This lecture focuses on Kyungsook Shin’s novel The Girl Who Wrote Loneliness, which tells the story of rural girls leaving their homes to work in Seoul’s Guro Industrial Complex. The lecture explores why these girls left their homes for Seoul, their experiences in the city, and how they dealt with discrimination. It also considers their perspective on Korea’s modern history (1970s-1980s) as factory workers.
Modern Society
Meanings of Counter-economy, Counter-caring, Counter-education, etc. in Modern Society
In “counter economy,” “counter-culture,” and “counter education,” the term “counter” means opposition or resistance. In modern society, where mobility technology has advanced, people enjoy material abundance, forsaking traditional communities’ cooperation, sharing, inclusivity, and hospitality. This lecture explains modern society based on the theories that analyse society, focusing on the “functional system.” Furthermore, it explores why “counter” is necessary for each functional system, such as education, economy, politics, culture, and arts. Additionally, it emphasises the importance of community movements as a counter and a complement.