In this blog post, we will examine the comprehensive artistic characteristics and social and cultural significance of tightrope walking through its skill, storytelling, and audience participation.
Korean tightrope walking is a comprehensive art form in which tightrope walkers, clowns, musicians, and audience members come together to share the joys and sorrows of life and breathe vitality into the performance. Tightrope walking is performed through a combination of acrobatics, storytelling, and singing, with audience participation depending on the dramatic situation.
Julgwangdae not only show off their skills in the limited space of the rope, but also exchange witty remarks with the clowns, musicians, and audience below. This performance style is three-dimensional in that it vertically expands the theatrical space from the horizontal space of the rope on which the julgwangdae stand to the space where the audience is located. As a result, the audience does not simply watch, but becomes part of the performance.
Tightrope walking has a repetitive structure of tension and relaxation. In general, tightrope walking proceeds in the following order: “Julgosa” (prayer for the safety of the performers), “Skill I,” “Play,” “Skill II,” and “Finish.” First, the performance begins with “Julgosa,” a prayer for the happiness of all participants, followed by “Skill I.” As the tightrope walkers perform their daring stunts on the rope, the audience’s tension gradually rises. The tension created in skill I is relieved through the humorous conversation and songs that follow. The dramatic entertainment provided by the “jungnori” (monk play), which satirizes monks who have broken their vows, and the “waljja nori” (play depicting various social classes), which caricatures different social classes, relieves the tension created in skill I. The tension among the audience rises even higher when the second act begins with a series of difficult stunts. The tension reaches its peak and gradually eases during the final act, bringing the performance to a close. In this way, the repetition of tension and relaxation in each act of tightrope walking increases the audience’s dramatic immersion and doubles their interest.
Meanwhile, the repetitive structure of tension and relaxation throughout the entire tightrope walking performance is also applied to each part of the performance. For example, Skill II consists of exquisite techniques such as “bird jumping,” in which the performer jumps and walks on one leg, and “standing on one leg,” in which the performer stands upside down with both legs together. Between each skill, there are not only witty remarks, but also intentional distortions and imitations of the characters’ appearances and actions, which are appropriately placed. The tension created by the difficult performance is relieved through interesting elements that stimulate the audience’s senses.
In this way, tightrope walking vividly expresses the lives and spirits of the people through a repetitive structure of tension and relaxation. The repetition of tension and relaxation is a natural law and symbolizes the twists and turns of life, giving tightrope walking a fundamental artistic value. In this sense, tightrope walking is not just a simple skill, but an important traditional art with social and cultural significance.
In particular, tightrope walking also functions as an important medium for conveying social messages during performances. Tightrope walkers and clowns communicate with the audience by satirizing or criticizing social issues of the time through their jokes. In this process, the audience transforms from mere spectators into active participants, and the performance becomes even more lively.
In addition, tightrope walking is important as a traditional art form that has been passed down from generation to generation. Even in modern society, tightrope walking performances can often be seen at various festivals and events, playing a role in rediscovering and preserving the value of traditional culture. These cultural values make tightrope walking more than just a performing art, but an important means of confirming and strengthening the identity of community members.
In conclusion, Korean tightrope walking is a comprehensive art form with social and cultural significance that goes beyond a simple skill or performance. Through its repetitive structure of tension and relaxation, it draws the audience in, conveys social messages, and plays an important role in preserving tradition. In this regard, tightrope walking can be said to be an important part of Korean culture with great value.
