1930년대 백철비평의 비교문학적 접근 -농민문학론을 중심으로-

Abstract

This paper aims to approach Baek Cheol's literary criticism in a way of comparative literature. Baek Cheol, who deserves to be referred to as a pioneer of modern Korean literature, hasn't been properly appreciated by literary critics compared with his reputation. As it is shown in several rhetorical expressions referring to him such as 'Marx's boy', 'Welcomist', Baek Cheol has been regarded as more of one of those theorists who are quick to accept foreign literary theories than of an independent writer improving himself through self-examination. However, most of these judgements about him might have resulted from his pro-Japan activities in the past and a series of his critical attitude shown when he appeared in the literary world in colonial Korea even as he was a member of NAPF. In this paper, I examined focusing on Korean peasant literature which was one of representative controversies among members of KAPF how Baek Cheol, a literary critic, made an entrance in the literary world in colonial Korea and how he managed to appropriate opinions of NAPF theorists including Gurahara(藏原惟人) in the position of a teacher while having an argument with An Ham-kwang. As a result, I was able to identify that the existing criticisms of Baek Cheol not only lack objectivity but lean toward rhetoric and we can get the true meaning of Baek Cheol's literary criticism in the 1930s only by understanding his position as a teacher.