Theologizing Literature: Reading the Poems of Kim Chi Ha and Amado Hernandez Through the Lens of Liberation Theology
History is replete with examples of how literature can be a critical strategy for calling out abuses, exposing forms of oppression, and envisioning democratic futures. Two poets of note—South Korea’s Kim Chi Ha and the Philippines’ Amado Hernandez—served as their respective societies’ conscience fo...
| Published in: | Journal for the study of religions and ideologies |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
CEEOL
[2020]
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| In: |
Journal for the study of religions and ideologies
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| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Hernandez, Amado V. 1903-1970
/ Gim, Ji ha 1941-2022
/ Political poetry
/ Social engagement
/ Liberation theology
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| RelBib Classification: | CE Christian art FD Contextual theology KBM Asia |
| Further subjects: | B
Liberation Theology
B Amado V. Hernandez B Asian poetry B Kim Chi Ha |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (kostenfrei) |
| Summary: | History is replete with examples of how literature can be a critical strategy for calling out abuses, exposing forms of oppression, and envisioning democratic futures. Two poets of note—South Korea’s Kim Chi Ha and the Philippines’ Amado Hernandez—served as their respective societies’ conscience for their unequivocal commitment to justice and equality. Both suffered incarceration for their political and literary activities, but are now vindicated, their works considered timeless paeans to genuine freedom and democracy. In this paper, I analyze the poems of these two important literary figures through the lens of Liberation Theology, in particular the notion of resistance as the fusion of the discourses of critique and possibility, of denunciation and annunciation. This suggests that while some poems can be read as powerful execrations against oppression and injustice, there are also poems expressing that more humanizing conditions are possible. The paper concludes that this dialectic of Liberation Theology may be employed in interrogating other cultural forms and practices. |
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| ISSN: | 1583-0039 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal for the study of religions and ideologies
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