제 19 호 Senior Students from the Department of Theatre Performed En folkefiende
Kicker: SM NEWS
Senior Students from the Department of Theatre Performed En folkefiende
By Hyesu Kim, Cub-Reporter / hyesu4403@icloud.com
From June 27th to 28th, senior (4th year) students from Sangmyung University’s Department of Theatre performed the Norwegian play ‘En folkefiende’ as part of the 31st Young Theatre Festival.
Creating a Play from Scratch
Under the supervision of Professor Lim-Hyung-Jin from the Department of Theatre, senior students were given a chance to complete the production of the play entirely from scratch, starting from directing, playwriting, lighting, production – all the way to acting.
https://www.smu.ac.kr/webzine/today.do?mode=view&articleNo=737612&article.offset=10&articleLimit=10
El folkefiende, and the Societal Implications It Holds
The theme of this year's Youth Theatre Festival was "Taking a Breath with Modern and Contemporary Plays." As COVID-19 has at last subsided and normal daily activities have finally started to become more possible over time in this post-pandemic era, the festival aimed to provide a sense of "relaxation" through theatrical arts for those who had a tough time, and to metaphorically convey the message that theater arts are once again "breathing” – perhaps as a remark on breathing freely without face masks for everyone.
https://www.smu.ac.kr/webzine/today.do?mode=view&articleNo=737612&article.offset=10&articleLimit=10
Meanwhile, El folkefiende (Enemy of the People) is a play written by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen in 1882, set in a small Norwegian town in the late 19th century. The protagonist, Dr. Thomas Stockmann, discovers that the town's hot springs are polluted and insists on exposing the truth and taking social responsibility. However, the dominant figures in the town, along with the media and citizens, criticize Stockmann for making claims that go against their interests. Ultimately, Stockmann is branded as an enemy of the people and faces public condemnation in his quest to reveal the truth.
Through El folkefiende, Ibsen portrays the clash of values between the majority and the minority, illustrating the resistance of the minority seeking truth against the blind majority driven by self-interest. The play highlights the importance of respecting the opinions of the minority, especially when the majority's judgment is not necessarily correct or competent.
Jang Ji-Woon, Sangmyung University's student from Department of Theatre, playing a role of Dr. Thomas Stockmann for El folkefiende
https://www.smu.ac.kr/webzine/today.do?mode=view&articleNo=737612&article.offset=10&articleLimit=10
A Moment to Remember
“We wanted to contemplate a value of truth distorted by realistic issues in modern society through this performance,’ Yoon Seo-Jun, a senior student in the Department of Theatre who directed El folkefiende told Sangmyung University’s Communication Team. Professor Lim Hyeong-Jin, the project advisor, also stated that “El folkefiendeis a work by Ibsen that reflects a rebellious perspective on 19th-century society, encouraging serious contemplation on the contradictory relationship between power and truth commonly witnessed today between groups and individuals.”
I contribute this article to commemorate the very moment in which such a socially meaningful play as El folkefiende was proudly produced by students of Sangmyung University and appreciate them for brightly showcasing our artistic eminence on the grand stage of the Korean theater scene.
