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I believe North Korea's biggest want is 'the people' because there is no power without the people. If they want to get power, they need the people who follow the regime, and they need people to believe that North Korea is a more desirable country than South Korea. This is why most South Korean dramas and music are banned in North Korea. That links to the 'Wolmi Island' too, as it promotes strong patriotism for the nation.
<Taelim>

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I do think it is effective in instilling nationalism as they depict themselves as defeating the US, which is the most powerful country in the world. Especially, the scene in which an American prisoner is captured by the North Korean soldiers implies to the audience that North Korea is stronger than the US. So in such way, this film is definitely instilling nationalism.

Moreover, this film not only portrays the great victory of their own nation but also displays 'humanity'. Even I, as a South Korean, felt sympathetic when watching this film, particularly in the scene where soldiers gather around the girl singing for them. I think nationalism is instilled not just because the nation was 'great', but because the sense of humanity and the neighborhood makes the North Koreans together.
<Taelim>

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I am curious about South Korean's reaction. As a South Korean, I have never heard of this film, and I also asked my parents, but they were also not familiar with this kind of North Korean propaganda film.

<Taelim>

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To be honest, as a South Korean, I felt a bit uncomfortable with the way North Korea distorted the history of the battle on Wolmi Island. On the other hand, I realized that the soldiers in this film, which I first thought as evil, would be actually our neighbors, our families, or our ancestors. They are just ordinary folks, fighting for their nation, missing their families, and sacrificing for the nation, and they were also the victims of the Korean war.
<Taelim>

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Is this film actually played a lot in North Korea? And if so, where has it been displayed? In cinema's, or in schools or somewhere else? What was the targeted audience: North Korean citizens, children, foreign viewers? What was the goal of the movie: indoctrinating children, showing the world how amazing North Korea and their soldiers, entertainment with a hint of propaganda?

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<Nidhi>
Yes, I do believe that the film can instill nationalism, also because of the displayed humanity of the soldiers. The soldiers were portrayed as vulnerable human beings trying to fight for what they believe is right, which makes the audience have compassion and understanding for them. The cook seemed very sympathetic, innocent and nice and also the young girl was singing and bringing joy to soldiers fighting for their country, while also wanting to fight herself to help them. I think this makes it easy to be drawn into North Korea's nationalist ideology, because the characters in this movie are not heartless dictators or bad cold-hearted soldiers randomly killing innocent people, they are actually portrayed as kind-hearted individuals, just like you and me, which makes the audience less alienated from the North Korean ideology, because through this film it is kind of portrayed as 'normal' or even 'honorable'.

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<Nidhi>
I think North Korea wants is country to blindly follow and basically 'worship' its leaders. I think they want the citizens to put the leaders' life above their own and their family's. In the film this can be seen by how the soldiers speak about the leaders and how dying and fighting in the name of their leaders is the most honorable thing they can do. I think North Korea's concerns and fears for its country is the influence of foreign countries, since foreign countries could potentially make the citizens believe different things than the North Korean government wants them to believe.

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Different norms and values under nationalism

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Different norms and values under nationalism

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<Nidhi>
My main takeaway after watching Wolmi Island was how things can be viewed differently in different settings. For example, in Wolmi Island, dying was glorified, very romanticized and seen as something  heroic, as to where that is not the case from many other people's perspectives. Another thing was the 17-year old girl fighting in the army, which was portrayed as something noble, brave and admirable, whereas I was slightly horrified by an actual child being used as an army soldier. I think these two things being portrayed this way in Wolmi Island has to do with the (extreme) nationalism that the film wants to reinforce. From the perspective of the propaganda creators, one could say anything that could portray a sign of nationalism towards North Korea and loyalty to its leaders, can be seen as something heroic or admirable, even if that involves dying or children fighting in a war.

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How easily people fall for government propaganda. 

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How easily people fall for government propaganda. 

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<Minsong Kim>
Comparing to commercial advertisements, why do people easily fall for the government propaganda? What is the function used in the propaganda that makes people think irrationally.

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<Minsong Kim>
I think nationalism is likely to be instilled when history of defeating the enemy with great efforts and remarkable achievements is shown to people. This kind of history makes the country itself precious as it shows how difficult it was for the nation to overcome such obstacles throughout the past. Also, the remarkable achievements that one nation made in comparison to the other countries provokes in people's mind    about the superiority and specificity that their countries have. As this film well depicts N Korea's effort to defend the UN Allied Forces, the soldiers' sacrifice, and the specificity derived  from Kim Il Sung, I think N Koreans would definitely get nationalism through this film.

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With all the exaggeration and the techniques used by the film, and with General Kim as a director. Is this film considered as a type of movie that uses gaslighting techniques in manipulating the feelings of North Koreans?

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I think this film might be effective in instilling nationalism for the North Koreans BUT on a global scale, from another point of view (objective pov), it might not be that persuasive due to the techniques used and the exaggerations in the film. For the North Koreans since they have experienced the war together and to them it will be a collective memory and the pain they suffered thus they can relate to it more. But from an outsider point of view it might not be that convincing in this case

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<Minsong Kim>
The soldiers in the movie repeatably emphasize the honor to sacrifice for Kim Il Sung even under the unjustifiable command to protect the Wolmi island with the minority of soldiers. And they regard the death as honorable as it shows the loyalty and dedication towards Kim Il Sung. By this, it is likable to assume that N Korea wants the public to adopt the 'loyalty' and the 'obedience' to General Kim as the basic norm of actions and thoughts. And as personal desire and wishes are strongly restricted, we could know that this obedience is unconditional and reckless.
In relation to this, I think the country is concerned about people being thoughtful, opposing to the power of the Kim's family and casting doubt on the justification of their sovereignty.

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<Minsong Kim>
As a South Korean, I was surprised about the way N Korea depicted the battle of Wolmi island and how they used that theme as a method to instigate the residents. The film shows that North Korean Navies had held off 50,000 soldiers leaded by General MacArthur for three days. However, in fact, according to the historical documents, including one of the N Korea's secret documents, it is clear that the battle was a crushing defeat, which led their situation of the war to reserve negatively. In addition, the withstanding for three days by the soldiers turned out to be only 14 hours. Thus, regarding the historical record(the fact), it is evident that in this film, N Korea fabricated the history and used it as a mean to evoke the loyalty upon Kim Il Sung. But on the perspective of South Korea, as the battle in Wolmi island was the turn of the tide, the movies related to this history emphasize the greatness and the power of the Korean soldiers, the role of MacAthur and the dedication of the normal people in that battle. So in the perspective of N Koreans, the battle of Wolmi island might be the memory of 'shame,' in which the government had to conceal and convert people's focus from 'defeat' to 'the honorable dedication for General Kim.' On the other hands, in the perspective of S Koreans, the same historical event is the memory of 'pride,' which should be continuously  remembered by people. To conclude, by this movie, I learned that people with different perspectives have different memories about the same historical fact, and depending on the memories they have, the intention of the film and the way of portraying it differ.

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I think this film really is focused on instillng nationalism among North Korean Society. The movie engages some devices depicting protecting country as a noble action. As you see most of the lines carry the means of instilling nationalism
YC Lee

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Patriotism BUT united values for the country

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Patriotism BUT united values for the country

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This film tells us about the North Korea's vision towards General Kim and his doings for the country. The concerns mentioned in the movie will mainly be US troops invading the country and fear of them invading the country to go against general Kim. Their love for General Kim's is undoubtable. The film also showed great hatred towards the US troops - which is the main idea of the movie - to go against and fight against the US troops. The movie also aims to unite north Korean's hatred towards the US troops. (XYuan)

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(in the subtitles at least) There were many mentions of 'my native village', and nostalgia for these villages. This is connected to love for the nation and the General. This way the abstract nationalism for the mother nation is made graspable, so that big personal sacrifices are legitimised and even praised.

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They feared UN forces' penetration into Pyeongyang! And feared that they might not be able to make it back to their home.
They insist that the UN forces breached North Korea while they were living in peace.
YC LEE

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Glorification of something that went lost

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Glorification of something that went lost

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I wonder why was chosen for a territory that eventually was lost. In the ending scenes there was spoken about the victory that McArthur will be boasting about for 50 years. Maybe it is glorification of sacrifice? But I wonder why is chosen for a story about an island that eventually was lost.

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My main takeaway for this film will there is strong gratitude and appreciation towards Kim II Sung and the love towards North Korea. Moreover it's exaggerating the fact that the Army with only four guns defeated the 50,000 Americans which doesn't sound quite right. The whole film is about patriotism and like too much exaggeration towards the general. On the bright side it brings people together and unites the people together through one love and shared values towards the general.

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What intrigued me was how authority was handled in this film. As this is a state-film, I assume it functions as an example, and that the characters are mainly role models. There were several moments when the young girl disobeyed orders, which surprised me somewhat. But this disobedience was for the better good of the country's war efforts, which explains why this disobedience is protrayed.

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What intrigued me was how authority was handled in this film. As this is a state-film, I assume it functions as an example, and that the characters are mainly role models. There were several moments when the young girl disobeyed orders, which surprised me somewhat. But this disobedience was for the better good of the country's war efforts, which explains why this disobedience is portrayed.

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What I learned about North Koreans is that they are decribes as mosterous, ruthless, and emotionless. But as I wachted this movie, I could see the humane aspect of North Koreans as well. They didn't want to start a war, all they wanted was to go back to their homeland and spend time with their family. Also when I saw them moaning about the death of their comrade, I was quite touched.
Lee YC

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loyalty to family (film as creator and reflector of this culture)

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loyalty to family (film as creator and reflector of this culture)

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Vision

A people loyal and sacrificial to its motherland (aka the governors of motherland);

To inspire such character ideals portrayed (resilient, loyal, sacrificial)

To rekindle a love for the nation (love for their big family)

Fears / Concerns:

Such portrayal of national ideals could be out of fears for discouragement amongst the people / fears for mistrust and dissatisfaction towards the government (from economic crisis? Given its been 30 years from war?)

This is done through:

1. Characterisation - the portrayal of “a real man/women” establishes a vision for character ideals

- Company commander: responsible, loyal, courageous; calmness in face of pressure; seems cold and rude on the outside, but with a heart inside (these could also have served as propaganda about Kim Jong II)

- Radio operator: 17, young women who stayed on to support the battle

- Sacrificial cook: faithful to his duty at all cost and risked his life

2. Audio / Visual Techniques to stir up nostalgia and love for the motherland

Music: song about motherland

Lighting: contrasting grim war reality vs memories of motherland

3. Ideologies/Values reflected in the film as motivators for the soldiers during war (fighting for the nation), could be intended as similar motivators for the audience to be inspired and fight for the ideals pitched (like the characters)

Hence this appeal to confucianist family ideals - the loyalty to family, suggests a reflection of what appeals to the audience's cultural values.

The director creates appealing, inspiring characters, to motivate audiences to be like them in other ideals that were pitched as well (their grit, and loyalty to the big family - motherland and Kim)

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Yes, for the moment, no, in the long term

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Yes, for the moment, no, in the long term

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Yes, relative to a document/statement, film does well in its emotional appeal on its audience (through music, visuals, characterisations for audience to relate to)

No, due to the exaggerated portrayal which fails in its logical appeal for audiences who are more critical and aware of the nature of films.
Additionally, emotional appeals may not be sustainable, if the other areas of concerns amongst the people are not addressed (ie. if policies and government actions do not align with what is pitched) which may even accentuate mistrust towards the government (seen as hypocritical), discontent towards the nation.

(Rose)

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Was this initiative effective for North Korea? 

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Was this initiative effective for North Korea? 

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What was the occasion that motivated this propaganda? did it eventually serve its purpose?

How did the North Koreans actually receive this film? positively or skeptically?

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I am curious about the accuracy of this film, whether it truly depicted history. I can’t help but to think that the film is propagandistic in nature because of my preconceived notion of North Korea. However, that opinion might also cloud my judgement and prevent me from viewing the film critically and objectively. (xinyi)

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What is it that unites and builds a nation (an imagined community)?

A shared experience / A shared suffering unites people

From the choice of depicting a war scene at wolmi island (although not a very victorious incident in the Korean War), the brutal suffering faced served as a way to emotionally appeal and encourage a sense of unity through this shared suffering.

A shared purpose unites people (unfortunately it is through having a common enemy in the shared suffering)

Firstly, purpose seems to be depicted as a the fight against the common enemy (US)
Secondly, purpose was proposed as the fight for a shared ideology, a fight to protect what they value (possibly anti imperialism, communism, family values)
which leads to the last point

Shared values to fight for unites people

Confucianist family values: strongly portrayed as a way to emotionally appeal to its audiences, a motivator for the fight and battles, something to protect and fight for. This suggests the reflected reality of existing culture amongst north koreans

(Rose)

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I found the scene where the battalion commander and the company commander discuss the changing meanings of the 'motherland' particularly significant. When we think of nation, we think of it as representing its people. But the statement by the battalion commander shows how North Korean propaganda was able to alter this definition to conceptualise the North Korean nation as one man: General Kim Il Sung. The film provides interesting insights into how totalitarian states use national rhetoric to unite the people under a single, all-powerful, charismatic leader. (Pav)

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Like many nationalistic films, this film showcases and highlights the triumphs that North Korea earned through sacrifices and hardships. The story brings you through the experiences of heroes and the emotions of the nation at that time which helps people feel like they went through history together with the soldiers and thus would feel pride and a sense of achievement. (xinyi)

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Throughout this film, a good portion of the scenes were dedicated to show human interaction and the relationship/trust between them. I feel that the nation’s vision is to have a unified community who will place their trust into their leaders. Though they might not be the strongest in other aspects, but I feel that the leaders and generals realised the power of a unified population, one that will follow their commands faithfully. Similarly, their concern/fear will be losing their control over the people and thus losing their power to control the masses, which was what attributed to their success thus far. (xinyi)

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Patriotic/nationalist war films are formulaic.

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Patriotic/nationalist war films are formulaic.

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If we unpack the structure of the film Wolmi Island, it seems not all that different from other patriotic/nationalist war films from non-totalitarian states such as the US. Strong-willed male protagonist (check), loud, music that swells as it pushes emotion and intensity in the minds and hearts of the viewers, lyrics that tell the story of the 'motherland' or 'fatherland' to evoke unshakeable loyalty to the nation, ensemble cast consisting of the everyday 'man' or 'woman' whose lives and eventual tragedies are used as a narrative tool to tug at the heartstrings of the viewer... It makes me think that we sometimes enter these films with our preconceived notions of what to expect. I was guilty of that when I heard that we were to be watching a North Korean propaganda movie as part of this class, as I assumed it would be much more over-the-top than your classic war films from the West. But in actuality, it really isn't all that different. (Pav)

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During tumultuous times and warfare, it is natural for nations to find enemies and create a sense of otherness, in order to create unity within the country. This is evident in the film and throughout history. North Korea strongly believed that US was the invader and thus fought hard against them. However, as we mentioned in class, there will always be another side of the story where the US believed that North Korea was invading and also fought against these external forces. When perceptions and stories are so interconnected and emotional during nation building, it leads to the complex relationship that nations have to this day. Everyone believes their own side of the story and as nationalism rises, history gets rewritten to highlight own triumphs and others’ defeats. (xinyi)

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I felt that the medium of film could be effective in emphasizing nationalism. But what's important is the values, thoughts, and times of the people who accept it. I think if this kind of movie was distributed to people with different nationalities from another era, it could cause a backlash. Nevertheless, the film was effective in consolidating nationalism in North Korea, as North Koreans' emphasis on general Kim Ill-sung and patriotism was natural from an early age. What I also noticed was a device in this movie called "Thematic Song." If you look at the lyrics of "I Know," the theme of this movie, it implies praise and patriotism for Kim Il-sung. The song keeps them remembering the message of this movie even after the movie is over. In fact, the song of the movie is very well known among North Koreans. Among the additional things that make up the movie like this, you can find something that is effective in emphasizing nationalism. (Minji Lee)

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One thought that I had throughout this movie was how similar the storyline was to many American military movies I've seen. I'm not a huge war movie fan, but the storyline of an impossible situation where the smaller army comes out on top is very popular in American media. It made me wonder how to classify propaganda, and to what extent does telling a story from one perspective with an intention of a certain outcome (in this case, nationalism) makes a film enter into propaganda territory? Would a film similar to this be effective in building nationalism in North Korea today? Are there US films I've seen that might be considered propaganda? (Victoria Samotis)

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I think that when the film was made, it could have been very effective. The basic storyline of underdogs coming out on top despite multiple obstacles through unifying over a cause that is greater than them is one told over and over again (and for good reason). The film displays several human emotions (grief, fear, triumph, etc.) that could very easily sway an audience. This storyline and these characters are all laid out on top of a theme of national pride and sacrifice for North Korea, making it a fairly persuasive film. I think the smartest move the film made was through Yong Ok's character and the American soldier's final speech. I believe Yong Ok would represent families, sisters, daughters, etc. to a lot of North Koreans, and her love for the country and her ultimate sacrifice were very convincing in the argument of nationalism. Additionally, showing how the enemy's perspective was swayed in a short amount of time to see the North Koreans' strength was also a convincing argument for nationalism. (Victoria Samotis)

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Perseverance and resilience seem to be strong themes. The soldiers were greatly outnumbered, and they had limited resources, yet they were told to keep fighting for 3 days and to not accept defeat despite the impossibility of the situation. However, their morale was kept up through the company commander's insistence on fighting for their nation and by Yong Ok's song about the motherland. I think this vision is what North Korea wants to instill in people: resilience through hard times is for the greatness of the country. I think their fears are reflected through the company commander's own worries: how to defend their nationhood. He often wonders how he will keep MacArthur's troops back for 3 days, and he fears if he loses, it will be the loss of their nation. I think these are the fears North Korea wants to instill: the loss of their nation, and therefore, their pride, safety, etc. (Victoria Samotis)

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From my perspective, the film felt like it was created in one sense to be a guidebook to North Koreans on how they can show loyalty, bravery, and pride for the country. One of the main reasons it felt this way was from the wide array of characters (cook, radio operator, company commander, American soldier, etc.) and the actions they each took to demonstrate their love for the fatherland. Many of the lines in the script equated the nation to Kim Sung Il and there were even two personal anecdotes told by characters about the general. Even with the knowledge that this was a propaganda film, I can understand its effectiveness in creating deep emotions about North Korea and what it means to be loyal to their country. (Victoria Samotis)

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Although the timing is different, S Korea has made a movie with the same historical material of this movie. We'll see the difference in the development and narrative of these two films, and the difference in the areas they emphasize. There will also be adaptations of both from real events. It is also important to see how fictions are added differently. If one emphasizes the greatness  of a leader and loyalty, the other emphasizes the sacrifice of the people. (Minji Lee)

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North Korea tried to strengthen its people's solidarity even in difficult situations. Using patriotism as their ultimate vision, they emphasized responsibility to the nation by showing characters who do their best in their positions. Individual lives and deaths are not limited to individual work, but have also been shown to be meaningful in terms of groups and countries. Their fear would have been the possibility that the people would be frustrated by a realistic sense of inferiority, the resulting internal division. That's why they emphasized that North Koreans are not just individuals, but communities. (Minji Lee)

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Wolmi Island is a movie that played a role at the forefront of propaganda propaganda in North Korea. What was surprising was that they had already made a movie under the theme of the Operation Chromite 20 years before South Korea. In addition, from the North's point of view, the "Operation Chromite," which was the most severely damaged in the war, was used in reverse to make it the most successful function in propaganda. Through this, I felt the ability to brainwash residents in North Korea was. In fact, it is said that everyone in North Korea knows the theme song of the movie. I could see the role of film as a medium for solidifying national solidarity and loyalty. (Minji Lee)

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The film leaves me with a deeper understanding of North Korea's perspective on nationhood and its portrayal of heroism in the face of adversity. Although I knew it was a propaganda film, I actually felt like I was with them in the fight against the invaders. I was also amazed at how the bombing effects were so good for a 1982 film?! Overall, this has deepened my appreciation for the power of film to evoke emotions and transport viewers into the world depicted on screens.

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Wait...Do People Actually Buy This Crap?

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Wait...Do People Actually Buy This Crap?

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(Edwin Loh)
I am wondering whether North Koreans, like myself, question how such a poorly constructed film can expect people to believe its narrative. Perhaps they do, but they are unable to express their doubts openly. The film employs convenient tactics to erase evidence of truths and facts, such as the convenient death of the messenger tasked with delivering letters due to being killed by the US forces. Furthermore, the deliberate and meticulously engineered portrayal of women in the military indicates that they are well aware of how women are truly treated, contrary to the film's representation. Additionally, the assertion by Kim Il Sung that their eventual defeat was a strategic retreat appears dubious and far-fetched – a defeat is a defeat (call a spade a spade man…).

Moreover, considering that we are now in the 21st century with widespread access to the internet and copious amounts of information, it may seem evident to us how implausible and manipulative these propaganda tactics are. However, I wonder how the people of the 1980s, amidst limited information availability, reacted to concepts like the unquestioning protection of their leader and the rigid hierarchical system. Did they genuinely believe it was the right thing to do? Did they perceive it as their duty or innate purpose? Or did they harbor doubts even then? It wouldn't surprise me if they did not question these ideas, as history shows instances of individuals sacrificing themselves for their kings, as seen in ancient China, for instance. In the film, instances like the miner's pre-death statement, "tell them a sailor wished the General good health before going," and the song that follows with lyrics emphasizing the fight against US imperialism in the name of justice, for the LEADER, and for the party, highlight the prioritization of the leader over the party, prompting further reflection on the underlying beliefs and narratives presented.

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The film conveys North Korea's vision for a united and resilient country while reflecting concerns about external threats from foreign invaders and the importance of national defence. It emphasizes triumph over foreign invaders and venerates Kim Il Sung's leadership, reinforcing a commitment to a strong and unified nation.

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It Depends - On One's Pre-Existing Preconceptions/Knowledge

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It Depends - On One's Pre-Existing Preconceptions/Knowledge

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(Edwin Loh)
The effectiveness of the film ultimately relies on the perspective and prior knowledge of the viewer. For those of us who are aware that it is propaganda or already hold preexisting notions about North Korea, we approach the film with a critical eye, actively seeking out instances of propaganda. It's worth noting that this applies not only to us but likely also to some North Koreans who watch the film and recognize it as propaganda.

However, for a North Korean viewer who is completely unaware of the truth about their state and lacks suspicion regarding propaganda, the film can be highly effective. It portrays the valiant fight of their ancestors, emphasizing the responsibility to ensure that their sacrifices were not in vain. Loyalty to the state and comrades is emphasized, along with the depiction of their ancestors' ability to achieve victory despite being vastly outnumbered. The film aims to instill a sense of pride in the tactical brilliance and courage of their ancestors, fostering a belief in the honor of sacrificing oneself for the country. Additionally, the film highlights the care given to young and female soldiers, seeking to cultivate loyalty and, more importantly, confidence in the leadership of their state. By showcasing the American lieutenant's dying words, "We can't beat them. America can win the battle but not the war," the film aims to instill a sense of confidence and pride in North Koreans, reinforcing the idea that even the most powerful nation in the world at the time, the US in their perspective, failed to defeat them during their ancestors' era.

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Role of women in military propaganda films

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Role of women in military propaganda films

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What was the filmmaker's intention in depicting Yong Ok, the sole female character, in relation to the themes of nationalism and the portrayal of heroism in the film?

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Desire for Unity and Fear of Truth Being Exposed Leading to Internal Strife

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Desire for Unity and Fear of Truth Being Exposed Leading to Internal Strife

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(Edwin Loh)
Vision: North Korea's leadership seek to maintain a unified populace, where individuals see themselves as comrades and the General as their savior. The General is credited with bestowing various privileges upon the people, and as a result, they feel a deep sense of loyalty towards him. North Korea propagates the belief that sacrificing oneself for the state and the greater good, including the well-being of the General, is not only morally right but also just. The ultimate goal is to ensure stability in the regime's rule, achieved by indoctrinating the population to serve the General and the state, perceiving it as their inherent duty and purpose. Additionally, North Korea aims to foster the notion that it possesses the power to rival even the most advanced nations, such as the United States. This objective can only be realized through unity among the people, unwavering support for one another, and fervent loyalty towards the state and the General.

Concerns: North Korea harbors a deep fear of the truth being exposed, particularly through the influence of a free media. While the movie focuses on portraying the US as the enemy, their true apprehension lies not in the US itself, but in the knowledge that the US possesses a vast array of records documenting not only the specific incident but also the entire history of North Korea. These records depict North Korea as a dictatorship, a country that compromises its citizens' basic rights. Consequently, through the creation of this movie, North Korea aims to instigate animosity and distrust towards the US. They recognize that, with the concerted efforts of the US and other nations, alternative sources of information will eventually reach the North Korean citizens. The regime's hope is that by fostering skepticism, doubt, and even hatred towards the US, the citizens will dismiss alternative sources as US propaganda. Essentially, their intention is to employ brainwashing techniques to ensure that internal dissent does not spread uncontrollably and pose a significant threat to the regime's stability.

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The film employs techniques and elements to reinforce North Korea's nationhood (by promoting anti-imperialist sentiments). First, it mirrors the political landscape of the 1950s, idolizing Kim Il Sung's leadership and depicting the North Korean company's triumphant victory against foreign invaders. Second, it highlights the culture of the North Korean military, emphasizing commitment, emotional strength, and heroism. Third, it uses certain dramatic elements and ‘modelling theory’ to reinforce nationalism. For instance, the film dramatises the company’s victory by creating an unrealistic scenario of having 4 guns to defeat a staggering 50,000 American soldiers. Besides, the filmmaker portrayed young soldiers, like Yong Ok, going through heroic deaths by sacrificing their lives for the nation, thereby creating ideals of patriotism and indomitable fighting spirit for the audience to follow. Overall, the film effectively instils nationalism by tapping into viewers' emotions and strengthening the collective identity and pride of the audience.

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Good or Bad - Just a Matter of Perspective

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Good or Bad - Just a Matter of Perspective

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(Edwin Loh)
It is a fundamental truth that individuals cannot be easily categorized as purely "good" or "bad," as their character and actions are heavily influenced by their perspective, which is shaped by their upbringing. This upbringing, in turn, molds their principles, beliefs, and overall value system. For example, North Koreans perceive the US as invaders and consider it their duty to defend their country and General, even to the extent of sacrificing their lives. Despite being outnumbered and possessing weaker weapons, their victories can be attributed to their unwavering fighting spirit and indomitable will to fight until the very end, as well as their Commander’s superior tactical skills.

Conversely, the US perceives the North Koreans as the invaders. As mentioned by the captured lieutenant, he was informed by MacArthur that the North Koreans were the aggressors, and the US military was present to stop them. He followed these orders without question, not feeling the need to challenge or scrutinize them. This theme of loyalty to the state can be observed across many militaries, where soldiers view their role as being devoted to their Commanders and serving the state with utmost dedication, rarely questioning their allegiance.

Each side firmly believes in the righteousness of their cause. The American soldier, upon realizing that his side was actually the invading force and witnessing the North Koreans' willingness to sacrifice for their state, developed a deep admiration for them. This experience led him to acknowledge that he had been deceived by his commander, MacArthur.

In fact, this notion holds true for various aspects of life. Our upbringing, environment, exposure to different knowledge and people, as well as our circumstances, all contribute to shaping our mindsets, value systems, and perspectives. Therefore, most individuals genuinely believe that their actions are morally right. It is rare for someone to consciously believe they are doing something wrong and still convince themselves to proceed with conviction, as their conscience and ethical considerations eventually start to trouble them.

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I was surprised that this movie was made in North Korea in the 1980s. This is because the movie is very well-made and there is nothing behind in technology. Therefore, I wondered how I was able to have this technology in North Korea at the time.

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I think this movie is effective in instilling nationalism. Because movie shows dramatic scenes and likeable characters and though them, movie draw a story that would make people proud of their country. Also, story has military confrontation and the sacrifices of the characters. I think this story is good enough to make North Korean people proud of thier country.

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North Korea’s vision is the unity of the people. The main story of the movie is that soldiers fight against the South Korean and U.S. military forces in unison. The characters follow the leader well and move toward one goal under his control. This is an important behavior not only in the situation in the movie, but also in North Korean society as a whole.

That's why North Korea's fear is that this unity will collapse. Since North Korea is maintained by the unity of its people, if the people do not unite as one, changes can occur in North Korean society and this will be what the North is afraid of.

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The most memorable thing in this movie is this movie has many praises of general. Characters in movie said, “We have to protect the Island which general recovered.”, “My country is like a general.”. This line shows strong loyalty to their general. From this, we could see that the movie contains the loyalty of the North Korean people that we can see in the media. And this is connected to their pride. The film shows North Korea's strong pride in confronting the South Korean and U.S. military's Incheon landing operation in Wolmido Island. From this, I could feel the level of loyalty and pride of North Koreans to their homeland after watching the movie.

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I guess I am also curious what are the techniques used in this film or other propaganda films that draws their audiences in. This is because I am surprised at how much this film got me to feel for North Korea despite the contextual knowledge of their wrongdoings
(Angus)

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It is effective at tugging on heartstrings of audiences with the underdog effect, the use of relatable likeable characters. This buys over the audience. It also provided an emotional experience of the turmoil the protagonists went through in order to protect the homeland, subtly urging the audiences to do the same.

(Angus)

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I inferred that North Korea's strength comes from its people or having control of its people. As evident in the film, I think even North Korea concedes that they may not be the most resourceful or powerful but as long as the people remain united, they can handle whatever comes their way.

In the similar vein, the country's fear would be disunity among its people or lack of love for the country. This makes sense considering that it is a communist nation that would require the unity of citizens to ensure that system runs well.

(Angus)

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Propaganda films that tug at heartstrings really works....

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Propaganda films that tug at heartstrings really works....

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Despite going into the film with the preconceived notions of the wrongdoings of North Korea and the knowledge that it is a propaganda film, I felt for the protagonists within the movie. I think the film utilised really relatable and likeable characters (Singer girl, Army cook and charismatic leader) and familial relationships to relate to the audience.

The hints of patriotic propaganda was nuanced and subtle. I could totally see how it will capture the hearts of the North Koreans if they lack any contextual knowledge.

Lastly, I think the underdog effect was the main anchor of the film. Personally, the underdog effect always gets me. There is just something about rooting for the hero facing overwhelming odds against a much stronger opponent. For a film that was made in the 1980s, I'd say it was a job well done

(Angus)

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With all the soldiers being male and the radio operator as the sole female character in the film, would there be any significant impact on the intended message that the film was trying to convey if this character was instead male? (Yi Qiang)

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The film showed the soldier's raw emotions in and out of combat, allowing the viewer to empathize with the characters and also to experience the devotion of the soldiers to their country.

Being an extremely small unit compared to the naval fleets and airforce, this showed that the determination of the North's fighting force was unparalleled. (Yi Qiang)

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The use of just one female character in a sea of male characters is really interesting to me. I wonder what was the thought process behind adding her into the storyline and her undeniable importance to the plot. (Reneé)

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North Korea wanted its citizens to be united as one, to face any adversity together and to have immense national pride. From the film, we observe that the soldiers all feel indebted to the General (eg. the farm land that was given) and are willing to fight for the North's cause at all costs.

I believe that the film depicted the North's fears and concerns as being taken over and controlled by the US, and having their soldiers' morale be negatively affected. (Yi Qiang)

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Personally, I found the film quite moving actually. With this, I would say that the film is effective in instilling a sense of nationalism. It evokes a response from the audience through emotional connection vs historical accuracy. It urges the audience to reflect on their country's history and what each of their ancestors has gone through to get to where the country is today. Furthermore, the film allows the audience to realize how important freedom is to a country and how deeply we as citizens should protect it. (Reneé)

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The vision I got from the film is a North Korea that is united as one in fighting for a common goal. That goal in the movie is freedom, however this goal could be anything - economic, social, political etc. To me, the film portrayed citizens who are ready to love and die for their nation if it means contributing a part in getting closer to the nation's goal. (Reneé)

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Despite being a North Korean film where it is common knowledge that propaganda is everywhere, the film depicts the North's on-the-ground emotions, events and actions. In the eyes of the soldiers, what they are doing is righteous and true, as they are fighting for their homeland's livelihood and to protect the General (in a grateful manner for the possessions they have received.

Despite knowing that the film was produced with a bias perspective, you can't help but feel for the troops on the ground, who despite experienced pain, suffering and death, was determined and motivated to fight against their invaders. (Yi Qiang)

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The way leadership was portrayed through the film really struck me. Despite being clearly outnumbered, North Korea continued to persevere under a leadership that brought them together for the love of their nation. The film also successfully portrayed difficult it is to lead. That there are impossible choices that you will find fall into your lap as a leader, and your people will turn to you to make a decision.

Additionally, I also really enjoyed how the film portrayed small snippets of mundane scenes that portray real connection and emotion. This includes one on one conversations between characters that really showed their humanity. (Reneé)

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The movie is surprisingly well-made with technologies in the 1982. I wonder if the North Korea government prioritizes the creation of such films to evoke a sense of national pride among the people

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The movie uses a combination of the sacrifices of different individuals, mourning of dead comrades and non-combatants and musical score to evoke an emotional response from viewers. I feel that even as a non-Korean, I empathized with the hardship that North Korea faced in their fight for independence (Shu Liang)

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Everybody has a part to play in nation building and sacrifices has to be made

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Everybody has a part to play in nation building and sacrifices has to be made

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The film shows women and non-combatants playing a part in the war. It shows soldiers rising up and being brave even when the odds are stacked against them (overwhelming invading force, captured soldier advising them to surrender, shortage of ammunition). If I was a North Korean watching this movie, I will be empathetic of the sacrifices that the ancestors made in building the nation.

At the same time, we can see that North Korean really wants the people to be strong, determined and willing to sacrifice for the country. Especially since the country in present time is still facing much poverty with mass subsistence farming to survive. (Shu Liang)

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Wolmi Island depicts the hardships that North Korea have to face during the Korea War with the US involvement. The film talks about the sacrifices that each individual from different backgrounds have to make. From the company's cook Jangsop, to the lady radio operator Yong Ok, every person in North Korea plays a part in the war effort no matter how big or how small.

Although I expected the film to be full of propaganda and the heroism acts by the North Korea soldiers, it actually manages to show both side of the story pretty well, especially when they interrogated the US marine who was captured, that there is no right or wrong in the war, but rather the perspective from each side.

Side note, the movie seems to be pretty well made for a film in 1982, especially for North Korean standards. (Shu Liang)

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The concept of facing a foreign enemy unites the people of N Korea to fight for their homeland. Nationalism is a social glue that keeps N Korean people united, standing bravely against death, for the sake of protecting the country and their loved ones. (Edwin)

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For the most part, the movie has done a good job of instilling a sense of nationalism in its intended target audience (N Koreans). Before the battle started, the N Korean soldiers framing the war as fighting against a foreign aggressor who was threatening their way of life does inspire unity to fight back. During tough times (ie funeral ceremony and the scene where N Korean soldiers are recovering from the recent battle), the movie frames the issues as everyone going through the same suffering. Comfort amidst tough times can be found within the company of each soldier. Not only that, popular songs and musical instruments helped to portray that their suffering is either worth it or is not going to last forever. These gave the soldiers new found strength to fight the war. (Edwin)

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I think the movie has quite clearly established that music has played a strong role in maintaining morale and loyalty to nationalistic goals amongst the troops. But can food also play a similar role amongst the soldiers? (Edwin)

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The author of the movie has framed the situation where N Korea soldiers are fighting to defend their home against USA, the foreign enemy threatening their home and way of life. During the downtimes, I do see the general questing his own ability to defend the island against US navy. The reason stems from the lack of resource they need to defend the island well (ie shortage of artillery shells and soldiers). However, he has kept a stoic look in front of his soldiers for the most part to maintain morale. If this could be generalized to the leaders of N Korea, I will say that N Korea is fighting hard for its country but also puts up a strong/stoic status in midst of hardship of warfare. This is to keep N Koreans determined in their strife for victory. (Edwin)

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What role does history serve when perceptions influences the content of history? (vera)

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I think that to a certain extent this film is effective in instilling nationalism but for the most parts it is instilling patriotism rather than nationalism.

Sure that there are certain aspects of the film where the US were called imperialist and the korean soldiers were laughing at the US enemy that was caught which may allude to a sense of superiority that the soldiers had of their nation over that of the US.

however, the overarching theme in the movie I feel that they are alluding at is the patriotism to the country, to the general. This is seen throughout the movie through the songs sung, the background music and the conversations that they have with one another which was centered around the themes of protection of the general, of their families and their homes. (vera)

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I would think that North Korea's vision for its country is one in which the people can be free? Free of war and for the people to be able to stay at homes with their family doing what they want or are asked to do for the country. This drives them to fight during the war to protect their homeland and well their homes (vera)

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The main takeaway I got is that perception can be both a strength and flaw.

In the sense that the perception that the soldiers had of US was that they were the invader and they were united to fight against this enemy for the sake of their homeland and general. In this case it is a strength as it helps to unite a certain group of people.

However it is a flaw as well as shown by the captured soldier who likewise thought that the north Korean soldier was the one that invaded the territory. However, after seeing how hard they fought he reflects that they (US) was actually the one who was the invader. This is also how perception is a flaw that leads to biases and prejudice.  (vera)