In this article, Type Media Center fellow E. Tammy Kim covers the role of science fiction in South Korea, with a spotlight on Djuna’s Counterweight.
Highlights
- Speaking Out Through Science Fiction: In her article, E. Tammy Kim addresses the role science fiction plays in expressing criticism of social issues, and particularly how South Korean science fiction fits this narrative.
- Familiar Villains: Kim raises the point that Djuna’s Counterweight, while fictional, reflects many aspects of the “nonfictional present”, represented especially in the villains of the story. She notes that the main villain mirrors not only South Korean companies, but also major corporations from around the world.
- Distorted Reflection: In her coverage of not only Counterweight, but also the science fiction genre itself, Kim identifies the use of sci-fi to hold up a “fun-house mirror [to reality], except all the ugly distortions are true”, establishing the genre’s ability to make readers reflect on the state of the real world.
- New Beginnings: Kim analyzes Djuna’s view of science fiction as “the map of ‘a new body, a new mind, and new desire'”, proceeding to describe how the climax of Counterweight symbolizes a new beginning and transformation.
Type Media Center’s Note
This article by our fellow E. Tammy Kim reflects Type Media Center’s dedication to nurturing independent journalism that not only informs but strives for societal change. Through her exploration of the parallels between science fiction and present-day issues in South Korea and around the world, Kim contributes to our broader mission of producing high-impact journalism that sparks national and global conversations.