i saw this post in the vintage photos community, which is what led me to your journal. i like your art & you seem interesting; do you mind if i add you?
one of the main reasons i want to teach english in korea after i graduate: try to get into north korea. i don't have any family that i know of there but something draws me to that place. i always scoff at people who are very patriotic or nationalistic but something inside me is very sad when i think about north and south korea. all those families and friends divided for what seems like eternity. i watch all those korean shows and news programs about seperated families. brothers touching hands through a chainlink fence! blah. anyway, good post. were you born in the u.s.?
yeah, i was born in a 'burb near chicago. i think my identity is overpoweringly american, but of course i have this affinity with the motherland even though many korean-born koreans would just call me an american. i was in korea last summer teaching english, and i will probably do that again some day. the only opportunities i've read about where americans were allowed into north korea are journalists or special events that north korea hosts. then they personally invite people to see the splendours of their country.
this is one of the best travelogues i've read regarding an american allowed into NK borders. definitely inspires me to leap on a chance someday:
I really like this entry. A week ago, I was privy to some old photos from the family album, and while we do not share similar history or experience, it made me realise again how consistently I'm amazed by how photography has a strange sort of necromantic effect in evoking the dead and trying to bring a sense history and purporse to our lives.
necromantic effect in evoking the dead and trying to bring a sense history and purporse to our lives
yes, i think that photography for me will always be a morbid experience because it captures a record of something living (even if just metaphorically). somehow, once i understood the stories/history of my family documents, it was very easy for me to string along how i came to be and the choices i made. not that it's quite an issue of destiny, but it's the sense of purpose you are talking about.
reminds me, actually, of the epic story of Middlesex. highly recommended!
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satu was just in korea, maybe you'd enjoy some of her travel photos :)
http://sanega.livejournal.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanega/
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Adding you.
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this is one of the best travelogues i've read regarding an american allowed into NK borders. definitely inspires me to leap on a chance someday:
http://www.1stopkorea.com/index.htm?nk-trip1.htm~mainframe
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yes, i think that photography for me will always be a morbid experience because it captures a record of something living (even if just metaphorically). somehow, once i understood the stories/history of my family documents, it was very easy for me to string along how i came to be and the choices i made. not that it's quite an issue of destiny, but it's the sense of purpose you are talking about.
reminds me, actually, of the epic story of Middlesex. highly recommended!
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