[March Recommended Books by Korea Publication Culture Industry Promotion Agency]④ 'The Humanities of Ddong'

[Asia Economy Reporter Seomideum] The Korea Publication Culture Industry Promotion Agency's Book Sharing Committee announced seven titles, including Horangi Saengilnalireotda (Urihakgyo), as the recommended books for March 2022.

The Book Sharing Committee is composed of experts from various fields. To expand publishing demand and promote reading culture, it introduces books in seven categories?literature, humanities and arts, social sciences, natural sciences, practical general, picture books and fairy tales, and youth?each month along with recommendations.

The "Recommended Books for March" include seven titles: Horangi Saengilnalireotda (Urihakgyo), Adolescent Philosophy Journey (Chorokseojae), #Gender_Novels: Hashtag Literary Selection (Munhakgwa Jiseongsa), The Humanities of Poop (Yeoksabipyungsa), Women Should Also Serve in the Military (Dongnyeok), When Light Becomes Fascination (Influential), and Game Treatment Manual for Everyone (Hankyoreh Publishing).

The Book Sharing Committee includes Chairperson Jeong Subok (sociologist), Kwon Bokgyu (professor at Ewha Womans University College of Medicine), Ryu Daeseong (writer), Jo Gyeongran (novelist), Jin Taewon (professor at Sungkonghoe University), Choi Hyunmi (reporter at Munhwa Ilbo), and Pyo Jeonghun (critic).

Detailed information about the Book Sharing Committee’s recommended books and recommendations can be found on the Publication Promotion Agency’s website or the Dokseoin website.

The Humanities of Poop: Awakening the Sense of Ecology and Circulation | Kim Seongwon and 8 others | Yeoksabipyungsa | 256 pages | 15,000 KRW

As the title suggests, this book contains reflections by eight humanities scholars on the somewhat unrefined(?) subject of poop. What these reflections commonly aim for is to explore the limits and alternatives of modern industrial civilization through the medium of poop. The subtitle, "Awakening the Sense of Ecology and Circulation," clearly expresses the authors’ intentions. The eight essays address the topic of poop according to each author’s interests, exposing the anti-ecological and non-circulatory aspects of modern civilization. There is an essay that examines how images of poop and urine were depicted in Renaissance popular culture through the works of Fran?ois Rabelais, a historian’s analysis of how human waste was managed in Korea during the industrialization period after the Korean War, and a critic’s essay on the competition and replacement between poop and chemical fertilizers in colonial Joseon through literary works. Additionally, two essays explore excretion issues from a psychoanalytic perspective, which are also intriguing. Personally, I found the essay analyzing the sewage treatment system of flush toilets from the perspective of appropriate technology particularly interesting. This essay clearly shows how the now nearly universal modern sewage treatment system is costly and anti-ecological. While seeking alternatives is not easy, recognizing the problem itself is important. This is a valuable work containing insightful reflections on a common yet uncommon subject: poop.

- Jin Taewon, Research Professor at Sungkonghoe University

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.