Intimate Empire: Collaboration & Colonial Modernity in Korea and Japan by Nayoung Aimee Kwon

Reviewed by: Intimate Empire: Collaboration & Colonial Modernity in Korea and Japan by Nayoung Aimee Kwon Satona Suzuki Japan. By Kwon. Durham London: Duke University Press, 2015. Kwon's Empire is a thorough investigation of the ongoing contested colonial legacies shared between Unlike postcolonial disavowal past, earnestly examines redefines intimate relationship coloniser colonised eloquently elucidating predicament Korean writers. Her careful examination their literary work, whether it be an I-novel, play or personal correspondence, sensitively uncovers, chapter chapter, complex emotions hidden behind this intimacy. The chapters tackle many sensitive issues, which include: rise repression both colony metropole; impossibility expressing themselves comfortably vernacular imperial language due to rigorous assimilation policies enforced coloniser; question translatability from mother tongue foreign language; deep anxieties, fear disdain brought about hierarchies; dichotomy individual desire collective representation; cultural exchange with Japanese world (Bundan) through series roundtable discussions (zadankai) staged manipulated serve needs audiences. Their experiences as oppressed writers clearly testify that reality under rule was indeed ambivalent, complex, paradoxical, multifaceted multi-layered. Consequently, extremely convincing challenging interpretations, which, large, myopically paint Korea's encounter its oppressor one either collaboration resistance. Alternatively, assessment offers new, more nuanced perspective explains nature For example, not simple Yi Kwangsu (1892-1950) Chang Hyŏkchu (1905-1997) being traitorous collaborators Japan, nor Kang Kyŏngae (1906-1944), national resistance hero. criticism discourses bold fair. She goes far assert logic nationalists ironically so different they are detrimental understanding quintessence literature, albeit for reasons. In her analysis, former demands texts "represent authentic 'colonial reality' narrowly meant unequivocal powers sufferings exploitation" while latter "demand[s] representation Other accompanied erasure Other's full humanity complexities experiences" (192). This parallel emphasises importance examining objectively—otherwise, contention divides will persist. Similarly, interesting insight into psychological aspect imperialism. recognises Imperial Japan's fascination Koreanness—something exotic nostalgic—and how contributed marginalising misrepresenting ethnic culture, no matter "genuine" "innocent" may have seemed. making close link notion "colonial kitsch" metropole colony, seemingly antithetical another (differentiation versus assimilation), she persuasively asserts were two sides same coin context imperialism, exploited devalued ethnicity order exclusively satisfy agenda. book also discusses modernity broader sense. As opposed developed embraced West, paradoxical concept, yet recognised examined comprehensively. Reckoning emotive uncomfortable issue all parties concerned (hence, often past). points out, only exclusive Korean-Japanese relations—rather, highly ubiquitous. context, Western much common when facing Others. then Korea. reminds us concept and...