This course explores the contemporary politics of Korea through academic sources and films. Students will discover how the tumultuous history of modern Korea has contributed to the present political conditions in the two Koreas. The course will focus on issues surrounding major political events in both South and North Korea, including Japanese colonialism, Japan-Korea relations, Korean War, military dictatorships, economic development, democratization, neoliberalism, inter-Korean relations, and US-Korea relations. Films and documentaries spanning from the 1990s to the present will highlight these political issues and events through the eyes of Korean filmmakers. The course will explore how films problematize political issues and how a film¿s storytelling compares to actual history and scholarship on Korea. |