Korea

Abstract

This slim volume is densely packed with information and analysis concerning Salpuri-Chum, a secular entertainment derived from a traditional shamanic ritual. The authors set out to discuss the nature of the dance form (its history, characteristics, and various styles) as well as its meaning and significance in relation to the “emotional dynamics of the Korean people” (p. 11), using Freudian psychoanalytic theory as an interpretive tool. Although its focus is clearly rather specialized, the book appears to be aimed at a more-or-less general audience, inviting the reader into the world of Salpuri-Chum and the spiritual and psychological traits of the Korean people. It should be of particular interest to Korean performance specialists and dance scholars.