김열규의 ‘욕’에 대한 미학, 그 의의와 한계* = The Aesthetics of ‘Swearing’ in Kim Yeol-gyu’s Works: Its Significance and Limitations

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The primary objective of this paper is to investigate Kim Yeol-gyu's perspective on 'swearing' and his exploration of the 'aesthetics of swearing,' a title he has chosen for his own work, amidst his various scholarly achievements. Kim Yeol-gyu views swearing as a momentary outburst that surpasses cultural and normative boundaries. This perspective emphasizes the highly emotional state that underlies swearing, highlighting that it is not a mere verbal expression but rather a burst of intense emotions. This draws attention to the 'emotions' laid bare through swearing. In essence, humans swear not only to vent their emotions but also to alleviate them, connecting this phenomenon to the concepts of restraint and release, han (deep-rooted melancholic pain), and shinmyung (excitement and exhilaration) in Korean culture. Kim Yeol-gyu's use of the term 'aesthetics of catharsis' to describe swearing aligns with this perspective. While Kim Yeol-gyu presents a diverse range of subjects as targets of swearing, he metaphorically relates them all to the human 'body'. The human body, including its sexuality and physicality (including disabilities), becomes the central focus of swearing. As it equally applies to all individuals, using the body as a metaphor in swearing becomes a potent weapon, enabling the weak to confront the powerful and revealing both momentary fear and laughter. Furthermore, Kim Yeol-gyu's depiction of the subjects and themes in swearing can also be understood through Bakhtin's concept of grotesque realism, which is an inherent characteristic of universal folk culture.