The Work of Care

Abstract

This essay examines feminist curation as a work of care with the example of Purplay, a South Korean streaming service. In less than four years since its official launch, Purplay has grown into a platform that currently streams 330 films made by women, hosts a community of 30,000 subscribers, and produces new discourse on women’s cinema through its various initiatives. I analyze an array of Purplay’s curatorial practices as a feminist intervention that not only provides increased access to women’s films but also forges a sense of community among the platform’s participants. These practices, I argue, have constituted a sober reckoning with the inequitable dynamics that characterize South Korea’s current social fabric, and are redefining its screen culture.