Korean Mask Dance Drama: Three versions of Grandmother's Story

This video shows the story of the old grandmother in Korean mask dance dramas as it is played out in three different regional mask dance dramas. My intent by combining these three dramas into one video file was to demonstrate the similarities and differences in Korean mask dance drama content. In the video we can see first Bongsan Talchum, a mask dance drama from the Hwanghae Province of present day North Korea (as performed in the south). Second Goseong Ogwangdae, a mask dance drama from the south coast of Korea (Gyeongsang Province), and finally Songpa Sandae Noli, a mask dance drama from an area that has now been absorbed into the city of Seoul. Although the three dramas are geographically isolated from each other, the viewer can see that a similar story is being played out-- even though details have been changed. The viewer can also appreciate the differences in dance motions and musical accompaniment. These arts are three of Korea's Intangible Cultural Properties, and all the performers shown in this video are long-term performers registered with the protection associations of these arts. Korea's policies to protect intangible cultural heritage are overseen by the Cultural Heritage Administration. In the three arts shown here the old woman is not necessarily a grandmother in the sense of having grandchildren-- but in Korean culture she could be referred to that way due to her age. In Bongsan Talchum she is called Miyal Halmi. In Goseong Ogwangdae she is called Keun Eomi. In Songpa Sandae Noli she is called Shin Halmi.