Color Footage of Seoul, 1938
According to the YouTube caption, this video was taken by Swedish diplomat Thor Wiestlandt in 1938. The caption also diagnoses Wiestlandt with “orientalism,” whatever the f**k that means … probably some hippie sociologist’s P.C. tag for what others might more sensibly explain as interest and curiosity in a foreign culture that your average 1938-model Swede wouldn’t have experienced. Enjoy:
And if you wonder why I moderate my comments, just have a gawk at the comments on any YouTube thread for conclusive proof that evolution is a two-way street.
So, did Koreans really wear a distinctive national costume in 1938, or did the didplomat with orientalism ask them to dress up for a quaint film?
Korea looked really oriental back then, without western influence and modernism.
This video is a precious piece of cultural history.
The children looked adorable in their innocent playfulness.
Orientalism means the person making the comment has a college degree and heard some Westerner say something about Korea that Koreans say themselves but doesn’t count because they are Korean…
Most likely a person who read Edward Said without putting thought into it…
PS – my gravatar is a picture of 30ish to 40ish Korean taking in 1951 by my step-grandfather and he was wearing the traditional casual white outfit —- (the Korean, not my grandfather – which would have made him an orientalist. As is, he was wearing a green US Army uniform – which just makes him an imperialist…)
He even got a snippet of ajushi taking a leak on the side of the building (at 1:25). It doesn’t get anymore authentic than that!