김춘수와 김종삼 시의 허무의식 연구

Abstract

A Study on Nihilistic Consciousness in Poetry of Kim Chun-su and Kim Jong-sam - on the Focus of Temporal Aesthetics -

Lee, Sung-min Advisor : Prof. Oh Moon-Suk, Ph.D. Dept. of Korean Lan. & Lit. Graduate School of Chosun University

The purpose of this study is to prepare the ground for a new understanding in nihilistic consciousness and pure poetry having been estimated passively so far, by investigating characteristics for nihilistic consciousness in poetry of Kim Chun-su and Kim Jong-sam, called archetypes of pure poetry. By examining their nihilistic consciousness through temporal aesthetics, it compares with both perceptions of reality and aesthetic strategies. Especially, it is remarkable that examining for temporal aesthetics of both poets can confirm a sense of existence. Poetic strategy and immersion in "a moment" of "trans-temporality" appeared in their poetry, suggest that they strive to investigate the time for new order of lives. Thus, this study would put emphasis on how their nihilistic reasoning are revealed in categories of temporal consciousness and how it works in order to form their spiritual directivity. For that, it firstly notices that nihilism is a product of modern negativity as a humane attitude setting up "a new order of life." In this context, nihilism can be a methodical attitude that would secure reality while getting a wide view for "a period" beyond an individual emotion. So, nihilism appears on a way to recognize human as a temporal being and to express skepticism and pessimism for realistic finitude. That is why many scholars recently grasp contradictory responses, "utopian impulse" and "dystopian impulse" contrary to each other, for modern time into nihilistic diversity. Therefore, this study would illuminate that it is a criticism for chronological time, historical and philosophical time included in nihilistic diversity, noticing the process that contradictory modern temporary consciousness divides into utopian impulse and dystopian impulse. Next I consider nihilistic consciousness appeared in poetry of Kim Chun-su and Kim Jong-sam. Kim Chun-su's poetry acknowledg limits for the world and loathing and negative reasoning for history by examining existential nihilism and existence for ontological nature. And nihilistic consciousness of Kim Jong-sam is stirred by Korean War, which is a result of experiencing violence inherent in the world. So, poets' consciousness transform "consciousness in the world of loss," which the world maintaining the harmonious relationship with ego and the world that human can learn from the inside disappear. The very "consciousness in the world of loss" is the core of existential nihilism appeared in Kim Jong-sam's poetry. The nihilistic consciousness gives a vital clue about explaining both poets' process of development and spiritual aims in poetry and holding current positions. The reason that nihilistic consciousness is remarkable for Kim Chun-su and Kim Jong-sam, is that they would seek "a new order for life" through it. It is especially noticeable that a new order for life which they pursue is a product of keen reasoning and aesthetics for a time. Finally, I examine how nihilistic reasoning of both poets reveals the temporal aesthetics and how it works in the process of writing poems. While they show unique sense of time from early their poetic world, they especially regard realistic time as a value-free thing and pursue "a moment" considering that expectation or prospect for time are meaningless. Such a attitude of a poet intending to be immersed in "a moment" is inherent in a sense that criticizes modern concept of time advancing toward optimistic future, negatively reasoning about progress of historical time. Though they concentrate on writing poems in order to meet impulses getting over realistic limits, the problem is that they recognize their limits again through the very poetic writing. A new order of life and poetic freedom that Kim Chun-su pursue like "the world of play," are not freedoms as infinite possibilities but as artificial aestheticism. The peace that Kim Jong-sam seeks also exists in only "beauty." It cannot help breaking "the moment" it goes out the self-contained world of aestheticism. Therefore, aesthetic peace can be maintained at the only instant of momentary extremity. However, I can rather arouse a critical awareness for historical presence as "here right now," considering that aspirations for new worlds and poetic realizations of both poets are aesthetic responses as witnesses observing wicked wills in the world, and though their poetic strategies of "trans-temporality" are fictional and imaginative, they resolutely stand against temporal formation of real history. The reason that poetry is the salvation to both poets, is not it provides for a refugee from history, but it conforms a fictional characteristics of history and ideology lest it should be a agent of history or an attacker and victim of suffering owing to ideology in a little more active sense.

postwar poetry, nihilistic consciousness, temporal aesthetics, trans-temporality, moment, appreciation, meaninglessness, play, world of loss, non-existence, abstraction, figuration of emptiness, dream and fantasy, music, peace and beauty.