While sifting through the biographies of Kim, it’s becoming
apparent that his life story is fairly enigmatic. The early, more accurate,
depictions of Kim have gradually been swept away or hidden among falsities
generated from later dynastic generations. Additionally, for those sources we
generally take to be factual (those of the USSR elite), there is some
dissonance among them; this is most likely due to the senility of those disclosing the
information. This makes it difficult to pinpoint the facts of his background
and upbringing. For example, the traditional (North Korean) historic retelling of Kim’s parents depicts
them as “prominent leaders of the national movement.” His father was cited as a
“principal figure in the entire anti-colonial resistance” (Lankov 51). However,
this image contrasts with Kim’s original speech given to the Soviet Press, in
which he describes his father as a “village teacher”; someone floating
between odd jobs and struggling to make ends meet (Lankov 51).
Examples like this one litter the biographical history given to students in North Korea, serving to add power and prestige to the Kim family name. Each instance of deception lends support to Kim’s doctrine of
Juche, or self-reliance, which seeks to eradicate the foreign influence on which
North Korea was established. An iconic example of this can be seen within the two following photos.
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| Images taken from: Stalin's 'hot' War |
In this original image during a political rally, you can see that Kim is accompanied by three soviet officials in the background. Additionally, he is seen wearing his Red Army rank (major) on his left breast.
However, in the doctored image below, you'll notice that each of these features have been removed, subsequently retelling the story of that day. The absence of the historical context creates an entirely new imagery. An imagery portraying Kim as a leader wielding confidence and 'juche.'
Lanʹkov,
A. N. From Stalin to Kim Il Sung: The Formation of North Korea,
1945-1960. New Brunswick,
NJ: Rutgers UP, 2002.
Lashmar,
Paul. "Stalin's 'hot' War." New Statesman and Society 9.388
(1996): n. pag. EbscoHost. Web.
To what degree was this a learned process from time in Russia--they too were masters of this. Interesting to consider what degree politicians make their own images (Louis XIV, Mike?). Or how all scholars contribute to their own image (Quakers, Philosophers in ancient Greece).
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