[Sopyeonje] The juxtaposition between tradition and modernization

From the 1940s through the 1970's, Korea was in process of modernization, and it was strongly influenced by American popular culture. However, this intervention of American culture diminished the original Korean traditions. For instance, as shown in this film, Pansori was limited to be performed and further developed, for western music got fame during the time. Demonstrating this negative effect of modernization, director Im Kwon-Taek established a connection between tradition and modernization throughout Sopyeonje. The film basically represented  the struggle to preserve an essential Korean identity within the rushing modernity. In order to emphasize not only the beauty of Korea but also the pureness of simple traditional art,  Im frequently filmed an extreme long shot of the landscapes. While they were travelling through the countryside, Songhwa, Dongho and Youbong performed "Arirang" together for more than 5 minutes. Here, Im produced the strong sense of Korean culture through the most popular Korean traditional song "Arirang" with the quietude of the countryside.  Furthermore, "han" that indicates one’s deep sorrow was also represented through the combination of pansori. Youbong wanted Songhwa to overcome her own han and express it through her voice. However, making true sound did not seem to matter during the time.  Even when Songhwa finally mastered  her sound, their efforts were useless and pointless, since Korean traditional art was no longer the subject of people’s attention in modern society. Songhwa, therefore, had to live through a severe poverty-stricken life. This way, Im criticized, how Koraen traditions became to be pursued for the sake of food and money, not for the art itself.  Aside from presenting the loss to Korean culture, Im pointed out that it is ironic in the sense that modernized people did not actually have a modern liberal idea of equality. When Youbong had a conflict with those who came to listen to Songhwa's pansori, the men claimed that social classes will always exist, regardless of time and space. This represented that people still did not embrace the idea of equality between noblemen and peasants, even during the modern time.  Throughout this juxtaposition between the two worlds, Im expressed well the sorrow for the dying of Korean culture, and it played a very significant role in rescuing their tradition.