[Lee Jong-gil's Autumn Return] The Chilling 'Shape Shifter': Our Other Faces

John B. Kachuba's 'History of Transformation'
Pennywise, Werewolves, Vampires... Characters Approaching as Transforming Beings
Inner Desires, Unfulfilled Yearning Fantasies... Always Present in Our Souls and Culture

"Georgie, do you want a boat?" Pennywise asked. "I keep asking because it seems like you really want one." Smiling, he lifted the boat, dressed in a sack-shaped silk outfit with large orange buttons. Around his neck was a stylish dark blue tie, and on his hands were large white gloves, like the ones Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck always wear.

This is a scene from Stephen King's horror novel It, where Pennywise approaches Georgie, a boy from the Losers' Club. Pennywise is not just a scary clown. He is an alien shapeshifter who came to Earth on an asteroid millions of years ago. Every 27 years, he awakens from slumber to prey on children. He enjoys seeing his victims tremble in fear and appears in the form of whatever they fear most. Mummies, lepers, ghosts, werewolves, blood spurting like a fountain from a bathroom sink, drowned boys... Children who confront what they fear face psychological challenges.

Pennywise does not appear as a frightening entity from the start. To win the children's favor, he disguises himself as a friendly clown. He seems kind, but the moment you let your guard down, he reveals his true form. People were thrilled by the terrifying developments. It became a million-seller within two weeks of publication. It was adapted into a TV series and movies, sparking the so-called "Coulrophobia" phenomenon.

The unknown unease or source of fear is primal and animalistic instinct. We all have it. It exists as temptations to break rules, desires to be free from consciousness or morality. As we develop moral awareness and social norms, we suppress and hide it.

Novelist John B. Kachuba argues in his book The History of Transformation that these aspects appear in shapeshifters. He analyzes the characteristics of beings that transform in various ways depending on the era and culture, the meanings contained therein, and introduces diverse stories filled with human infinite imagination and intimate desires.

He describes shapeshifters as follows: "They give humans the freedom to escape social constraints and moral shackles and experience life as animals do in nature. Stories of humans transforming into animals have been abundant since ancient times."

The appeal of shapeshifters is not just about fulfilling the desire to act freely or change something. It also reflects human efforts to find identity or discover an appropriate place in society. Shapeshifters appearing in popular culture are another face of us, confused and struggling.

This strange affinity even evokes the illusion that one can transform oneself into something more attractive or powerful. Perhaps that is why shapeshifters frequently appear in books and movies aimed at teenagers. It, Harry Potter, Twilight, and The Hunger Games are representative examples.

Gary Turkot, an English literature scholar and former president of Saint Mary's College in the U.S., said, "If vampires of the past were symbols of the repulsive 'other' and beings we feared becoming, in today's stories, these 'monsters' have become the 'ultimate goal' we all want to become."

Kachuba's view is similar. "Shapeshifters are not old jackets gathering dust deep in the wardrobe of mythology," he wrote. "They still exist with us today. They appear in movies, TV shows, comics, novels, video games, and are sometimes seen at horror or fantasy fan events."

Cosplay has long been established as a global culture. Many people wear costumes of their favorite characters and act like them for hours. Masquerade balls and Halloween parties are no different.

The transformation process involves inner desires, longings, and unfulfilled yearnings. Shapeshifters exist as latent powers in our souls and culture, not disappearing even after a long time. For some, they may be more than just myths.

Pennywise is no different. The terrifying fear hidden behind his false appearance is not his essence. He is excellent at drawing out the fears inside people's hearts. He tempts mentally unstable people and manipulates them according to his intentions. He grows stronger as people's fears grow, and weakens as their courage grows. Kachuba interprets it as follows.

"As a shapeshifter, Pennywise is teaching the Losers' Club kids how to face their fears, how to unite and fight against threatening groups in society, and how to understand their own nature."