• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.11 no.7
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• pp.153-167
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• 2011

This paper critically examines the evolution of Nam June Paik's self-contradictory art philosophy. While the existing literature tends to slight it, Paik's works of arts remain fraught with contradictions: Paik has proved prima facie avant-garde an artist; however, as the scale and form of his works have developed, the prophetic, path-breaking philosophical underpinnings of his arts evolved to become more conformist. The present paper aims to shed light on the understudied and underappreciated side of Paik's accomplishments in order to come to a fuller understanding and appreciation of his arts and his legacy.