{"title":"Immanuel Kim","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"hidden-heroes-book-immanuel-kim-9781839994661","title":"Hidden Heroes","description":"Hidden Heroes is a collection of short stories from the 1980s to present that unveil the lives of ordinary North Koreans. Through themes of identity, community, and power, it reveals a complex society, offering readers a nuanced understanding beyond prevailing stereotypes.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"- \/ - \/ -","offer_id":51387993424145,"sku":"","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":51387994145041,"sku":"NIN9781839994661","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":51387995160849,"sku":"NGR9781839994661","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52668361244945,"sku":"NLS9781839994661","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1839994665.jpg?v=1750866093"},{"product_id":"rebranding-north-korea-book-immanuel-kim-9780824899738","title":"Rebranding North Korea","description":"\"Everything for the people, everything according to the people!\" —Kim Jong Un  Under Kim Jong Un, North Korea has undertaken significant efforts to elevate the standard of living for its citizens. This shift has led to notable advancements in production and the quality of visual media, teaching North Koreans the \"language\" of consumerism and new methods of consumption. In Rebranding North Korea, Immanuel Kim delves into the implications of a thoroughly modernized North Korea for its citizens and the world as the country strives to participate in global modernity and technological advancements.   Kim traces two parallel trajectories illustrating the most significant changes in North Korean consumer culture: the expansion of modern urban development projects and increased social amenities, alongside the technologically advanced aesthetic qualities of visual media. These changes reveal the transition from the politics-centric society of the Kim Jong Il regime to the consumer-centric one under Kim Jong Un. The country’s revamping of visual culture—as seen in the move from celluloid to digital formats, improved filmmaking techniques, advanced editing, drone usage, and artistic photographic renditions, coupled with an emphasis on digital literacy—highlights North Korea’s attempts to educate itself and rebrand the DPRK. Its revamped cityscapes, gentrified living conditions, fashionable consumer goods, and transformed film and television industries signal a strong and stable economy where citizens are not just getting by but actively customizing their consumerist lifestyles according to the images portrayed in visual media.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"- \/ - \/ -","offer_id":51598918517009,"sku":"","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":51598918746385,"sku":"NGR9780824899738","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52499183468817,"sku":"NIN9780824899738","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0824899733.jpg?v=1763128060"},{"product_id":"hidden-heroes-book-immanuel-kim-9781839994654","title":"Hidden Heroes","description":"Hidden Heroes offers a rare and intimate glimpse into the lives of ordinary North Koreans through a collection of short stories by renowned DPRK authors. Spanning from the 1980s to the present, these works explore the theme of the “hidden hero,” a popular moniker in the DPRK to describe the average citizen who navigates the complexities of daily life with quiet dedication for their work and country.  The anthology is divided into three thematic sections—Identities, Communities, and Power—showcasing a diverse array of characters and settings. Readers will encounter factory managers juggling work and family responsibilities, neighbors bonding during friendly outings, university deans resisting corruption, and diasporic Koreans in Japan grappling with questions of belonging. Through these relatable human experiences, the stories challenge simplistic notions of North Korean society and reveal a more nuanced reality.  While elements of propaganda and state ideology are present, as is typical in all officially sanctioned DPRK literature, the focus in the text is rather on the personal struggles, relationships, and aspirations of the characters. By highlighting these universal themes, Hidden Heroes invites readers to look beyond geopolitical tensions and connect with the shared humanity of North Koreans. For anyone seeking to expand their understanding of this often-misunderstood country, this anthology provides an engaging and thought-provoking literary journey into the everyday lives of North Korean citizens.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"- \/ - \/ -","offer_id":51629194314001,"sku":"","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":51629194674449,"sku":"NGR9781839994654","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":51629194772753,"sku":"NIN9781839994654","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52668283912465,"sku":"NLS9781839994654","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1839994657.jpg?v=1751123298"},{"product_id":"laughing-north-koreans-book-immanuel-kim-9781793608314","title":"Laughing North Koreans","description":"This study analyzes North Korean comedy films from the late 1960s to present day. It analyzes their role in the culture of the film industry, the subjectivity of the viewer, and the impact popular actors and comedians have had on North Korean society.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"- \/ - \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":52405207335185,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52405207957777,"sku":"NLS9781793608314","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/9781793608314.jpg?v=1759402269"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.worldofbooks.com\/collections\/author-books-by-immanuel-kim.oembed","provider":"World of Books ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}