Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jdog2050]

So I"m teaching Huck Finn to some students. I get to the part with the Colonel and the lynch mob, and, despite myself, I got...holy crap, this is totally Korea.

I mean, the timelessness of Huck Finn is that Twain is essentially ripping apart the nationalism and cowardice that made slavery possible. But it's those topics of nationalism that really struck a cord with me. The way how, in the South, a person could be simutaneously cordial and hypocritical, and be utterly ignorant but still "alright if they're white", reminds me of the hyper nationalism that is pervasive here right now.

Anyone see a parallel? Am I off the mark?

Also, if anyone else has read a book that made them think of Korea even though it wasn't at all about the country, post thoughts on that too, positive or negative thoughts.

[jdog2050]

bump, posted this too late at night

[Unposter]

The characters in Huck Finn are uniquely American (19th century). The personality and experiences of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer are a key aspect of the book. Huck Finn's relationship with his deadbeat, alcoholic father and Huck's feelings that he can just float through and make a living as long as their is a frontier are important. Tom Sawyer's big dreams and hucksterism are also important. Tom and Huck's unconcern for the reward money are also interesting points.

But in terms of a culture of racism and slavery as Mark Twain was also addressing about the South in the U.S., compared to Korea...I don't know. Huck is not racist on an individual level. He runs around with Jim. But, on a cultural level he still agrees with the institutions and wants to obey the laws. He seriously considers turning Jim in. This individual/cultural dynamic maybe more real and more universal than we realize. For many of us (Koreans too) we meet someone of another "race" or culture, and we often (not always) react to the individual. But, in terms of politics and law, abstract concepts where we do not see the individuals effected, there can be some more negative reactions.

I think you could draw some conclusions from Huck Finn but only to the extent that nationalism, racism, and interpersonal relations transcend time, borders and culture.

IMO, one of the problems with Korean nationalism is that Korea is a relatively isolated country. It has a closed border with North Korea and as a peninsula it does not border any other countries. While historically, Korea shared much with China, Siberia and Japan, today Korea is fairly linguistically and culturally isolated. Yes, there is tv, movies and the internet but penetration is limited by real linguisitic and cultural limitations of understanding. This brings out and protects many of the negative aspects of Nationalism.

Did you know before the democratic election of Kim Youngsam, Koreans could not leave Korea freely. They had to apply to the goverment and they could only leave for specific purposes. You could not honeymoon in the Maldives even if you had the money. These types of linguistic and cultural limitations greatly effect the older generation.

For the younger generation, this is all just "Borring!!!...with a capital B" as they think nothing of running off somewhere. With the eclipse of the older generation, Korea will change greatly!

[beachbumNC]

Are you working for a university? How in the WORLD are you getting them to read a whole novel in English?