In this study, ‘unfamiliar expressions’ in puppet performance were mainly
discussed because of their rarity in other genres. ‘Unfamiliar expressions’ had
never been studied before, so the first step to take was to find some ‘unfamiliar
expressions’ in puppet performances. As a result, there were found to be ‘body
exposure expression’ like exposing naked bodies or genitals and ‘body
severance expression’ like cutting off the head or dismembering the body.
The familiarity of ‘unfamiliar expressions’ is the genre characteristic of
puppet performance. Performing puppets or ‘puppet actors’ have the ability
to do what human actors cannot do, which is the intrinsic characteristic of
puppe ts. Be cause the y are not h umans, t he y are allowe d to e njoy formal
tolerance. This results in unfamiliarity and extremity of expressions in puppet
pe rformance . That makes puppe t pe rformance enjoy i ts longevity in spite of
the restriction of expression. Puppet performance itself signifies the possibility
of limitless ‘unfamiliar expressions.’ This attribute, along with a view of the
world the performance agents have, produces ‘unfamiliar expressions’ in
familiar puppet performance.
From a diachronic viewpoint, ‘unfamiliar expressions’ have shown different
developmental aspects. ‘Body exposure expressions’ have continued to exist
until today, while ‘body severance expressions’ have already disappeared from
puppet performance. Sex worship has played a crucial role in the continuance
of ‘body exposure expressions.’ Laughter and ceremonial significance have
helped to relieve the shocking unfamiliarity in ‘body exposure expressions,’
which is considered to be the major reason for their continued existence.
‘Body s eve rance e xpre ssions’ seemed to have e xisted through a ritual called
Yeommae since the Goryeo Dynasty. However, the secrecy and negative
attributes like doing the others harm through curses and threats in the ritual
were hindrance to the continuance of ‘body severance expressions.’ That is,
the negative functions, closeness to death, and curses or threats in the ritual
were in the way of the continuance of ‘body severance expressions.’ As a play,
‘body severance expressions’ were filled with negative consciousness, no
laughter, and death. They just showed brutality and destructiveness, not any
ce remonial s ignificance . It seems that this extremity and unfamiliarity caused
‘body s e ve rance e xpre ssions’ n ot t o e xist a nymore .
What is the socio-cultural meaning of both the continuance of ‘body
exposure expressions’ and the discontinuance of ‘body severance expressions?’
The two d iffe r e nt ‘ unfamiliar e xpre ssions’ a re assume d to show the
continuance of male-centeredness and the discontinuance of anti-patriarchy.
The e xtre mity a nd p ote ntiality o f anti-patriarchal consciousness shown in
‘body s e ve rance e xpre ssions’ are be lie ve d to b e the prime culprit f or t he ir
disappearance from puppet performance. From this, it is estimated that
male-centeredness have remained, but anti-patriarchy h ave not a t the turn
of mode rn c e ntury. As a re sult o f this, it cause s progre ssivity and r adicality
which ‘unfamiliar expressions’ have to be dulled.
Key words:Puppet Performance, Unfamiliar Expression, Body Severance,
Body Exposure, Diachronic Aspects, Socio-cultural Meaning,
Anti-patriarchy, Male-centeredness