A Neutral Ideology of De-Modernists

Abstract

Written as a response to Seo Seongrok’s criticism of Minjung misul and its theory of social realism, this article warns of the danger of postmodernism from the West, especially its call for deconstruction of subject and its denial of social totality. The author believes that such attitudes can result in anarchism, extreme individualism, and even nihilism. The author defends social realism by arguing that questions of forms, styles, and art medium remain secondary to the grand principle of the independent development of national art for the Minjung misul (people’s art) movement.

Keywords:

• Korea
• contemporary art
• postmodernism
• postmodernist theory
• Minjung misul
• People’s art movement
• Pop art
• Post-Painterly abstraction
• Korean Avant-Garde Association
• ST Group

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Shim Kwang-Hyun

Translated from Korean by Namin Kim

Originally published as “Talmodeonjuuijaui jungseongjeong ideollogi” in Wolganmisool (November 1989): 59–62.