Tizzard to give talk on Korean cinema

A poster for David Tizzard's upcoming talk on 21st-century Korean cinema / Courtesy of RAS Korea

When David Tizzard first encountered Korean cinema, he found it hard to understand.

"Climaxes would hit like a punch to the face, heroes would fail and stories would end unresolved. Things simply didn’t make sense," he said.

Over time, however, he realized these films reflect deeper truths about Korean culture, social norms and morality, truths that textbooks or academic seminars didn’t always make immediately obvious.

"Why does Park Chan-wook’s 'Decision to Leave' end the way it does? What does Lee Chang-dong’s 'Burning' reveal about modern society and the crushing existential anxieties of young adults? Why do I still wake up at night gripped by the terror of Na Hong-jin’s 'The Wailing'? And how does Yoon Je-kyoon’s 'Ode to My Father' still make me emotional, despite having watched it dozens and dozens of times?" questioned Tizzard, a professor at Seoul Women’s University and Hanyang University, a podcaster and a Korea Times columnist.

"There was a language running through these movies, subtle and unconscious, yet that made perfect sense to the directors and the audience. By engaging with these stories and situating them within their cultural and political contexts, I began to see Korea in a new light. Cinema became more than entertainment: it became a lens for understanding society, history and human emotion."

Tizzard will share his journey, introduce some of his favorite films, directors and actors, and provide insight into the cultural backdrop of Korean cinema in an upcoming talk.

The lecture starts at 7:20 p.m. on Oct. 28, in the basement of the Seoul Public Activities Center near Exit 8 of Samgakji Station on Seoul Metro lines 4 and 6. Entry costs 10,000 won, or 5,000 won with valid student ID. Members of Royal Asiatic Society Korea receive free admission. Visit raskb.com for more information.