The appropriation of the zombie figure in Korean cinema
Coppola, Antoine
The appropriation of the zombie figure in Korean cinema - 2021.
79
The acclimatization of the zombie figure in South Korean cinema initially faced resistance from the traditional horror imaginary. However, since the 2010s, zombies have gradually established themselves with successful films that have reached a wide audience (Train to Busan, Peninsula). Nevertheless, the Koreanization of the zombie is not without an impact: by reproducing the shift, already made in the West, from the transcendental zombie (linked to the spirits of metaphysics) to the immanent zombie (corporealized and “naturalized”) that can be used as a metaphor in the service of a social critique (social divisions, industrial and communicational alienations), a paradigm shift of the Korean imaginary is emerging. The family, a particular focus in these films, and its traditional sacralization are particularly affected. Beyond its subversive character at the socio-political level, the Korean zombie, in its new form, after going through a hybrid form with the traditional ghost, signals a post-human futuristic being, derived from humans but without humanity.
The appropriation of the zombie figure in Korean cinema - 2021.
79
The acclimatization of the zombie figure in South Korean cinema initially faced resistance from the traditional horror imaginary. However, since the 2010s, zombies have gradually established themselves with successful films that have reached a wide audience (Train to Busan, Peninsula). Nevertheless, the Koreanization of the zombie is not without an impact: by reproducing the shift, already made in the West, from the transcendental zombie (linked to the spirits of metaphysics) to the immanent zombie (corporealized and “naturalized”) that can be used as a metaphor in the service of a social critique (social divisions, industrial and communicational alienations), a paradigm shift of the Korean imaginary is emerging. The family, a particular focus in these films, and its traditional sacralization are particularly affected. Beyond its subversive character at the socio-political level, the Korean zombie, in its new form, after going through a hybrid form with the traditional ghost, signals a post-human futuristic being, derived from humans but without humanity.
Réseaux sociaux