[KS] Korea: Music across the DMZ - Keith Howard

[Alison Tokita]

Monash University School of Languages, Cultures & Linguistics presents:

KOREAN STUDIES SEMINAR

Auditorium, Japanese Studies Centre
(Building 54, near the bus loop)
Monash University, Clayton Campus

3:00 pm Friday, October 20, 2006


Dr Keith Howard
School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London

Korea: Music across the DMZ

Abstract:
The standard historical account has it that the Korea peninsula was
unified in 668 CE and remained unified until 1945. The division of
Korea, into today's two rival states, the Democratic People's Republic
of Korea (North Korea) and the Republic of Korea (South Korea), is then
an aberration. On both sides of the 3km-wide strip of no-man's land
separating the two states, the 'demilitarized zone' (the DMZ) – which,
despite its name, is one of the most heavily fortified places on earth –
both government ministers and people talk about inevitable
reunification. In this presentation focussing on two performance events
and providing a musical history looking at similarities and difference,
I ask how music can play a part in the peaceful reunification of the
peninsula.

For further information, contact Alison.Tokita at arts.monash.edu.au, or
9905 2275.


Keith Howard is Reader in Music at SOAS, University of London, and
Director, AHRB Research Centre for Cross-Cultural Music and Dance
Performance. He is the author and editor of 13 books and more than 100
articles on Korean culture, Korean music and ethnomusicology, including
the forthcoming Preserving Korean Music and Creating Korean Music. He is
a frequent broadcaster on Korean affairs, and has given several hundred
guest lectures and performances in Europe, America, Asia and Australasia


Dr Howard will present another paper for the School of
Music-Conservatorium, on Monday 23 October at 6pm, titled Rebranding
Korea: Creating a New Old Music
For enquiries, contact Graham.Smith at arts.monash.edu.au