Exploring the politics of beauty
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Chin Jung-kwon, a professor at Dongyang University, speaks at a news conference in Seoul earlier this week on the renewed edition of his bestselling art book series, “Aesthetics Odyssey.” / Courtesy of Humanist Books
By Baek Byung-yeul
Chin Jung-kwon describes himself as an educator, culture critic and author of some wellknown books. However, it’s his snarky, left-leaning political commentary that made him a god on Internet message boards and Twitter.
So despite his status as a transcendent personality, he will struggle to attract the interests of journalists if he refuses to take questions related to politics. There were barely 10 reporters at Chin’s recent news conference on the renewed edition of his three-book series, ``Aesthetics Odyssey,’’ their colleagues repelled after being told that the event would be entirely about the book.
That’s a shame because, 20 years after its first publishing, “Aesthetics Odyssey” continues to be a must-read for its intelligent discussions on art and how it resonates with the broader culture and society. It’s a brilliant display of Chin’s talent to deliver a sophisticated argument with easy prose.
The book has so far sold over 800,000 copies, a stunning number for a liberal arts work in a market dominated by highly marketed self-help books.
At the news conference, Chin, who now lectures at Dongyang University, said that he didn’t make dramatic changes to the new edition of “Aesthetics Odyssey,” which explores the evolution of the concept of beauty in Western art.
He did rewrite the preface of the book to include his impressions of the changes in art trends that took place since the book was first published. A new foreword by Yoo Hong-joon, former director of the Cultural Heritage Administration and best-selling author of the travelogue series, "My Surveys of Cultural Heritage,’’ was newly included as well.
"I can’t believe it has already been 20 years,’’ Chin said.
"When the book turned 10 in 2004, I tried to rewrite several parts, but I really couldn’t employ dramatic changes without disrupting the structure and continuity between the three books.’’
Chin said that he originally wrote the book out of necessity. He was then studying aesthetics and philosophy of art at the Free University of Berlin and needed extra money to finance plane tickets between there and Korea.
Of course, that was before Chin became the public figure he is now, gaining fame for his spectacular takedowns of conservative politicians and artists like Shim Hyung-rae, whose 3D movie “D-War” remains one of humanity’s worst cinematic works.
"When I was writing this book in 1993, I thought it would be fun to convey to readers what the essence of aesthetics really is. But reading the book now, I think there are some details where my thought on the subjects have changed, although I kept them intact,’’ he said with a laugh.
"I think I have a clearer idea of those subjects then I did then. But I think the paucity of conviction helps in some way when you’re trying to write a book that is meant to be fun to read.’’
Chin observed that the public’s concept of "aesthetics’’ is changing as the digital age progresses.
"It remains as a study about beauty and art, and the tradition that links them. However, there is broader meaning now, considering the dramatic changes in the way what is consumed as art and how people approached it,’’ Chin said.
"The people in ancient Greece talked endlessly about constructing their lives aesthetically. In the digital age, the challenge becomes more complex.’’
Chin did seem to worry whether the popularity of his books will extend to the next generation of readers. Talking about Korea’s skidding book consumption, Shin lamented a culture that marginalizes "difficult books.’’
Chin also blamed publication companies who have failed to “provide intellectual stimulus for their readers.”