Published in 2020 by New York University Press, Daniel Y. Kim’s book, The Intimacies of Conflict Cultural Memory and the Korean War explores how the Korean War is remembered in both American and Korean culture. Throughout the book, Kim’s research provides an insightful analysis of how a “forgotten” conflict from over 50 years ago continues to shape our cultural understanding of race and political relations in both the United States and South Korea.
Throughout the book, Kim examines the cultural memory of the Korean War through various sources of media, including literature, personal narratives, and films. Through these explorations of media, Kim’s analyses show the nuanced ways in which this war left a lasting legacy on our modern society.
Structurally, the book is split into two halves, with each chapter examining a different aspect of cultural memory as it relates to the Korean War. In the first half, Kim explores how the war was overlooked in relation to larger international conflicts such as World War II and the Vietnam War. Kim then explores depictions of the war in both American and Korean 1950s media as an ongoing conflict.
In contrast, the second half of the book examines how the Korean War is remembered through its presentation in modern media. This half begins by explaining how modern media portrays the Korean War in the interracial and transnational context of American history. Kim then goes on to explore several modern pieces of media and analyzes how they enhance our contemporary cultural memory of this so-called “forgotten war.”
One of the book’s key strengths is Kim’s ability to construct a critical analysis stemming from a vast array of sources to provide a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the Korean War’s cultural memory. His incorporation of literature, film studies, and history provides a thorough and multifaceted understanding of the war’s perception in both the 1950s and the modern era.
Additionally, Kim’s observation that the Korean War has been overshadowed by other, more culturally prominent conflicts creates a particularly compelling argument about contemporary understandings of race and cultural identity. His approach to complex analysis adds depth to his arguments, highlighting how this war continues to influence modern cultural and political conversations in subtle, but significant ways.
However, the book does have one notable weakness in its writing. The dense style in which the book is written leaves somewhat of an accessibility barrier to its text, especially to readers unfamiliar with cultural studies or the Korean War itself.
In summary, The Intimacies of Conflict Cultural Memory and the Korean War is a remarkable work of literature and a significant contribution to studies of cultural memory relating to war. Despite the density of the text, its comprehensive research and analysis are incredibly insightful, offering a nuanced understanding of the Korean War’s lasting legacy.
