Catching Up

June 25^th, 2011

We went to the studio but really had nothing to do except talk a bit and take some commemorative photos.  In the afternoon I went to 송파산대놀이 Songpa Sandae Noli it was only 함Sr. and 함 Jr. who showed up (it was raining cats and dogs). However, it was still good, esp. because FINALLY I got Ham Wanshik (Sr.) to give me a nice long interview.

June 26^th, 2011

On Sunday after lots of computer time Karjam and I roamed the city with a video camera.

June 27^th, 2011

I did a lot of work on the computer and reading.

June 28^th, 2011

I went to Dankook University this morning and dropped off my reader pages.

I did some work on the computer and in the evening went to a dance performance because 박연식 and 손병만 were in one of the groups. To tell the truth I had not been looking forward to the performance. It was a big omnibus performance with four different teachers, 한혜경, 김은희, 진유림 and 이정희. I have seen one of them do a big show before and it was quite a waste of time, but this time the other three were okay, pretty good, and really good, so it was not a bad show overall.  The really good was 이정희, who was also the teacher and leader of the performance that Son Byeongman and Bak Yeonshik were in (each teacher did two performances, one solo and one group).

But what made the show for me was that I had the best seats I've ever had. Which is a bit of a story. Yeonshik had asked me (three times) how many (free) tickets I needed, and I'd told him two. I was a little chagrined when Karjam decided not to go, but he's been to a lot of Korean dance performances, and some haven't been so good, so I understood. I didn't have time for dinner, so I quickly found a 삼각김밥 when I got off the bus and ate it as a I walked to the hall. I got in about 10 minutes before the show. And Yeonshik had not gotten my ticket to the counter and processed, which meant that –after- I met up with him (you should have seen the make-up he had on! And the fake eyelashes so long they must have tickled his eyebrows.) I had to try to redeem a 초대권 invitation ticket for a real ticket, but the show was sold out… so no chance of that, except a bunch of people were mobbing the desk trying to be let in to sit on the floor in the aisles. I couldn't handle pushing, and was standing back and suddenly a woman I know from 봉천놀이마당 Bongcheon Noli Madang but had only met once ran over (everyone was already entering the theatre, since it was now 2 minutes to showtime) and asked if I was alone and gave me a ticket. It was a 30,000 won ticket in the center section 3 rows back from the stage!!! And she refused to take any money for it.

I would have stayed very happy if only after the show it hadn't been raining (and I had no umbrella) so I jumped on the first bus that came, but it was heading the opposite direction of what I thought and I ended up taking the LONG LONG LONG way home. 

Sangmo and a Performance at KOUS

April 19^th, 2011

We took care of some odds and ends including getting mom's business cards printed. In the evening mom went with me to 상모 sangmo practice. It was an unusual class because 이종휘 Yi Jonghui was out of town for a performance, so it was just 현석 Hyeonseok and me. Except when I arrived 은정 (도령) Eunjeong and 승민 Seungmin were there, along with a guy I don't know and a woman whose named I've never learned, though I've seen her a lot. A little later 유미 Yumi showed up, too. It was really good to see them. The reason they were there was to practice for the 계전연 Gaejeonyeon spring performance that will be held on the 30^th. Seungmin praised my improved sangmo, pointing out just how many people quit long before they get to the point I'm at.

Hyeonseok and I practiced more or less as we'd normally do with Jonghui there—moving through a logical series of motions, I didn’t do anything new, but I got a chance to practice until I was sweating.  

April 20^th, 2011

Karjam and mom went to the National Museum, I stayed home and worked on my computer. After making a nice dinner we all went to KOUS to see a performance.

The performance, another in the current dance series, was particularly attractive because 이윤석 Yi Yunseok, National Human Treasure for Goseong Ogwangdae, was performing 덧배기춤. It was a day when I knew half the audience, the entire regular crew from 봉천놀이마당 Bongcheon Noli Madang (about 10 people), plus 10 of the K-Arts students, plus 김성범 Kim Seongbeom and 허창열 Heo Changyeol as well as (performing a special 꽹과리 ggwaenggwari part during Yi's performance), 고석진 Go Seokjin. I had permission to take photos during Yi's piece (as long as I didn't take too many).

The entire performance was really amazingly good, one of the best I've seen and our front row (literally front row) seats were great for seeing every detail. Unfortunately mom (who always has a hard time sitting still during concerts and such) was falling asleep almost the entire show. That sort of distracted me because I need to feel the energy of the performance but I kept being worried that mom was missing out (and I took her so she could appreciate it, not take a nap). It was a great show, although I got a little pissed when we had to hear the announcing schtick stupid un-funny jokes. The 태평무 taepyeongmu by 강삼숙 was awesome, one of the best I've seen. And 이철진's 승무 seungmu was the best I've ever seen except for 정재만 Jeong Jaeman (who we're seeing next week!). 황지인's 입춤 ipchum  was really good. The 소고춤 sogochum by 임은주 from 봉산탈춤 Bongsan Talchum (she's an이수자 isuja) was exuberant, very fast-paced and fun but somehow I'd been expecting something more. 김선정's 살풀이 salpuri was disappointing, I've seen the dance too many times and it has to be done really well to wow me. There was no special flavor to it. Next was Yi Yunseok's performance, but he was exhausted from the performing trip to Malaysia and it showed. We all screamed really loudly but for someone who didn't know him and have a connection I wonder how it would have seen. I was really pissed when 진옥섭 Jin Okseop came out after his performance and said "I think he forgot the last half of the dance and just repeated the first half." You don't say that, even if it might be true! Next was 양길순's 도살풀이 do salpuri. Karjam and I saw her last year and thought she was great, this time I wasn't quite as impressed. Last was 문근성 who performed 설장구 seoljanggu (dancing with the janggu drum) very very very well. It was a great end to the show.

After the show I talked with Go Seokjin, Changyeol, Yi Yunseok, some of the Bongcheon Noli Madang people and the kids. Finally the performers left and we bowed their van away before dispersing. 

Ta-ak Project at KOUS

December 29th, 2010
Wednesday was less insanely snowy/icy and cold than the day before, but I didn't do a whole lot since it's my normal day off, except we went to watch "The Next Three Days" in the movie theatre. Solid movie. I wanted to watch "Tron: Legacy" but couldn't convince Karjam—at least his choice was good.


December 30th, 2010
I had my rescheduled 상모 sangmo class from two p.m. until almost four. 이종휘 Yi Jonghui was awake all night driving back from snowboarding so he was a bit tired, but class was good. We have a new member, 광호 Gwangho, who has already learned more than I have (but not as much as 현석 Hyeonseok). Class went pretty well, and Jonghui and I talked a lot about his performance (he was embarrassed with some mistakes that were hardly noticeable) and we discussed general arts politics. I need to formally interview him, however. Hopefully I'll be able to do a week of sangmo class the same week he'll be teaching at 필봉 Pilbong.




I went home and made a quick dinner, Karjam was nowhere to be seen, before I headed to KOUS for another show, this time that of the 타악프로젝트 Ta'ak (percussion) Project. The Ta'ak Project is basically just 고석진 Go Seokjin and 최영진 Choi Yeongjin. Seokjin is in 고성오광대Goseong Ogwangdae and Yeongjin is in 봉산탈춤Bongsan Talchum, so I know them both. I went to the performance with the 봉천놀이마당 Bongcheon Noli Madang people (are you starting to see how interconnected all these traditional arts are?), and after the performance two of them (and I) went to the after-party to congratulate the artists on finishing their three performance run. I won't say more about the performance right now because I'm working on a whole long review of it, but I'll just paste in this one paragraph—please comment!

To see the scissors performed in the high-status KOUS hall has an extra cultural dimension for the Korean audience. Scissors, in Korea, were traditionally rhythmically clacked together by street salesmen of handmade taffy and nut brittles. These salesmen would sing as they manipulated the scissors in a showy but utilitarian way to cut and break up large chunks of taffy. The playing of scissors has never been known to be virtuosic, and is often associated with beggars, cross-dressers and other examples of the lowest rung of Korean traditional society. Go's scissors performance was virtuosic. Trained as a drummer and dancer for the mask dance drama Goseong Ogwangdae Go utilized the entire stage opening and closing the scissors and hitting the left and right hand scissors together in a fast and complicated rhythm. Pivots and leaps are followed by quick steps adapted from pungmul and Goseong Ogwangdae, in his white dress shirt, black dress pants and silver and black silk vest I realize that this is an appropriation of the lowest of Korean art forms, recreated as high brow art.

Bongcheong Noli Madang Final Presentation

December 28th, 2010

Usually Tuesdays I'm at 상모 sangmo class, but I realized that no matter how much I really enjoy sangmo (I do, it's frustrating but I love it), I had to go to the final presentation at 봉천놀이마당 Bongcheon Noli Madang where we would dance for the members of the group and our various "seniors." It was an irreplaceable opportunity both in terms of me being able to wrap up any future subsections of chapters on clubs and because I put in my two weeks and that's how it's supposed to end. Then happily 이종휘 Yi Jonghui called to say he needed to reschedule class… so I didn't have to give up sangmo!

During the day I went to get a new 민복 minbok because mine is so practically see-through and I needed to wear minbok for the presentation—but my favorite store didn't have the one I wanted in my size (frustrating!) so I went home with nothing but a new pair of 미투리 mituri slippers.

I went to Bongcheon Noli Madang early because I had arranged to interview Jang Mi'i but it didn't happen, I think she was purposefully avoiding it. At any rate there were already so many people there it wouldn't have been a good interview. The presentation went well. First there was a solo presentation of 문둥북춤 Mundung Buk Chum by 미경 Migyeong, then 선우 Seonu danced 원양반 Won Yangban as a solo. We had to dance our part twice, first only us, then the second time with the "seniors" joining in. Between the two performances the 풍물 pungmul players presented their pungmul playing, which was very good. I did okay, but not as good as when we were rehearsing. Oh well. I did, along with the other new students who finished the course, receive a certificate and small present. Then we all sat around in a large circle and people ate things I don’t, and I ate a lot of green onion savory pancake because it was what I could eat, and drank grape juice and ate oranges. Several people had already left when I counted 18 people in the room.

Waiting for things to get under way, my co-student 재숙 Jaesuk



The Special Performances (of course more than half the observers became musicians)











My awesome teacher, Jang Mi'i:




Awards Ceremony - Jaesuk with the Director of Bongcheon Noli Madang

No party without a cake!



The party, with lots of singing, gets underway


Singing into a cup, or to a stick of imitation crab, drumming by hitting together soju bottles:

Preparing for the Final Presentation

December 23rd, 2010
For Thursday my most important activity was 봉천놀이마당 Bongcheong Noli Madang class. But it was a full day because in the morning I met my dissertation support group ladies Jenny and Alice for coffee and research talk and then I had lunch with 회정Hoijung, my wonderful and usually much too busy friend.

Cell phone photo at "Lazy Sue's Cafe"


At Bongcheon Noli Madang we were busy rehearsing for the final presentation which will be on Tuesday next week (I'll skip 상모 sangmo class, I want to do sangmo more, but for research it's better to see the Bongcheon class to the end of the class and see how everything pans out). Oddly it took me more than half the class to collect my brain and concentrate on what was going on, I was so obviously spaced out that everyone commented on it. Everyone, however, was only a class of five people including 장미이 Jang Mi'i and 김선우 Kim Seonu. Apparently the gradual and nearly complete reduction of the student population over the course of the class is normal. The course that starts from next month and runs until the end of February will be intermediate and only meet on Tuesday. The beginning class will begin again and run in March and April. This means I have only one opportunity (May and June) to practice an intermediate class with the Bongcheon people. On Friday (but for the members not for just random students) there are other classes, and of course there are 풍물 pungmul classes offered as well. After class ended, as usual, we sat down and exchanged our views on how class was going while enjoying some snacks and tea. The pants I thought were too warm two weeks ago felt like wearing a refrigerator as I waited for the bus (and the second bus after the transfer) on my way home. The temperature has plummeted.

Learning Arts from Clubs

December 16th, 2010
On Thursday Karjam went with me to 봉천놀이마당 Bongcheon Noli Madang. We had a good turnout for practice, though 장미이 Jang Mi’i was a bit late and 선우 Seonu reviewed with us for the first twenty minutes of class. After class, as usual, we exchanged our views on how class was going—although some people feel it’s hard and one seems about to give up (he even sat out the second half of class whether because it was physically exhausting or because it was frustrating, I’m not sure), most people express that it’s fun, interesting or enjoyable (the three most common vocabulary words they use). We spent more than half the class dancing in a circle, which is how the beginning exercises are done at 고성오광대 Goseong Ogwangdae’s training as well. Dancing in a circle is much harder, especially since we change directions and even if the teacher is in front of you while going one direction, she’ll be behind for part of it as well. I am actually really enjoying the class and feel very comfortable with the Goseong motions, also, if I just practiced a little more I know I’d be able to do the entire thing from memory. This is fortunate as we have a sort of graduation presentation where we show what we’ve learned on the 28th. I am not sure if I will participate or not, since it’s usually a day for 상모 sangmo.

With my dissertation support group I’ve started to write daily to start fleshing out parts of my dissertation-to-be. I wrote this paragraph which is somewhat related to Bongcheon Noli Madang. There is a lot more after this paragraph, but I’ll share this for now as it’s more related and because part of what’s next is notes on who to interview and what to ask
–Comments welcome-

Perhaps the most promising method of arts teaching/learning for widespread dissemination of traditional performing arts knowledge is the club setting. Clubs bring a group of people together to socialize in this case through the learning and performing of traditional performing arts. The clubs generally welcome any interested party and group activities extend beyond practice and performance to, in particular, group drinking parties. Clubs for school and university students are generally called dongari, and at best they will have their own room for storage and meetings with the ability to request rehearsal space at the school. If the club is for adults, outside of a school, then the club generally has a rented room or rooms. In the club setting the members of the club generally contribute funds which are managed by a club financial officer. If the club has a rented room, such as Bongcheon Noli Madang or the group Beodulrim I drummed with from 1999 to 2003, these fees are rather assigned to rent, electricity, an honorarium for the teacher and other expenses. Many such adult clubs have two types of fees, one for the members of the club who join together for business meetings and make decisions related to the activities of the club, and one for short-term students, who pay a higher monthly fee. Members may pay fees even if they have quit active participation for a number of years, but may drop in on any class or meeting anytime they want.

Bongcheon Noli Madang and the TV Camera

December 2nd, 2010
In the morning I went to Professor Hilary Finchum-Sung’s class, which was awesome. She finished up her lecture on contemporary Korean (traditional-esque) music (which is where a lot of her current research is focused and then went on to review the second half of the course for the exam. No, I won’t be taking the exam. We had lunch. Guess what, this is amazing, Seoul National University has put in a vegetarian buffet (for all intents and purposes VEGAN buffet) in the student cafeteria in the building next to the school of music. It’s on the second floor. If you’re in Seoul go there. It’s open 11 to 2:30. Only 5,000 and TOTALLY amazing. Finished everything on my plate and didn’t take any more but would have gladly loaded up on almost any of it again (if I’d had room). Since next week is the exam I can’t be sure I’ll see Hilary until next year in March, which is a bummer. I love talking with her, but don’t want to impose myself (more than auditing, that is).

I had class at 봉천놀이마당 Bongcheon Noli Madang in the evening. The KTV cameraman came again, the show will be broadcast on January 7th and will have 7 foreigners all learning some Korean traditional thing on it. So I got there early, but since the cameraman was earlier I couldn’t do much of anything except stretch. Class went really really well, I’m really feeling the flavor of 고성오광대 Goseong Ogwangdae, and what’s more, I really think the movements are somehow more natural and “right” to me than the other mask dance dramas. Not sure why. Just suit my body type and the way I enjoy moving, I guess.

We basically just practiced the same thing (the basic motion set we’re learning) for the whole class, then near the end we learned a little more. I didn’t make an ass out of myself on camera, and I did manage to get through interviewing no problem. During break and after class we had fruit, snacks and tea. Then after we locked up we went out for 뒤풀이 duipuli after-party which I don’t normally do, but I decided that I had to make up for the cameras (several people didn’t come to avoid the camera) and I paid for the food and drinks we had. I really like the Bongcheon group, especially 장미이 Jang Mi’i. She and 선우 Seonu are the same age, both one year younger than me. The rest of the group for the day was 선미 Seonmi (who uses Japanese in her work), 재숙 Jaesuk (who’s husband used to be really active with Bongcheon but maybe not doing mask dance) and 지원 Jiwon (drummer). When I got home I caught heck for having drunk some 막걸리 makgeolli.

Presentation in Korean

November 24th, 2010
On Wednesday I worked so hard on my presentation for Friday that I forgot to meet 이연순 Yi Yeonsun and hope she’ll forgive me. In the evening I had dinner with Kimberley which was nice.

November 25th, 2010
Class with Professor Hilary Finchum-Sung. Today was a day when I didn’t know much of what she was introducing, since she was talking more about contemporary Korean music (What makes something Korean music? How has thinking about music evolved as Korea has modernized?) She introduced important innovators and composers. It was pretty darn cool. Afterwards I had lunch with her, we talked about preparing for publication, since she’s also working on editing some of her pieces for submission right now. Awesome to have someone more advanced in this academia-thing than me to talk with.

I went to Yonsei then the Ahyeon Market for 반찬 side-dishes. On the bus I got a phone call from a TV program that wants to make a segment about me learning 봉산탈춤 Bongsan Talchum. I would rather not have to deal with that sort of thing, but I feel a responsibility, too, towards all the arts I am involved with. So I explained I’m working on learning at four locations. They will call and ask for permission to film at each.

Back at home I worked on my presentation until it was time to go to 봉천놀이마당 Bongcheon Noli Madang. The class was even smaller, and we moved a little farther through our basic movement set, I’m starting to feel comfortable, I have chunks memorized. Unfortunately, I don’t remember all of it, certainly not as much as I’d want to remember in front of a TV camera. After class we had tea and bananas. All of the members, even 장미이 Jang Mi’i are quite adamant that they are not professionals, they all have other jobs and the Noli Madang is just their hobby.

November 26th, 2010
For some reason I had to give a presentation in a class I’m auditing. I chose (to keep it useful to me) to just present an analysis of the grandmother scene in the mask dance dramas, a paper I wrote for Professor Don Cosentino in the best class i ever had at UCLA, Myth Analysis. I stayed up until nearly 3 working on a video to accompany my presentation, so this morning wasn’t easy. I actually got to class 15 minutes late, my first time to be late since the first day. I gave the second presentation, talking for nearly an hour and twenty minutes. Fortunately 경진 Gyeongjin had edited the Korean on my slides, so I had confidence in what was on my PowerPoint and supplemented it as best I could, but the question and answer period was the hardest in terms of using academic Korean. The third (and last) presentation for the day was also very interesting, on changing attitudes towards sex, all delivered in a very dry manner, but with a twinkle in the presenter’s eye. Unfortunately class didn’t end until 12:40 (scheduled to end at 11:50).

After class I went to Severance Hospital and saw the ear specialist again who said I still have an infection, not much improved over two weeks earlier, and he insisted I take oral anti-biotics (as well as the ear drops), just a five-day course. I have an appointment to come back next Friday.

Cell photo: maybe your hospital will be better if you decorate it for the holidays


Karjam and I went out to dinner as a late Thanksgiving celebration, but the restaurant was so disappointing. (I found it by googling “best restaurant in Seoul,” someone who writes a foodie guide to Seoul claimed it’s by far the best Thai food… not).

Guest Lecture about Korean Mask Dances

November 17th, 2010
Wednesday is my day off, but when scheduling a time to have a drumming lesson with 이연순 Yi Yeonsun it was the only day that worked. So in the afternoon I went to meet her at a community center where she’d just ended a class. The idea was that we could keep using the room. Unfortunately, someone else had scheduled use of the room and she didn’t find out until during her class when they came to set up. She called me but I was already on my way, so we agree to meet and talk. I ended up interviewing her for 2 hours. No exaggeration, more than 2 hours of conversation was recorded. It was an amazing interview, only something possible because I’ve proven my interest, knowledge and discretion. The contents of the interview would be much less interesting to you than to me, and much of it will need to be kept confidential, but most importantly she gave me a good foundation for other interviews and some real honest feedback on how performances are being protected for future generations.

In the evening Karjam and I went on a quick trip to a 국악사 traditional musical instrument shop where I picked up two more 한삼 hansam to use with my Thursday guest lecture. Then we romantically strolled by the lantern exhibit set up in 청계천 Cheonggae Stream.

Cell phone photo of a sangmo wearing sogo playing lantern-guy:


November 18th, 2010
This morning Professor Hilary Finchum-Sung’s class was on 풍물 pungmul for the first half, a subject I already know a lot about, obviously. I brought my 열두발 yeoldubal and 상모 sangmo and two 소고 sogo so the students could try them during the break time. Then I got to do a guest lecture on mask dance dramas for the second half of the class, which was a really awesome opportunity, I’m so grateful I had that chance (even just thinking about it while preparing was great for me, since I’ve never had a chance to do a short lecture on mask dances). I used a PowerPoint and the video on release through laughter in the mask dances dramas that I referred to making a couple days ago. After answering their questions (more than an average of two questions each) I handed out my hansam and taught them some motions. It went really well, except I wasn’t happy with how thin and nasal my voice sounded, and I answered some questions in an unnecessarily drawn out manner (if I’d only thought it through first…). Karjam came and filmed the entire thing.

After class Hilary bought us lunch, then Karjam and I went to the National Museum of Korea to see the special exhibition of Goryeo Dynasty Buddhist paintings. The paintings were really impressive, but the exhibit lights were too low and even on a Thursday afternoon it was much too crowded for my tastes. We rushed home and I left again ten minutes later to go to my new class.

My second class at 봉천놀이마당 Bongcheon Noli Madang went well. Up until about 2003 Yeonsun was a member, she’d been with the group for many years, and it turned out that the woman, 미경 Migyeong, who got Karjam and I free tickets to the dance performance a while back was there this evening, and the conversation with her uncovered the fact that the announcer that evening had been 지원 Jiwon, one of the key members and the drumming instructor for the group. 장미이 Jang Mi’i talks constantly as she teaches, explaining each motion, and its meaning, and then again and again as we repeat. She is either talking or counting out loud at all times. I find this a bit hard to take, and want to concentrate more on the motion and don’t need each fine detail of the motion explained to me, I’d rather do it three times instead of once with talking, at which point I would expect to be doing it properly based on watching carefully. Maybe it’s just because Korean isn’t my native language so paying attention to what is said may be more distracting for me than it is for most people. The others had learned a fair stretch of the choreographed basic motion set on Tuesday, I had to catch up and learn the new set of motions, but it was fun. Someday I may be good at 고성오광대 Goseong Ogwangdae. We had 8 participants (a much more manageable sized group) including Jang Mi’i, Jiwon who did our drumming and 김선우 Kim Seonu who is the go-to office, drummer, secondary dance instructor sort of person. I also found out that she’s only a year younger than me, which is surprising; she comes off as still in her 20s. After class ended we sat in a circle, evaluated class (while Seonu made notes) and had hot tea and cookies and other snacks.