Across the Korean Peninsula: Identity, Borders and Resilience

Description

North Korea and South Korea have been in the international spotlight in recent years as two very different countries with distinct societies and images. But they are both part of the same peninsula; their populations have a shared cultural heritage, and they continue to have an impact on one another today. How can we better understand the relationship between these two countries and the lives of their people? What can we learn from the resilience and challenges of those who have navigated displacement, adaptation, and identity changes across borders?

Through an examination  of memoirs, academic texts, documentaries, and personal accounts, this discussion-based history and social sciences course will seek a nuanced understanding of the Korean Peninsula’s past and present. We will begin by surveying its history from ancient to modern times, diving into topics such as colonization, war, division, political change, and globalization. This historical focus will aim to shed light on the forces that have shaped the lives of Koreans over the centuries. Next, we will focus on the often less heard voices of North Korean refugees, by reading personal accounts of their lives and experiences in the North and their journey to the South. Throughout the course, we will attempt to answer questions such as the following: How did Korea’s historical trajectory and the unresolved Korean War shape the political, social, and ideological systems that define life in South Korea today? What can the stories of marginalized people, particularly refugees, teach us about diverse lived experiences shaped by gender, class, regional origin, and the paths and stages of escape?

This course is held on Zoom. Please make sure to have the Zoom application installed before the first class. 

Required texts: 

• * Han, S., & Lartigue, C., Jr. (2022). Greenlight to freedom: A North Korean daughter’s search for her mother and herself. Freedom Speakers International.

Participants must obtain a copy of the required texts at the bookstore or library of their choice.

Details