This study focuses on two Korean and Vietnamese popular songs, Hongryeon and Thi Mau, to examine the ways in which characters from classical literature are newly interpreted in modern times. The purpose of this study is to identify the ways in which c...
This study focuses on two Korean and Vietnamese popular songs, Hongryeon and Thi Mau, to examine the ways in which characters from classical literature are newly interpreted in modern times. The purpose of this study is to identify the ways in which characters in classical literature, which have been perceived as typical, have been given a 'new voice' through changes in time and media, and to explore their meaning. This is a work that reminds us of the full vitality of the classics by examining the ways in which contemporary cultural contents utilize them.
Released in 2023, Hongryeon and Thi Mau use characters representing the epitome of good and evil in Quan Am Thi Kinh Ting and Janghwa Hongryeon-jeon as narrators, allowing them to meet modern audiences with new voices. As a result, the good man who was unjustly killed by the evil man can now shout 'revenge' in a voice full of despair and expectation. In addition, the wicked man who seduced the good man and eventually led him to his death can actively affirm his desire with a lively voice. In the modern era, the newly created Hongryeon and Thi Mau break away from the stereotype of good and evil and subvert that archetype through the narrator's voice. Furthermore, the new voice extends to the '-s', allowing modern audiences to recognize the Hongryeon and Thi Mau in a new way. This can be seen as a proliferation of non-stereotypical voices in response to new times and new needs.