[A Sip of Books] 'Cultura' March Issue... Theme is 'Culture President'

Some sentences encapsulate the entire content of the book itself, while others instantly reach the reader's heart, creating a point of connection with the book. Here, we excerpt and introduce such meaningful sentences from the book. - Editor's note

This book deals with the theme of the ‘Cultural President,’ who presented visions and hopes for life through popular culture. Music critic Im Jin-mo analyzes the process by which the legendary icon of Korean popular music, singer Seo Taiji, came to be dubbed the ‘Cultural President.’ Columnist Han Jeong-won highlights world-renowned prima donna Jo Sumi, regarded as ‘the most influential cultural artist moving Korea.’ Reporter Ahn Jin-yong mentions the soft yet powerful presence of ‘Entertainment President’ Yoo Jae-seok, who makes participants comfortable through horizontal leadership. Critic Jeon Cheol-hee discusses the animation character Pororo, who became the president not only of elementary school students but also of ‘those who know how to play.’ Film critic Song Seok-ju offers a fresh interpretation by examining the cinematic and socio-cultural significance of ‘Kingmaker.’

The X generation who supported Seo Taiji knew how to forge a cycle of offsetting disparities between culture and politics, economy, and society. For example, in the workplace, they prefer colleagues who love music and talk about movies rather than ‘sharp’ executives skilled in reports or professional managers. This is because they belong to the Seo Taiji generation, the cultural generation. They guided us into an era and world where nothing works without culture. One term that compresses all of this is ‘Cultural President.’ While it might suffice to mean a cultural president from the cultural sector, it also implies a fervent wish that presidents from the political and social sectors be cultural or culturally presidential. - From ‘Seo Taiji, the Meaning of the Cultural President’ (Music Critic Im Jin-mo),

Long ago, her fame, while active in Italy, the birthplace of opera, was transmitted back to Korea. At that time, she almost exclusively took on the role of the ‘Queen of the Night’ in Mozart’s opera The Magic Flute, Act 2. The two arias sung by the ‘Queen of the Night’ are songs that every soprano wants to challenge at least once, to sing properly at least once, but they require highly difficult techniques that not just anyone can perform. Despite having a more delicate physique compared to Westerners, she always dominated the stage with her fiery high notes and clear, brilliant coloratura voice. The ‘Queen of the Night’ sung with authentic bel canto technique is undoubtedly at the forefront of such overwhelming moments. The great conductor Karajan praised her voice as ‘a voice bestowed by God,’ and Zubin Mehta also lavishly praised it as ‘a voice that might appear once in a century.’ - From ‘The Twenty-Three-Year-Old Prima Donna, Jo Sumi’ (Classical Columnist Han Jeong-won),

‘Pororo’ consciously focuses not on providing a complete narrative impression but on depicting characters joyfully playing, dancing, and singing. This is likely why ‘Pororo’ enjoys explosive popularity only among children. Today’s parents raise their children with great care. Thus, most children enjoy free play at home, receiving love and care. However, they start social life upon entering kindergarten and plunge into infinite competition after entering elementary school. As the masterminds behind the Squid Game say, ‘pure play’ is impossible for modern people living in a complex society. Of course, there can be adults who immerse themselves only in their own play when life is hard, and adults who decide to live playing moderately, giving up worldly success. However, these adults consciously or unconsciously choose such a life; they do not play mindlessly like innocent children. This is why the characters of ‘Pororo,’ who engage in endless play with a blank mind, can only resonate and entertain children who have not yet been socialized. - From ‘The President of Those Who Know How to Play - "Porong Porong Pororo"’ (Literary Critic Jeon Cheol-hee),

‘Cultura’ Issue No. 93 (March 2022) | ‘Cultura’ Editorial Team | Writers | 144 pages | 12,000 KRW