summary “Korean Shamanic Heritage in Cyber Culture”

The article I read for today was dealt with Shamanism in Korea and how it’s adapting to the internet. It begins with a virtual character that was made to be a “cyborg shaman.” It had a bad reception and was eventually pulled, but the cyborg shaman posed a series of questions for online Shamanic practices.  The author then tells how websites dealing with Shamanism are gaining popularity in Korea. Apparently Shamans are viewed the same as thieves in Korea, but many citizens are still curious about this indigenous religion. The formation of websites allowed the curious to learn about Shamanism. There are two types, the informative which just gives basic information and the commercial which sells talismans and conducts virtual divination.

We learn how these sites became popular originally by a contemporary Shaman that turned to the internet when his spirit guides became angry at him for socializing during periods of isolation. He found relief in cyberspace for his socialization needs. Once on the internet he found out that there weren’t any sites about only Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism. Wanting to bring information to Shamanism he began a website and started practicing virtual divinations. He found a very successful career in helping people through cyberspace and continues to do so.

I found the article to be very interesting. I know a little about Shamanism since it was a religion we covered in “Intro to Eastern and Indigenous Religions,” but I had no idea that Shamans were looked down at in Korea. The culture in Korea seemed hypocritic towards Shamans as many feared to be seen going to one, but actually have a great interest in their old traditions. The section on virtual divination was also very intriguing to me. I don’t know how divination works, but I’d be interesting in seeing one conducted in person and have a virtual one. I wonder if there are big differences or if cyberspace doesn’t change the act of divination. I hope someone compares the two one day.

~ by bmill1 on April 2, 2008.