why people dance?

So, in this situation, I want to ask a question. Back in history, why lower classes dance TalChum and how TalChum became a popular folk dance in Korean dance history? That question can be simply answered. The reason why lower classes dance TalChum was that they wanted to criticize upper classes' unfairness and arrogant attitude towards upper classes. During 17th century, common people were suppressed by royal classes just because they were born in different way. Therefore, lower classes invented masks in order to express their angers towards higher classes. Masks played role as confidence for common people to criticize. 



         Moreover, the other reason why people danced was that TalChum was being used as ceremony purpose. For lunar new year, chusok, and Full moon day, TalChum was being practiced in order to celebrate those holidays.  
        It seems like TalChum was being used in opposite ways for common people. One for criticizing, the other for celebrating. However, there is a common theme between them is that they were both used for lower classes and those made lower classes lives more comfortable.

TalChum performances

 Unlike the Western performances, some Eastern plays require active participation of audiences. TalChum performers thought people need to participate in order to practice better plays. By communicating among actors and audiences, TalChum performers could able to criticize upper classes. That being said, actors evoke the anger of audiences towards the upper classes. This video shows that audiences are able to participate in dancing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmUn3zfMbhU&feature=related

There are performances that only require dances without any dialogue or monologue. This kind of performances usually were being used in a way of ceremony.  Usually when people learn other countries' traditional dances, they would be bored; however, many Americans enjoyed dancing Korean traditional dance at class. This video is the one which I learned in a cultural studies in dance class last year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cgO53tMBmI

While you are watching this video you would curious about the white sleeves which dancers wear for performances. Those sleeves have no specific symbols but decorate the beauty of masked dance. Without those sleeves, it may seem little empty and boring. 


I hope u guys enjoy my videos. 

beauty of mask

              Masks contain their own traditional colors in order to represent their beauties and show purposes of  those colors. The main colors of masks are primary and gaudy colors. The reason why people use these two colors for masks is that masks tend not to be shown clearly during night time without these colors.White, red, black, and blue colors are most widely used for mask colors. People's skin color is being used as a secondary color. Depends on these colors, masks can be interpreted in different ways. 
     




           Darker colors represent elderly masks; bright and red colors symbolize young males' masks, and white color mostly indicates female masks. Not only color tell distinction of sex, but it also shows us bearing and a season. Dark color represents winter and North as a death season; reddish color displays productive season which is a summer and a south area. 
       


          As a tradition, reddish color masks (young male masks, death season) tend to defeat dark color masks (elderly masks, productive season) because people prefer affluent society rather than desolate plains and circumstances. 
       


        Not only types of masks are important, but also color of masks was important too! Our ancestors did not put colors on masks without pointless meaning. Following the spirit of ancestors, our generation needs to keep this tradition.

yan

Yanban mask

Last night, I was posted about corrupted monks during Koryo period. This time I am going to talk about different mask which considered as a one of the most famous and important mask among them.

          

<Yanban>

One of the most famous masks in Korea is a Yanban mask. Most of Koreans consider Yanban mask as a most famous one, and recognize as a top choice no matter what. Yanban means loyal people during ChoSun period. Aristocrats in Chosun period abused their powers politically similar to monks. They possessed their own slaves for comfort, and even they masterminded king’s power. They made lower classes to pay more taxes; aristocrats did not treat lower classes as human beings.

Based on this background history, Yanban mask was described negatively. When they create Yanban mask, they tried to make as funny as possible so people can laugh whenever they looking at it. The separated jaw shows the true beauty of Korean masks. For appearance, the round curve indicates composure of Yanbans’ daily lives. Also, wrinkles between its cheeks and eyes symbolize smiling face. When people stare at this mask, most of them sense authority and dignity of the mask.  

Traditionally, people do not keep masks in their rooms because people consider that masks easily contain bad lucks. Therefore, they tend to burn masks, including Yanban mask after they practiced performances.  Otherwise,  lower classes wanted to express their angers towards higher classes by burning their masks. 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_tEThhYtTk

TalChum

TalChum contains various kinds of masks; and each mask indicates different symbols. Performers can practice various plays by wearing distinctive masks.

         During Koryo period, monk held the political power; therefore, they lived in corrupt society. Corruption was rampant, and the high monks indulged not only in feasting and bribe-collecting, but also in the pleasures of wine, women and song. As a result, common people started to suffer due to monks’ corruption.

This mask is called Choegwari which indicates pervert monk. He was really corrupted, and it is shown feasting, drinking and reveling in his wealth. His chin tells us that how he loves food. In performance, Choegwari is shown as a filthy monk who appears out of girl’s skirt, in a shocking violation of monastic rule.

This mask is called Nojang which symbolizes as a drunken monk. Not only he loves to drink alcohol, but he also loves flirt with girls just like Choegwari. Because of his inappropriate behaviors, the Lord Buddha sends a lion down from the heavens to punish Nojang. Even though the renegade monk begs for forgiveness and promise to live as a proper monk, but the lion refrains from eating him.

By using these two masks, lower classes expressed their anger towards monks and society indirectly. Many people would love to watch those performances which severely criticize monks. Monks masks became popular because of this reason.