Leiden University Student Repository

Giesbers, Lotte (2024)

Kisaeng through the camera lens: the Free, the Chaste, and the Vulgar: The representation of kisaeng in contemporary Korean film

Bachelor thesis | Koreastudies (BA)

This thesis examines the representation of kisaeng in contemporary Korean film. It focuses on the cultural significance of their image and takes a feminist approach. The narratives of feminism, modernism, nationalism, and traditionalism, which originate from the colonial period and that kisaeng came to be an icon for, are described. Then in the analysis, the films Hwang Jin Yi (2007) and The Treacherous (2015) are checked for the presence of these narratives as well as the depiction of the kisaeng institution. The analysis is conducted utilizing Social Semiotics and MCDA for visual analysis, and also Discourse Analysis. The observational data showed a pattern of the narratives being very present in the films as well as an inaccurate depiction of the kisaeng institution.

Kisaeng, film, visual analysis, discourse analysis, representation

Author

Giesbers, Lotte

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

History, Film, Feminism

Supervisors

Dr. K. de Ceuster

ECTS Credits

10

Language

en