[KS] Jazz in Korea

[Frank Hoffmann]

>Josephine Baker performed in Nampo in (I 
>believe) 1938 on her way from Japan to Manchuria 
>where she performed in several other cities. The 
>Dong-ah Ilbo published an article on her visit 
>and included a picture of the performance.


Steven, are you sure? And not possibly mixing up 
Ch'oe Sûng-hûi with Baker -- e.g. because some 
author is comparing the two and their roles? When 
it comes to *politics*, however, it is a bad 
comparison, as Baker had been very engaged for 
the French resistance (and not just that), went 
even as far as to work as a spy for them, had 
always been very outspoken, while Ch'oe Sûng-hûi 
(Jap. name Sai Shôki) worked closely with the 
Imperial Japanese Army and their war propaganda 
unit. After the Sino-Japanese War Ch'oe did 
indeed tour through the Manchukuo puppet state 
set up by the Japanese in 1932/33. After 
liberation this cooperation worked against her in 
the South, and so she left for the North to start 
over (like many other 'collaborator artists'). If 
you look at who was most "efficient" within the 
war propaganda art, who hold the leading 
positions, it was mostly modernist artists (or 
dancers, in this case) ... the overseas elite who 
had returned from Paris, Berlin, etc. in the late 
1930s or in 1940.
Anyway, you are saying that JOSEPHINE BAKER 
visited not just Japan in 1938 (!) but also 
Manchukuo (and Korea). I hear you, but it much 
surprises me! Can you please refer to the date 
this was in the Tonga ilbo, or to some article or 
book that makes such a reference and statement? 
Baker, upon her arrival in Japan in 1954 told 
Japanese reporters: "This is my first visit to 
Japan. Nothing could make me happier." (Asahi 
shinbun, 4/14/1954)

Best,
Frank




-- 
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Frank Hoffmann
http://koreaweb.ws
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