Carefully selected and represented, the plays in this collection showcase both the fantastic and the realistic innovations of Korean dramatists during a time of rapid social and historical change. Stretching from 1962 to 2004, these seven works tackle major subjects, such as the close of the Choson dynasty and the aftermath of the Korean War, while delving into trenchant cultural issues, such as the marginalization of students who rebel against mainstream education and the role of traditional values in a materialistic society. Longtime scholar of Korea and its vibrant, politically acute theater, Richard Nichols opens with a general overview of modern Korean drama since 1910 and concludes with an appendix describing theater production and audience attendance in Seoul. He chooses works that aren't just for Korean audiences. These texts confront universal themes and situations, tackling the problem of ambition, the trouble with fidelity, and the complexity of sexual and interpersonal relationships. Nichols situates each work critically, historically, and culturally, including brief biographies of playwrights and extensive notes. A bibliography also provides alternative readings and the titles of additional plays currently available in English. Primed for production, these skillful translations provide Western directors with exciting new material for the stage. At the same time, they offer students and scholars a sophisticated survey of the modern Korean dramatic tradition.

This book, the third volume in the K-Culture series intended to promote contemporary Korean culture overseas, introduces foreign audiences to Korean dramas. K-Drama and Hallyu K-Drama: The Beginning of Hallyu K-Drama Reaches into Asia and Beyond Why K-Drama? The Appeal of K-Drama Foreign Media Respond to K-Drama History of K-Drama 1960s: The Age of Enlightenment 1970s: Entering the Era of True Entertainment 1980s: Portraits of a Modern Korea 1990s: More Ideas, Better Results 2000s to the Present: K-Drama Goes Global Top K-Dramas and Stars Top 10 K-Dramas Top K-Drama Stars From Little Acorns

Korean dramas gained popularity across Asia in the late 1990s, and their global fandom continues to grow. Despite cultural differences, non-Asian audiences find "K-dramas" appealing. They range from historical melodrama and romantic comedy to action, horror, sci-fi and thriller. Devotees pursue an immersive fandom, consuming Korean food, fashion and music, learning Korean to better understand their favorite shows, and travelling to Korea for firsthand experiences. This collection of new essays focuses on the cultural impact of K-drama and its fandom, and on the transformation of identities in the context of regional and global dynamics. Contributors discuss such popular series as Boys over Flowers, My Love from the Star and Descendants of the Sun.

From 1910 to 1945, Japan occupied Korea and controlled every aspect of the Korean life. This book presents three plays by two prominent Korean writers who ventured to voice anti-Japanese sentiments in their plays despite the harsh censorship of the time.

The history of Korea in the twentieth century has been a grim succession of oppressions, humiliations, and betrayals. Yet through it all, modern Korean writers have been able not only to find their own distinctive voices but to forge a national literature that speaks eloquently of the survival of the human spirit in times of crisis. This anthology includes the finest translations available of representative works in all the major genres, including poetry, fiction, essays, and drama. Readers will gain a clear sense of the development of twentieth-century Korean literature and a vivid impression of the resilience, strength, and tenacity of modern Korean writers.

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Commentary (stories not included). Pages: 32. Chapters: The Santaroga Barrier, The Lathe of Heaven, The Colour Out of Space, Spacehounds of IPC, Trullion: Alastor 2262, The Skylark of Space, Triplanetary, The Second Trip, Armageddon 2419 A.D., The Master Mind of Mars, Skylark Three, I, Robot, Breakfast at Twilight, After 12,000 Years, Tarzan and the Foreign Legion, Anniversary, The Planet Savers, Llana of Gathol, Savage Pellucidar, The Sunken World, The Crime and the Glory of Commander Suzdal, The Weapon Too Dreadful to Use, Marooned Off Vesta, Gateway to Strangeness, What is This Thing Called Love?, Robot AL-76 Goes Astray, Time Enough, The Builder, One Million Tomorrows, Satisfaction Guaranteed, The Return of Tharn, The Crystal Horde, The Hidden Universe, The Days of Perky Pat, Sshhh ..., Billennium, Islands of Space, The Bridge of Light, Seeds of Life, Birth of a Notion, The Ship Who Searched, Project Nightmare, Encounter in the Dawn, Divided We Fall, Uphill Climb, Whatll We Do with Ragland Park'. Excerpt: The Lathe of Heaven is a 1971 science fiction novel by Ursula K. Le Guin. The plot revolves around a character whose dreams alter reality. The story was first serialized in the American science fiction magazine Amazing Stories. The novel received nominations for the 1972 Hugo and the 1971 Nebula Award, and won the Locus Award for Best Novel in 1972. Two television film adaptations have been released: the acclaimed PBS production, The Lathe of Heaven (1980); and Lathe of Heaven (2002), a remake produced by the A&E Network. The title is taken from the writings of Chuang Tzu - specifically a passage from Book XXIII, paragraph 7, quoted as an epigraph to Chapter 3 of the novel: To let understanding stop at what cannot be understood is a high attainment. Those who cannot do it will be destroyed on the lathe of heaven. ( ...

"Just a few decades ago, the Koreans were an impoverished, agricultural people. In one generation they moved from the fields to Silicon Valley. The nature and values of the Korean people provide the background for a more detailed examination of the complex history of the country, in particular its division and its emergence as an economic superpower. Who are these people? And where does their future lie?"--