Inventing a Tradition?
Inventing a Tradition?
The National Changgeuk Company of Korea
This chapter focuses on the National Changgeuk Company of Korea (NCCK) and its repeated efforts since the 1960s to establish ch'angguk as a “Korean traditional opera” for domestic and international consumption. It argues that the NCCK's pursuit of traditionality through faithfulness to either the letter or the spirit of p'ansori has turned out to be insufficient in itself to accomplish its goal of establishing ch'angguk as Korean traditional opera. Since realizing this, ch'anggugin (a general term for performers and others involved in ch'angguk) have appeared uncertain where else to look. Advances have been made in theatrical technique, and traditionality has been claimed through discourses both in and around ch'angguk, but in terms of performance conventions, ch'angguk has yet to achieve a stable form. It may be invested with a commitment to its continuation, but it is by no means protected from change.
Keywords: ch'angguk, Korean opera, National Changgeuk Company of Korea, performance, traditional performing arts
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