• (The) Research of the performance art and culture
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• no.35
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• pp.287-338
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• 2017

Gojong' Birth Anniversary Memorial Banquet in the 1910s was forced to be performed differently from the performance style in Joseon Dynasty period that featured a harmonious majestic beauty of etiquette music. The banquet was separated into three different sessions of ceremony, luncheon and performance', which clearly revealed a distinctive pattern of etiquette music. The performance was accompanied by the dinner party or was lightly implemented as part of evening entertainment. With the use of the term entertainment, the performances belonging to this category fell into nothing but something to enjoy, amusement, fun and play. The contents of such performances were not closely woven into the fabric of the entire banquet but were individualized and scattered in a way of putting the performances in a state of flux in line with the circumstances. Therefore, it became increasingly hard to expect a high degree of completion and solid structure of performances. The items of performance included western music, popular vocal music, popular instrumental music, magic, and film, which were not played in traditional court banquet in the presence of Gojong rather than traditional music and dance performed in court. In other words, the court performance could not maintain its traditional heritage but was transformed into a mixture of popular performance and new forms of art. It was driven by the Japanese imperialism toward the atmosphere of entertainment in oblivion of tradition but not toward the external extension of court performances.

• (The) Research of the performance art and culture
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• no.34
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• pp.133-172
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• 2017

Mansuseongjeol was originally a term that referred to the birthday of Chinese emperors. In October 1897, when Emperor Gojong ascended the throne, his birthday could be called mansuseongjeol. The celebratory events for mansuseongjeol took place throughout various levels of society and regions. Various places and classes including government officials, foreigners, students, religious people, journalists, merchants, civic groups, and nation-wide open ports celebrated the birth of Emperor Gojong, and the classes celebrating the day became stronger and wider. In other words, in the sense that the celebration had the nature of being universal, national, and global in terms of classes, regions, and races, the event was distinguished. Due to such nature, celebrating culture proceeded in various ways and the imperial family provided donation. Celebration on mansuseongjeol extended to respect toward the emperor and patriotism so it contributed to strengthening the emperor's power and solidifying the unity of the people. Also, such an event was reported around the world through diplomats and reporters living in Korea, raising the national status of Korea in the world. However, after the breakout of Russo-Japanese War, Japan controlled the finance of the royal family, reduced the power of the emperor, and the celebration of mansuseongjeol was also reduced. Due to the suspension of royal family's financial support, crackdown from Japan, and the dethronement of Emperor Gojong, events for mansuseongjeol disappeared and only inside the palace, did formal celebrations continue centering on pro-Japan officials and Japanese people. The abdication of Emperor Gojong came with the collapse of Korean Empire and along with that, celebration of mansuseongjeol came to an end. In the circumstances, the culture of court banquet disintegrated, and the best performers of Korean Empire degenerated into mere entertainers. Though mansuseongjeol, the medium of expressing respect toward the emperor and patriotism, lost its status, it is significant that the cultural achievements, which were created during the process established with the support of the financial power of the royal family, serve as internal power that drove Korea's modern and contemporary cultural history.