백낙청의 실제비평에 대한 고찰―초기 비평을 중심으로

Abstract

This research aims to investigate the specific characteristics of the initial practical criticism of Baek Nak-cheong. The findings of this research are listed in the following: First, even Baek Nak-cheong's early criticism was founded on the recognition of the historical realities and situations. Second, based on the recognition, practical criteria for his criticism developed into realism of ‘actual feeling’ and historical consciousness. Third, the tendencies attaching importance not to the forms of literary works but to the writers' spirit, consciousness and thoughts led to the abstract ideation of Baek Nak-cheong criticism. Finally, his practical criticism lacks elaborate analytic processes of the evaluation and demonstrates the gap between the writers and their works. The said characteristics are not attested in Baek's early criticism only, but also in his criticism developed in the 1970s as well as the 1990s and after. It implies that, in the criticism of Baek Nak-cheong, evaluation of works remains incidental to criticism theories. National literature theory is none other than a typical feature of Baek Nak-cheong, who is a producer of theories and has made every effort to establish relevant ideology. In spite of that, we should review the details of his practical criticism in order to objectively understand the results and limits of Baek Nak-cheong criticism.