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Sketches of Korea

An Illustrated Guide to Korean Culture


Writer: Benjamin Joinau

Illustrator: Elodie Dornand de Rouville

Date of Publication: April 27, 2015

Page Count: 212

Book Size: 128X195 mm

Price: KRW 12,900

Publisher: Seoul Selection

 
Here is all you need to know about Korea outside of Samsung, K-pop, kimchi and taekwondo.

◆     A French-born cultural anthropologist teams up with an illustrator and compatriot to bring you a cultural guide to Korea.


Metrosexual pretty boys and plastic surgery beauties, university students scrambling for jobs and middle-aged ladies donning sun visors, Korean subway cars packed with selfie-obsessed high-schoolers – isn’t there a book that explores this side of Korea?  

As people the world over continue to fix their attention on Korea, the number of books on Korean culture is also on the rise, but most Korea-related publications thus far have focused on either hackneyed material or an idealized portrait of life on the peninsula. But what about the unpackaged version, a book about the way Korea really is? With this simple goal in mind, two French expats who have studied Korean society as longtime residents in the country have collaborated to create “Sketches of Korea: An Illustrated Guide to Korean Culture.” An all-encompassing manual, the book spans 47 different topics ranging from the nation's latest trends to its traditional culture, social customs, art and even religion. The word "sketches" in the title refers to a direct and honest portrayal of the writer’s and illustrator's personal impressions of Korea, as well as to the drawings that animate the book's every page. To international readers looking for more than just another typical book about Korea, and to the Korean readers who are interested in an objective portrayal of their country by a foreign resident, this book is for you.


Cultural anthropologist meets artist: A portrait of 21st-century Korea by two Parisians

Author Benjamin Joinau has built himself a unique resume over his past 20 years in Korea. After majoring in humanities and philosophy at the Sorbonne in France, he switched to the field of cultural anthropology, having found himself fascinated with Korean culture. He has since worked as a translator of Korean literature, an exhibition organizer, a food columnist and a host for a TV program on Korean cooking – a truly multifaceted career. Artist Elodie Dornand de Rouville is known for her drawings that capture the lives of Koreans from a unique perspective, as well as for her installation work. She arrived in Korea 10 years ago with a diploma from the distinguished École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, and continues to reside there with her Korean husband. Although both the writer and illustrator can now call Korea their second homeland, life when they first arrived wasn't always so comfortable. They encountered difficulties while carrying out the mundane aspects of everyday life, such as how to behave in a public bathhouse, or what to avoid doing when drinking with Koreans. “Sketches of Korea” is a meaningful and practical cultural guide based on the personal experiences of the writer and illustrator, who wish to pass on what they've learned to other non-Koreans. They set out to portray Korea as it is, neither advertising its cultural brilliance nor denigrating it from a purely Western perspective.


From traditional to modern: Forty-seven different themes

A compilation of work that the writer and illustrator contributed together for a magazine column throughout a few years, “Sketches of Korea” is divided into five chapters. The book spans 47 individual sub-themes that are sure to fascinate the non-Korean reader, starting with the daily lives of present-day Koreans (Chapters 1 and 2), then shifting into Korea's traditional arts and modes of life (Chapters 3 and 4) and finally examining the religions and belief systems that constitute Koreans' spiritual roots (Chapter 5). Artist Elodie Dornand de Rouville perfected each illustration by incorporating various personal experiences from Korean life, such as eating silkworm pupae, making kimchi and writing calligraphy. Although the artistic process was a long one, she says such experiences have helped her to better understand the Korea she lives and draws. “Sketches of Korea” offers practical, real-life tips on traditions such as Korea's unique system for leasing properties or the practice of giving cash gifts for weddings, allowing readers to better understand how Koreans operate. There's no need to read this book in chronological order. Just flip to whichever section interests you, whether you’re drawn in by the content or the illustrations. To aid our readers unfamiliar with the Korean writing system, Hangeul script has been provided alongside important terms, and a supplemental index has been added to facilitate understanding.


About the  illustrator
Elodie Dornand de Rouville
After receiving a Brevet de Technicien Supérieur in graphic design and visual communication, Elodie Dornand de Rouville earned a Diplôme National Supérieur d'Arts Plastiques in painting and installation art from the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris. She first arrived in Korea in 2002 as an exchange student at Hongik University. She attracted the limelight in 2005 by taking part in the exhibition “Korean-Eyesed,” which displayed Elodie’s work that captured the daily lives of Koreans through her unique style and vantage point.
She has since explored themes such as connective links, memories and physical locations, displaying her work through solo exhibitions, including “Laisse-moi là” (2003), “Instant Mirror” (2009), “Cabinet de curiosité” (2010), “A course of Evanescence” (2013) and “The Shadow of a Star” (2014).

Inquiries Regarding Press Release: Eugene Kim, 070-4060-5154, [email protected]
Inquiries Regarding Book Purchases: Na-ryeong Kim, 02-734-9565, [email protected]

The book is on sale in Korea in major bookstores such as Kyobo and Youngpoong, and also of course in Seoul Selection bookstore in Gwanghwamun and online on its Website. Soon to come on Amazon.com and in the USA.



Articles in the medias:

Kyunghyang
Yonhap News
Korea Times
Korea Herald
한글 보도 자료
File Size: 531 kb
File Type: pdf
Télécharger un fichier



Table of Contents
Introduction  
 
Social

Ages of Life and Social Stereotypes  

Body Language and Salutations  

Table Setting and Etiquette  

Markets and Street Vendors  

Sleeping in Korea  

Public Baths  

Modern Housing Styles  

Wedding and Marriage  

Funeral Rituals and Ceremonies  

City Signs and Symbols  

Everyday Modern Objects  

 
Cultural

Dishes of Korean Cuisine  

Pojangmacha and Street Snacks  

Kimchi  

Jangdokdae  

Drinking Culture  

Festivals and Holidays  

National Symbols  

Games  

The Korean Alphabet, Hangeul  

Royal Shrine Ancestral Ritual  

 
Artistic

Calligraphy  

Ceramics  

Dances  

Colors and Patterns  

Musical Instruments  

Songs  

Scholar and Court Paintings  

Folk Paintings  

 
Traditional

Women's Costume  

Men's Costume  

Men's Hats  

Martial Arts  

Everyday Objects of the Old Days  

House  

Gentlemen's Quarter Room  

Furniture  

Palaces, Fortresses and Gardens  

 
Spiritual


Religions  

Shamanism  

Divination and Geomancy   

Folk Beliefs  

Buddhist Temples  

Statues of Buddha  

Buddha's Birthday  

Supernatural Beings  

Royal Tombs 

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