign,—is it not? of new vigor, when the extremities are made active, when currents of warm life run into the hands and the feet.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)