Scrutinizing Affect and Power Through the Difficult History of Korea's Sex Slavery

• In Event: Decolonizing, Anticolonial, and Indigenous Ways of Knowing

Abstract

This paper explores the meaning of “affect” and how it works by analyzing two curricula, which are social study and Gyegii education in South Korea. “Affect” is the power of acting motivated by certain stimulation (Deleuze, 1978). Korea’s difficult history used “affect” as a tool for controlling students. This paper examines sex slavery history in Gyegii education, which is an event education revised annually by political, and social situations. When students learn about sex slavery history through Gyegii education, they encounter traumatic historical moments, affecting students' acts and thoughts. As a result, historical trauma provokes nationalism, which makes them obedient citizens. This paper provides a way of teaching difficult history to make a good citizen.

Author

• Younsun Choi, University of Wisconsin - Madison
  Presenting Author