20세기 전반기 기생 소재(素材) 대중가요의 노랫말 분석

Abstract

This study analyzes the text of popular songs that describe Gisaeng

among popular songs enjoyed in the first half of the 20th century. Early

Gisaengs in popular songs were represented as dual images such as

sacredness and mundane world, and when they were alive, they were

considered the incarnation of secularity. When they died, they were praised

as sacred persons like Kang, Myeong-hwa.

Meanwhile, Gisaengs in popular songs in the 1930s were depicted as

different images in accordance with the gender of poetic ego. In the works

of female poetic ego, they were represented mostly as Gisaengs themselves

so that there were many works that they lamented their lives. Among the

songs sung by male poetic ego, they occasionally were touched with pity

for Gisaengs in other countries; however, they satirized them as the

subjects of laughing on the whole.

It can be pointed out that the songs of female poetic ego reflected the

hope of the contemporary Gisaengs who wanted to keep their dignity as

human beings. However, the songs of male poetic ego represented the

dominant and general attitudes towards Gisaengs. What is important is that

male poetic ego did not think of Gisaengs as the subjects of romantic love

in the songs any longer. Furthermore, there was no praise for the artistic

talents of Gisaengs. In conclusion, it can be assumed that Gisaengs in the

first half of the 20th century reflects their fall.