Now is the time of monsters

Courtesy of Marloes Hilckmann

By David A. Tizzard

Antonio Gramsci's life saw him continually challenging the status quo and picturing a society that championed justice and equality. By exploring cultural hegemony, Gramsci reshaped our understanding of power dynamics and the ways in which ruling classes maintain dominance. This required delving deep into the complexities of social institutions, exploring how cultural norms, education systems, and the media shape the consciousness of the masses and perpetuate existing power structures. Gramsci was a fighter.

A phrase often attributed to him speaks metaphorically of the transition period between the decline of established systems and the emergence of new ones: "The old world is dying, and the new world struggles to be born; now is the time of monsters."

The old world is the existing order, typically associated with outdated social, economic, political, and cultural structures. As things creak, its inherent flaws, contradictions, and injustices become increasingly evident. In real terms, this is the extravagant wages given to fatuous celebrities while our civilization's essential workers struggle to maintain even the most basic of necessities. It is the facade of democracy, continually offering us up a choice of undesirable candidates with no option but to hold our nose and pluck for the least detestable. It is the promotion of cultural products devoid of anything approaching artistic merit.

But the future remains as yet a possibility. An idea not fully realized. An aspiration evident only in the minds of few while the many remain completely oblivious to what might one day come to pass.

Monsters today

And so we live in a time of monsters. A whirlwind of chaotic and unsettling forces characterized by foreboding and unsettling vibes. The monsters are the destructive elements of society and culture. At times, they are our very own human nature, exploiting uncertainties and vulnerabilities. In the most extreme of circumstances, as witnessed by Gramsci and the brutality of Mussolini's fascist regime, the monsters can manifest as oppressive regimes, dictatorships, and prison camps.

While modern South Korea is largely free of the worst of this chaos, it nevertheless suffers a great many social ills produced by the compressed modernity it has experienced during its three successful revolutions: economic, political and cultural. The old ways of life are seen as undesirable by the country's youth. They are turning away from compliance, Confucianism, and collectiveness. Instead, they seek individualism and values more in-tune with their own lives. "Selfish!" comes the cry in return from the elderly.

But the youth don't have the political or economic power to shape the world in their vision. Yet. They wait with somewhat baited breath while those born under the dictatorships of yesteryear fight for democratic control but forget that the evil leaders are long gone. That the people on the other side of their aisle are, in fact, their fellow citizens, co-workers, and colleagues.

The challenge

Despite the monsters, Gramsci suggests that this moment of transition presents both immense challenges and extraordinary opportunities for transformative change. It serves as a call to action, emphasizing the critical importance of navigating the turbulence. Individuals and communities are urged to confront the monsters and actively shape the future. To critically examine the prevailing order, imagine alternative possibilities, and work towards realizing a new world founded on justice, equality and human liberation.

South Korea is struggling through issues at the moment, but it nevertheless has a great track record for reimagining itself. It is no stranger to revolution. And, it is quick to shake off the shackles of tradition. Something many observers fail to recognize when gripped only by the present and being ignorant of history.

When conscious of the past, there is no reason to doubt that the nation's youth, more educated, globally-conscious and morally sensitive than many that have come before them, are capable of giving birth to the next iteration of Korea. It is of course easy to gaslight them ― to suggest they are all depressed, selfish, and gripped by materialistic nihilism. This is a common narrative driven by domestic and international journalists and lapped up by readers looking for their daily dose of hate in their social media tourniquets. But this is merely the old world refusing to hand over the torch. The status quo's last desperate cling to the comfort and power it enjoys.

The future

As someone who interacts with hundreds of young people here every week, I'm fairly confident that they will find solutions to these nascent problems and shape a new Korea for themselves, just as people did in the past. Moreover, that new Korea might be something that is socially and culturally more secure than what we see in other countries. For example, I see little in the way of violence, drugs, gangs or anti-social behavior here.

Movements advocating for gender equality, racial justice, LGBTQ rights and inclusivity are gaining momentum. And there is a growing recognition of the importance of diversity, representation and social justice among the youth. A future South Korea will see increased acceptance, respect and equal opportunities for all individuals, regardless of their background or identity.

South Korea will also likely continue to be at the forefront of technological innovation. The country's strong emphasis on research and development, coupled with its thriving tech industry, suggests that it will remain a leader in areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics and 5G connectivity.

So while many might report on the monsters, do not imagine that these will necessarily continue into the future. The new world struggles to be born, but it is out of such struggles that greatness is found. Now is the time of monsters, but the future may contain something entirely different.

Dr. David A. Tizzard (datizzard@swu.ac.kr) has a Ph.D. in Korean Studies and lectures at Seoul Women's University and Hanyang University. He is a social/cultural commentator and musician who has lived in Korea for nearly two decades. He is also the host of the Korea Deconstructed podcast, which can be found online. The views expressed in the article are the author's own and do not reflect the editorial direction of The Korea Times.