The Korea Society

Author Talks: Bora Chung & Anton Hur

Jan 30, 2024

Author and translator discuss the surreal and chilling stories in 'Your Utopia', exploring themes of patriarchy, capitalism, and big tech. They delve into the essence of humanity through science fiction elements like robots and machines, the complexities of translating science fiction literature, and the unattainable ideal of utopia. The chapter also navigates the fame and challenges faced by the authors as their book gains international recognition.

43:56

Creator website

Episode guests

Bora Chung

Anton Hur

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Chung's 'Your Utopia' explores human essence through futuristic settings and dark humor.

Translator Hur admires Chung's raw energy, finding joy in translating her unrestrained artistry.

Deep dives

Boracham's Blend of Horror and Dark Humor in 'Your Utopia'

Boracham's new collection of short stories, 'Your Utopia,' showcases a blend of horror, absurdity, and dark humor. Set in near and distant futures, the stories explore familiar settings reflecting deep fears and desires. Compared to previous works, these stories are more sci-fi, featuring robots, zombies, and human complexities.

Introduction

3min

Exploring Humanity Through Science Fiction Elements

19min

Exploring Bora Chung's Role in Korean Science Fiction Literature

2min

Navigating the Complexities of Translating Science Fiction Literature

3min

Exploring the Unreachable Ideal of Utopia

5min

Navigating Fame and Friendship

12min

January 30, 2024 - The author and translator of Cursed Bunny, a National Book Award and International Booker Prize Finalist, are back with a new collection of short stories.

A rising star of Korean literature, Bora Chung burst onto the American literary scene last year with the publication of her astounding debut, Cursed Bunny: Stories, translated by Anton Hur. Met with universal praise, these surreal, chilling fables that take on patriarchy, capitalism, and the reign of big tech were a National Book Award Finalist for Translated Literature and shortlisted for the International Booker Prize. Chung and Hur returns with her striking sophomore collection, Your Utopia: Stories.

Filled with Chung’s inimitable blend of horror, absurdity, and dark humor, and set in near and distant futures that reflect our deepest fears and desires, the stories in Your Utopia take place in different, off-kilter yet sometimes uncannily familiar settings. With Your Utopia, Chung hopes to provide readers with “a collection of stories that explore the limits of humanity to re-discover what it means to be human. Like all other works of science and speculative fiction, Your Utopia is ultimately about human beings: who we are and what we will be as the Anthropocene era reaches its peak and eventual demise.”

In this episode of Author Talks, Bora Chung is joined by Anton Hur to discuss her latest English publication.

For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1774-author-talks-bora-chung-anton-hur