A Hermeneutic on Dislocation as Experience: Creating a Borderland, Constructing a Hybrid Identity

150 Pages·2011·1.512 MB·English

by  Hemchand Gossai, Jung Eun Sophia Park

146
Dislocation, which involves moving from a familiar place to an
A Hermeneutic
unknown place, is a common experience in this era of globalization
yet it can cause a deep sense of alienation—people feel invisible,
P
voiceless, and anonymous. A Hermeneutic on Dislocation as Experience: A
Creating a Borderland, Constructing a Hybrid Identity employs socio- R
Dislocation
K
rhetorical criticism from a postcolonial perspective, providing a
ON
hermeneutic on the experience of dislocation from the perspective
of Asian immigrant women. The author’s focus on Asian immi-
A
grant women’s spirituality is interwoven with different texts such Experience

H
as the story of a woman caught in adultery (Jn. 7: 53–8:11), Asian
AS
e
immigrant women’s stories in the novels Dicteeand Crossings, and
r
stories of Korean shamans encountered in the author’s ethnographic m
fieldwork. e
n
This book suggests that people who experience dislocation can Creating a Borderland,
e
create a borderland where their own marginality gains power and u
voice. In that borderland, they are able to construct a hybrid iden- t
i Constructing a Hybrid Identity
c
tity as a result of deep engagement with one another. In particular,

o
the author’s fieldwork on Korean shamans reveals how the shamanic
n
ritual itself functions as a borderland, wherein the marginalized
D
Korean shamans gain hybrid identity. A Hermeneutic on Dislocation
i
as Experience is a valuable resource for classes in Asian studies, s
l
ethnography, cultural anthropology, biblical spirituality, women’s o
c
spirituality, and interdisciplinary courses. a
t
i J U N G E U N S O P H I A PA R K
o
n

a
JUNGEUNSOPHIAPARK, SNJM, is Assistant Professor in the Religious s

Studies Department at Holy Names University in California. She E
x
earned her Ph.D. in Christian spirituality at the Graduate Theolog-
p
ical Union in Berkeley, California. Her research is on Asian women’s
e
spirituality, Korean shamanism, and biblical spirituality from a post- r
i
e
colonial feminist perspective.
n
c
e
P
E
T
E
R
L
A
N
G Studies in Biblical Literature 146
www.peterlang.com
146
Dislocation, which involves moving from a familiar place to an
A Hermeneutic
unknown place, is a common experience in this era of globalization
yet it can cause a deep sense of alienation—people feel invisible,
P
voiceless, and anonymous. A Hermeneutic on Dislocation as Experience: A
Creating a Borderland, Constructing a Hybrid Identity employs socio- R
Dislocation
K
rhetorical criticism from a postcolonial perspective, providing a
ON
hermeneutic on the experience of dislocation from the perspective
of Asian immigrant women. The author’s focus on Asian immi-
A
grant women’s spirituality is interwoven with different texts such Experience

H
as the story of a woman caught in adultery (Jn. 7: 53–8:11), Asian
AS
e
immigrant women’s stories in the novels Dicteeand Crossings, and
r
stories of Korean shamans encountered in the author’s ethnographic m
fieldwork. e
n
This book suggests that people who experience dislocation can Creating a Borderland,
e
create a borderland where their own marginality gains power and u
voice. In that borderland, they are able to construct a hybrid iden- t
i Constructing a Hybrid Identity
c
tity as a result of deep engagement with one another. In particular,

o
the author’s fieldwork on Korean shamans reveals how the shamanic
n
ritual itself functions as a borderland, wherein the marginalized
D
Korean shamans gain hybrid identity. A Hermeneutic on Dislocation
i
as Experience is a valuable resource for classes in Asian studies, s
l
ethnography, cultural anthropology, biblical spirituality, women’s o
c
spirituality, and interdisciplinary courses. a
t
i J U N G E U N S O P H I A PA R K
o
n

a
JUNGEUNSOPHIAPARK, SNJM, is Assistant Professor in the Religious s

Studies Department at Holy Names University in California. She E
x
earned her Ph.D. in Christian spirituality at the Graduate Theolog-
p
ical Union in Berkeley, California. Her research is on Asian women’s
e
spirituality, Korean shamanism, and biblical spirituality from a post- r
i
e
colonial feminist perspective.
n
c
e
P
E
T
E
R
L
A
N
G Studies in Biblical Literature 146
www.peterlang.com
ADVANCE PRAISE FOR
A Hermeneutic Dislocation
ON
Experience
AS

“Jung Eun Sophia Park’s volume shows the rich potential for biblical studies to
illumine cultural studies and vice versa. Her more classical socio-rhetorical
work is fruitful when brought to bear on Asian American material as well as on
the pericope from John’s Gospel, and her ethnographic methodology, honed
for use in a context of dislocation and alienation, brings the biblical character
of the woman taken in adultery into fresh relief. Throughout, Park’s work
makes explicit how to approach a study in Christian spirituality, with experien-
tial and transformative possibilities made focal continually.”
Barbara Green, O.P., Professor of Biblical Studies,
Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology,
Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, California

“Jung Eun Sophia Park’s book invites readers to ‘cross over’ into the world of
the formation of ‘baby shamans’ in Korea, and then ‘come back’ for enriched
Christian reflection on Biblical spiritual resources. Her cross-cultural, interdis-
ciplinary, interfaith exploration of spiritual formation enriches our cultural
and spiritual horizons.”
Judith Berling, Professor of Chinese and Comparative Religions,
Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, California

A Hermeneutic Dislocation
ON
Experience
AS
Studies in Biblical Literature

Hemchand Gossai
General Editor

Vol. 146

PETER LANG
New York (cid:121) Washington, D.C./Baltimore (cid:121) Bern
Frankfurt (cid:121) Berlin (cid:121) Brussels (cid:121) Vienna (cid:121) Oxford
Jung Eun Sophia Park

A Hermeneutic Dislocation
ON
Experience
AS

Creating a Borderland,
Constructing a Hybrid Identity

PETER LANG
New York (cid:121) Washington, D.C./Baltimore (cid:121) Bern
Frankfurt (cid:121) Berlin (cid:121) Brussels (cid:121) Vienna (cid:121) Oxford
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Park, Jung Eun Sophia.
A hermeneutic on dislocation as experience: creating a borderland,
constructing a hybrid identity / Jung Eun Sophia Park.
p. cm. — (Studies in biblical literature; v. 146)
Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index.
1. Korean American women—Religious life. 2. Christian women—
Religious life. 3. Alienation (Theology). 4. Shamanism—Korea.
5. Bible. N.T. VII, 53–VIII, 11—Socio-rhetorical criticism. I. Title.
BR563.K67P37 261.5—dc23 2011031755
ISBN 978-1-4331-1594-3 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-4539-0190-8 (e-book)
ISSN 1089-0645

Bibliographic information published by Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek.
Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the “Deutsche
Nationalbibliografie”; detailed bibliographic data is available
on the Internet at http://dnb.d-nb.de/.

The paper in this book meets the guidelines for permanence and durability
of the Committee on Production Guidelines for Book Longevity
of the Council of Library Resources.

© 2011 Peter Lang Publishing, Inc., New York
29 Broadway, 18th floor, New York, NY 10006
www.peterlang.com

All rights reserved.
Reprint or reproduction, even partially, in all forms such as microfilm,
xerography, microfiche, microcard, and offset strictly prohibited.

Printed in Germany
CONTENTS
Editor’s Preface vii
Chapter 1: Introduction 1
Chapter 2: Two Dislocated Asian Women’s Stories 23
Chapter 3: A Shamanic Narrative as a Borderland 43
Chapter 4: A Bracketed Story as Borderland 85
Chapter 5: Conclusion 113
Appendix A: Glossary 119
Appendix B: The Process of SShhiinn KKuutt 121
Works Cited 123
Index 133
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