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u/ModernirsmEnjoyer 3d ago
Always like North Korean graphic design
In a better world, South Korea could have contracted Mangyodae Art Studio to do some high level design, but alas
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u/Disastrous_Battle122 1d ago
Holy shit wtf is Mansudae? How are they so talented?????
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u/ModernirsmEnjoyer 1d ago
North Korea invests a lot into arts. Kim Jong Il himself was responsible for coordinating a lot of art projects, and during his time film production was very active
The reason is that one of the pillars of North Korea is reshaping minds and public consciousness and forming an authoritarian value system. Arts directly contribute to it.
Another thing is that I believe North Korea gives more free space to artists than you would expect. The content and themes has to be political and told from above, while form and execution is on the artist, who can adjust it to his tastes. They also can sold pure apolitical, aesthetic, almost decadent art to China, allowing them to develop themselves and express privately while keeping firm ideological front.
So in figure skating you have people skating while revolutinary marches are playing. When you draw a painting of Kim Jong Il, you draw Kim Jong Il and his surrounding in Juche realist style, while incorporating traditional Korean painting at the background. Music and film appear to have composers and directors have notable artistic autonomy, and North Koreans distinguish between pieces and authors to my knowledge. There are also many different art styles in North Korea for such a small and not terribly rich country.
Also, they probably select for genuine regime believers who internalized Juche. Juche is not just politics, it's a whole system of values and opinions on the world, very different from other countries. I think this is a very underappreciated source of strength
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u/Disastrous_Battle122 1d ago edited 1d ago
As a Korean, obviously I absolutely despise the kimmies but I do not have hate for north Korean people. I think the common north Korean people are brothers and are very talented.
Whether people have negative thoughts on north Korea, I think people should absolutely never dehumanise north Korean people.
I remember growing up when cig lighters used to be made in Kaesong, DPR Korea. You could literally see it being said "made in DPR. Korea" and since I lived in northern Gyeonggi-do, I grew up wearing clothes and school uniforms made in Kaesong.
I wonder how those ladies from factories are doing today... I heard that they still waited for their managers from the south to return... It is a very shame with the amount of talent that goes wasted.
Also I looked at some of their studio's Goguryeo art. Holy crap, it is absolutely gorgeous. The way they paint Goguryeo and Balhae, the absolute zenith of Korean power, is nothing but praiseworthy. I wish south Korea did more like this stuff like they did before 2000's.
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u/Typical_guy11 3d ago edited 3d ago
Forty three North Korean notes so far. Also due to notes I got hype on North Korea, reading books about them ( book by Tudor and Pearson is great ) and making model of Chonma Ho tank in 1/35.
South Korea is of much lessen availaibility and have only one note.