Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born (2024)

Gay subtext meets historical drama

"She already knows how to make women fall for her without consciously thinking about it ..." (episode 6, 17:43)
"I never knew those two [women] could have such chemistry, they are bringing out the best in each other" (episode 6, 51:47)

The stage of "Jeong Nyeon" is no common theatre. A theatre it is where women reign supreme and assume a duality. In their duality, they are both the subject and object of romantic contemplation, the wooer and the wooed, the pursuer and the prize pursued, the lover and the beloved. They circle one another, and, unawares, trace the contours of homoerotic tension that hums under the mask of their performance

The removal of Kwon Bu Yong and the life she shared with Jeong Nyeon is a cowardly bow to societal prejudice. Nevertheless, the adaptation is worthy of acclaim for its deliberate construction of a homosocial sphere, in which same-sex longings find fertile ground to flourish

"The stars that once graced the [female] gukgeuk stage went on to continue their paths as artists, pansori singers, outdoor theatre performers, or even film actors. They have merely dispersed, not disappeared, and they will shine on in the vast night" (episode 12, 1:14:12)

The legacy of female gukgeuk slumbers in silence and neglect, awaiting but the breath of fresh voices to bid forth anew its sovereign might and elegance

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One of the Best Sapphic Adaptations till Date!

Set in the 1950s, “Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born” delivers a classic retelling of two Korean art forms- Gukgeuk and Pansori.

I spend a lot of time learning the intricacies of these two folk arts, which are quite liberal and intriguing as compared to those in my motherland. For those unaware, Pansori is Korean genre of musical storytelling performed by a singer and a drummer, where the singer tells the story by singing and the drummer accompanies her on the drum. Incorporating this aspect into Gukgeuk was the main highlight of this show, which refers to a theatrical performance that combines singing and dancing. In post war era, Gukgeuk was extremely popular and women portrayed men’s roles. In short, it was an all female- production which had a cult following from the 1950s to 1960s, after which it rapidly declined due to the rise of films. “Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born” delivers a subtle romance with homoerotic tones. Adapted from the webtoon “Jeong Nyeon” (정년이) written by Seo Irae (서이레) and illustrated by Namon (나몬), the original storyline was a sapphic love story. Even though the show is a censored adaptation, the all-women ensemble renders itself useful in maintaining the sapphic flavors.

Read the complete article here-

https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2024/11/18/jeongnyeon-the-star-is-born-series-review/#more-1325

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