Three Korean literati paintings of an orchid in the deconstructive process

Hyosup Song

doi:10.1515/sem-2015-0116

Article

Three Korean literati paintings of an orchid in the deconstructive process

Hyosup Song

Published/Copyright: November 5, 2015

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From the journal Semiotica Volume 2016 Issue 208

Abstract

Literati paintings were drawn by Korean Confucian scholars from the end of the Koryeo period to the end of the Joseon period. As painting these works was considered a method for a scholar’s self-cultivation, literati paintings express plenty of in-depth metaphysical points of significance. Meanwhile, these paintings revealed changes that correspond with changes in cultural circumstances. The present study considers such transformation as a deconstructive process. This research analyzes three Korean orchid paintings to address the following three questions: (1) How are the literati’s thoughts represented in their forms of paintings in the East Asian tradition of poetry–calligraphy–painting in one? (2) How are the interrelations among the pictorial image, verbal message, and empty space revealed in individual literati paintings? (3) How are such interrelations deconstructed amid new cultural circumstances?

Keywords: literati painting; markedness; unmarkedness; deconstruction; transcendental signified; immanent signifier

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Published Online: 2015-11-5

Published in Print: 2016-1-1

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https://doi.org/10.1515/sem-2015-0116

Keywords for this article

literati painting; markedness; unmarkedness; deconstruction; transcendental signified; immanent signifier