Intoduction Blog

Hello fellow bloggers, film watchers and students of culture. We are embarking on a journey of a man whose life is thousands of miles away although his impact is right before our faces. We will be studying some of the films, articles and interviews of the South Korean writer/director Chan Wook Park and analyze the impact that his works have had on the film international film industry. Through careful critique we will delve into the intricacies of Mr. Parks’ films and the importance they have in understanding the South Korean culture. The films we will be watching include the following:

We decided as a group to watch three movies together that are part of a trilogy. Vengeance Trilogy:
1. Boksuneun naui geot, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002)
2. Oldeuboi, OLDBOY (2003)
3. Chinjeolhan geumjassi, Lady Vengeance (2005)

The fellowing people will watch one other movie:
1. Bakjwi, Thirst (2009) – Angie
2. Sam gang yi, Three Extremes (Segment “cut”) (2004) – Dishon
3. Simpan, Judgment (1999)- Brynt
4. Gongdong gyeongbi guyeok, Joint Security Area (1992)- Nicole
5. Saibogujiman kwenchana, I’m a Cyborg, but That’s OK! (2006)- Ben

Sylvia will be in charge of posting and organizing the group over all preformance.

We will also analyze several articles/ interviews over the course of the next few weeks in order to gain a more comprehensive understanding of Mr. Parks’ work. A beginning list:
1. Interview during the Edinburgh International Film Festival by Neil Young on: OLDBOY.
http://www.jigsawlounge.co.uk/film/parkchanwookinterview.html

2. Interview by a Damon Smith of “Bright Lights Journal” on: “Acts of Revenge: Lady Vengeance and more.”
http://www.brightlightsfilm.com/53/parkiv.php

3. An interview by Asia Pacific Arts staff Ada Tseng on: “Thirst”.
http://www.asiaarts.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=111331

Through the use of these and other pertinent resources we will explore the work of Chan Wook Park in an effort to more clearly understand the relevance of his work to an international collegiate audience. The world is a classroom in which we are all students, cinema is a means of education; let’s begin learning shall we?