Novelist Running Through Time - Chapter 214



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The Novelist Who Leapt Through Time Episode 214

“What do homosexuals say about homosexuality? They say it’s innate. I was just born that way. What do you think? It is a problem without an answer. Because we’ve been fighting over this for tens or hundreds of years. But let’s think about it the other way around. So what about heterosexuality? Is it congenital? yes.”

“Love is an innate factor. It is a strong bait-like emotion that entices living things and creatures to thrive and survive while leaving descendants. No matter how much humans write poetry, sing songs, and pretend that love is sacred, human love and dog love have essentially the same purpose.”

“Then what is the love that dominates modern popular art? My conclusion is that it is no different from the short skirts worn by idol idols. “Whether it’s a drama, a novel, or a song, no matter how you package it, it’s ultimately the capitalization of sexuality.”

“Then what is so special about it?”

EP 13-Change Comics

Park Chang-woon’s argument, who seemed to have been exposed to slightly muddy water when he was young, could be summarized as ‘love is such a lie.’

After summarizing it, it feels like the title of a mass-produced ballad song that made it into the top 20 on the charts…

Anyway, I was quite depressed for a while after listening to Park Chang-woon’s ‘Love is such a bad thing’.

Of course, it’s not because Park Chang-woon’s husky singing ability is outstanding, but because I was originally weak to these types of arguments.

It’s difficult to say exactly what kind of ‘this kind’ is, but if I were to give a rough idea, I think it could be expressed as ‘a type of spoon’.

Why is there such a thing as a gold spoon and a silver spoon?

As someone who was born with a plastic spoon in my mouth at Saebitneulbom Orphanage, I have no choice but to blindly believe in the spoon theory because I have a lot of first-hand experience.

In that sense, even if I wanted to deny the story that love is nothing more than a spoon that humans are born with, I couldn’t help but relate to it.

And naturally, I felt anxious that the old memories I cherished the most might not have been worth much at all.

I don’t know if this is something that comes to mind after reading martial arts these days (at Min Hyo-chan’s insistence), but it may have been wrong for me, who was trained in martial arts, to seek guidance from a madman with a very close relationship.

‘How dare you pollute my ears with such nonsense!’ or ‘It’s a witchcraft!’ Words like that did not arise for nothing.

In fact, Park Chang-woon’s words buzzed in my ears and tormented my heart like some kind of evil magic.

If this continues, I too may end up becoming a materialist-communist like Park Chang-un…

‘It’s a hex… !’

As a writer, my job was to think about useless things, so it was normal for me to get drunk, but this time, it seemed a bit serious.

So, in order to heal my internal injuries, I visited a place that I was usually reluctant to go to.

However, reluctance and familiarity are two different things.

Maybe it’s something I feel uncomfortable about because I’m familiar with this place.

“That little boy is a writer… … .”

“Is it true… ?”

“Shall we go and ask?”

“I don’t know, what should I do if I don’t know…” … .”

I passed through the campus, where even the moss clinging to the walls seemed familiar, and finally reached the building of the College of Arts and Sciences.

And without anyone’s directions, I walked through the place I was visiting for the first time in my life.

Past the crowd of college students chattering, rummaging through their bags, running, complaining about being hungry, looking at each other, sometimes looking in my direction, and looking in amazement, finally.

Knock, knock, knock.

When I knock on the door of the professor’s lab, the door slowly opens.

“ah! Writer Moon!”

“Hello professor.”

“Welcome!”

Daejongsa, the great master of Korean literature, greeted me with a smile on his face.

* * *

Koo Hak-jun’s lab wasn’t much different from what I remembered.

This means that it was closer to a library than an office.

“There are flowers here.”

I wasn’t talking about grass flowers like the succulents in my house, but Takehiko Fukunaga’s ‘Grass Flowers’.

As soon as Gu Hak-jun saw me pulling out a book from the bookshelf, his eyes lit up like a grandmother seeing her grandchild taking out pollack roe from the refrigerator.

“Would you like to take a copy?”

“No, thanks.”

“You can take it… “Have you ever read this?”

Gu Hak-jun shook Kusi’s ‘fall’ like Gu Yu-bin shaking a foxtail to lure a stray cat.

I flinched for a moment, but I’m not a stray cat and I don’t fall for that kind of temptation.

“No, it’s really okay. I read it a long time ago… .”

“Write… .”

Leaving behind Gu Hak-jun, who was suffering from defeat, I looked around the office filled with the smell of paper.

Huge bookcases surrounded all sides, so much so that the windows were barely visible.

As if that wasn’t enough, small bookshelves filled every corner of the office instead of partitions.

Of course, every bookshelf was full of books.

To put it nicely, it’s a library, but at first glance it looks more like a warehouse.

I know a secret behind this study… … .

Masterpieces on the right bookshelf, trash on the left, nothing like that.

In Koo Hak-jun’s home library, books identical to these are arranged in the same arrangement.

The purpose is to gift books from the professor’s lab to someone at any time.

So, to put it bluntly, the books at home are for collection.

The books in the lab can be said to be for gifts, education, or missionary purposes.

In other words, all the books in Gu Hak-jun’s library were ‘books he would recommend to someone.’

The standard for discerning a good book is whether or not it can be recommended, and the fact that he puts those thoughts into action rather than just thinking about them gives us a glimpse of what a true educator Koo Hak-jun is.

But why… … .

Mr. Moon, I’m really sorry to have to say this, but… …

“ha… … .”

A sigh welled up from deep within my heart. I’m craving a cigarette.

Anyway, whenever I meet Gu Hak-jun, my insignificant self automatically comes to mind.

But sometimes you have to make sacrifices for the sake of literature.

I thought, ‘Why is he acting like this all of a sudden? Is he in pain?’ ‘ I confided the situation to Gu Hak-jun, who had a similar expression on his face.

“Professor, it’s no different… .”

* * *

“Senior Park, that guy really said things he couldn’t say in front of a child… .”

“haha… .”

There were only a few people in the Korean literary world who could refer to Park Chang-un of all time as ‘that gentleman.’

Moreover, when Koo Hak-jun gets angry while playing PUBG, he says, ‘Hey!’ Since he used to shout, he said everything.

Koo Hak-jun harshly criticized Park Chang-woon’s ‘Love is such a lie’.

“That’s because Senior Park still can’t escape Marxism. Author Moon, please understand. No, how old are you, but you still remember Marx… … .”

As someone who was once a disciple, I listened to my teacher’s taunts with one ear and let them go with the other.

“No matter how much of an activist you are, if you have achieved great success as a novelist, you should slowly find your own world. How long can you remain immersed in these idiots’ ideologies… I’ve told you several times that if you look at those nosy people, they really are worthless… .”

The troubles of a novelist who did not study abroad in France but was just born in France (Koo Hak-jun was born in Paris) continued for a bit longer.

Because once you get a taste of racism, your illusions about Europe will disappear.

As he calmly endured Gu Hak-jun’s troubles, the gentle Gu Hak-jun regained his cool.

“oh.”

Gu Hak-jun smiles shyly.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Sorry sorry. “I got off track for a moment.”

“no… .”

“Anyway, I think a little differently from senior Park… .”

After Park Chang-woon’s ‘Love is such a lie’, Koo Hak-jun’s ‘What is Love’ continued.

“First of all, as Senior Park said, I admit that love is a chemical and common emotion.”

“is that so?”

“Of course, if you go deeper, the story will change, but we are talking about the research topic that writer Moon is interested in these days, ‘Retort Love, which dominates popular culture,’ aren’t we?”

“you’re right.”

“Then love is nothing more than a hormonal effect and a common desire to procreate, right?”

Gu Hak-jun acknowledged the extremely cold premise with a gentle face.

But he always has a philosophy.

“But is treating it as art as meaningless as Mr. Park said? “I don’t think that’s right.”

“Then, even in common love songs… .”

“It has more value than something common.”

Gu Hak-jun smiled kindly and began class.

Regardless of all the emotions that exist in the countless time zones between him and me, I could never deny the value of this moment.

In order not to waste precious time, I paid attention to every word Gu Hak-jun said…

“Love is an instinct as a living thing, it is common, in other words, it is a universal value, and because of that, it is easiest to gain public sympathy, and so it is used as a regular repertoire for artists… It’s common sense that doesn’t need to be explained any further. supply and demand. Of course. But let’s take it one step further.”

“yes… … .”

“Why do people like ‘love’? To find your virtual ideal type? Because you long for a quasi-love affair with an imaginary idol? Because you can’t overcome your instinct to reproduce? “Is this taking people too lightly?”

“hmm… no.”

“No, humans are just like that.”

“… ?”

“You’re talking about ‘popular art’ right now. “The public is at that level.”

“… … ???”

I couldn’t believe my ears while listening to Koo Hak-jun’s ‘The Public Are All Dogs and Pigs’.

I wondered if I understood Gu Hak-jun’s words correctly.

However, what Koo Hak-jun said was really true.

“Humans are beasts. Neither kings nor beggars, men or women, presidents or convenience store part-timers, old people or young people can escape sexual desire. “You can tell just by looking at the scandals all over the Internet, right?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“I think that Park Chang-un values ​​human potential so highly that he thinks love is the most insignificant aspect of humanity that an artist can handle, but no. This is just right for humans. “Love is everything.”

“… … .”

For the first time in a while, I found a shining shadow of madness in Gu Hak-jun’s eyes.

As expected, Gu Yu-bin and Gu Yu-na are Gu Hak-jun’s daughters.

“Let’s take one step further, a little deeper.”

One step further, a little deeper, was Gu Hak-jun’s speaking habit.

To be exact, it is a speaking habit that only comes out when he is immersed in class.

Thanks to you, it was the first time I heard this in a long time.

I straightened my posture and listened as if I were a student back then.

“Producers of popular art create love, and consumers consume love. The love discussed here is lust, or the action of hormones. Everyone wants that kind of love. But why is that?”

Koo Hak-jun was silent, thinking he would answer on his own, but he was prompted.

“Would you like to answer?”

“… … Desire to reproduce?”

Gu Hak-jun shakes his head.

“That’s how sexuality and love work.”

Gu Hak-jun, who looked at me with an expression that said, ‘Saebitneulbom Orphanage will be deducted 5 points,’ continues his lecture.

“Think about it, I like dramas too. But I have two daughters. So, am I also caught up in my instincts while watching the drama? Are the ladies sitting around in a beauty salon talking about dramas also immersed in the drama out of instinct?”

“no… … .”

“The reason people like dramas and the reason they crave love is because they want their ideal type.”

Koo Hak-jun’s correct answer came out.

ideal type.

Idol.

In other words, an idol.

“It is human instinct to pursue an imaginary ideal type. It’s natural to feel love for that other person. There is something behind it beyond the desire to procreate. “It’s the desire for perfection.”

“yes… … .”

“Completeness, completion, perfection, Idea… Maybe sacred. The perfection that everyone pursues is different. It’s like beauty. Maybe perfection is beauty… .”

“yes… … .”

“The perfection that everyone pursues is different, but the reason why everyone pursues perfection is the same. “It’s because I know I’m imperfect.”

“yes… … .”

“Everyone has something lacking. And humans are beings who despair, despair, deny, and wander because they cannot fill that lack. That is why humans desire perfection, ideals, and idols. Do you understand? In some ways, love is no different from idolatry. He doesn’t see the other in the other, he’s looking for what he thinks is perfection.”

“Because longing is the emotion furthest from understanding… .”

“oh! That’s a very appropriate statement. “Which philosopher are you talking about?”

“Oh, I forgot.”

“Okay, okay, the name doesn’t matter. All you have to do is keep the teaching in your heart. Above all, it is too old-fashioned to name philosophers one by one while talking. Neither Confucius nor Mencius, haha!”

“… … haha!”

“But to be a little old-fashioned for today, Kierkegaard said that this form of despair is a disease that leads to death… … .”

“yes… … .”

“Ethical existence and religious existence… .”

“yes… … .”

“On the other hand, despair is inherent to humans… .”

“yes… … .”

“So, let’s expand the despair a little further… .”

“yes… … .”

* * *

Gu Yu-bin called love lust,

Park Chang-woon went one step further and said that it is a chemical effect that causes lust.

Gu Hak-jun said that it is like a golden calf that weak humans who are overcome with despair, which is like a ‘disease leading to death,’ pursue to divert their eyes from their own imperfections.

I finished Gu Hak-Jun’s class feeling like I was suffering from a ‘disease leading to death.’

I know this because I have actually suffered from a ‘disease leading to death,’ and I can confidently say that taking Koo Hak-jun’s class is just as painful.

It’s not a joke.

Anyway, it was a joke to say that it wasn’t a joke, but to be serious, I started thinking a little more deeply about ‘love’ after Koo Hak-jun’s class.

I also realized how shallow the love I had thought of until now was.

Of course, the concept of love that dominates mainstream popular culture is shallow.

However, the feelings of those who pursue such love are not shallow.

I think we need to think a little more about why cheap love came to dominate the world.

On the other hand, I also thought that Koo Hak-jun was a much more cynical person than Park Chang-woon, even if it was the opposite on the surface.

As expected, Koo Hak-jun, a Frenchman, does not have the strong affection of Koreans…

Somehow, it seemed clear that I would end the relationship…

“… … .”

After stopping the thought that would make me cry, I returned to the original topic.

This is the first question that started on the drama set.

What is love?

What is beauty?

While I was wrapped up in such thoughts, I continued to digest the burdens of daily life.

I got rid of Lim Yang-wook, who asked me to film some commercials, and Ma Ki-hoon, who asked me to do some exercise…

I also visited the drama scene where Goo Yuna and Ahn Joo-hee are still causing accidents…

At the request of Baekhak Entertainment’s lyricists, we were interviewed about the production of the album ‘Marionette’…

I completely failed the final exam for the first semester of my first year at Baekhak Arts High School…

After final exams, I stopped by the club room to prepare for the upcoming club presentation…

“what?”

There I heard shocking news.

“We’re dating…” .”

“what?”

“ah! “We’re dating!”

Ahn Joo-hee, whose face was red, lost her temper at me.

And next to him, Ji-seop Moon is smiling embarrassedly…

“… “You guys are dating?”

“Well, that’s it.”

“… “How long has it been since we met?”

Ahn Joo-hee got angry again.

“ah! We’re not kids and we could date for a little while! Otherwise, we’ll just date for a while!”

“what?”

‘What?’ was not what I said, but what Ji-seop Moon said.

It seems that only Joohee Ahn had an open mind.

I also felt like I needed to change my mindset about love a little.

is it. Do kids these days start dating after not seeing each other for less than half a year, and then break up if they don’t get along? … .

Love has such forms… … .

It can’t be possible.

“Such light… !!!”