Образ «особенного» дерева и его трансформации в пространстве южнокорейского телесериала

Abstract

The article examines how the image of a tree forms and acts in a South Korean TV series. Formally being part of a shooting location, a tree often appears in scenes that add to it connotation; it is such scenes that become the object of my analysis. A short insight into the history of Korean culture outlines the features of the cult of trees and demonstrates the peculiarities existing in the perception of the image of a tree in literary works. Notable here are the tradition of worshipping tree spirits and trees as such; the connection of trees with the souls of the deceased; the mix of motifs of different origin (including Buddhist ones) in the image of a tree; the diversity and flexibility of its interpretations. Further, I address contemporary television series of various genres, mostly fantasy. Most of the examples are united by one particular tree, which, since 2005, has “starred” in more than twenty TV series. An analysis of the scenes in which this and other trees appear shows that we can speak of the serial image of a special tree. At the same time, some characteristics of a sacred tree appear quite regularly: for instance, the connection of trees with the theme of death, the interaction of characters with a tree or a tree spirit, and a tree acting as a protector. Interestingly, these and other motifs prove to be very convenient for recon- textualization. In addition, scenes involving a special tree appeal to the audience’s experience. The intertextual connections formed around the television image of a tree makes it possible to use it as an element of non-verbal communication with viewers.