DOOSAN Humanities Theater 2025: LOCAL 

DOOSAN Humanities Theater brings together sociological, humanities and artistic imagination on humans and society. Each year, a theme is selected to be discussed in a variety of ways, including performances, exhibitions, lectures, and artist talks. 
Past subjects include ‘Big History’, ‘The Age of Distrust’, ‘Exception, Mutation, or Abnormality on the Borders’, ‘New Imagination on the Extended Territory’, ‘Conflict’, ‘Altruist’, ‘Apartment Nation’, ‘FOOD’, ‘Fairness’,  
‘Age’, 'Rights'. The theme for 2025 is ‘LOCAL’.  

LOCAL
The concept of ‘LOCAL’ arises from the interplay of physical processes and time. According to the laws of physics, heterogeneous matter blends and gravitates towards a state of equilibrium. However, its motion is impeded by various obstacles. The universe’s demise would be marked by the moment when everything blends into a single entity. Until then, differences persist between distinct parts of the universe. It is these distinctions that give rise to what can be described as the notion of ‘LOCAL’ on Earth. 
Life on Earth, whether originating from a single instance or from multiple origins, has resulted in the diverse array of species present today. Similarly, humanity descended from a single ancestor and has since spread across the globe. Across distinct geographical regions, varying natural environments inhabited by different peoples have shaped diverse cultures and experiences. When they come together, these diverse elements contribute to the unique character, or “locality” of a specific place. 
The term ‘LOCAL’ is inherently neutral, yet it also describes an area outside the central hub. These local regions are vulnerable to marginalization in the face of centralization. The decline of these regions ultimately jeopardizes the stability of the center itself. Currently, Korea is experiencing a pronounced imbalance. The 2025 DOOSAN Humanities Theater delves into the term ‘LOCAL’ from various perspectives, investigating the challenges our society confronts regarding local issues. Can we find solutions to the crises precipitated by local concerns and imbalances?

Endlings

Endlings is a celebrated work by award-winning filmmaker and playwright Celine Song, known for her acclaimed movie Past Lives. Set in Manjaedo Island, Korea, three elderly haenyeo (female divers) dedicate their final days to harvesting seafood, upholding a thousand-year-old tradition that is facing extinction. On the other side of the globe in Manhattan, Korean-Canadian playwright Hayoung, who immigrated from Korea to Canada and then from Canada to the United States, wrestles with the complexities of having to write a “genuine” story about her identity. But who is she, really? Can she write about herself without succumbing to self-promotion?  
Through the narratives of the haenyeo and Hayoung, the play delves into how diverse identities interact, clash, and ultimately shape the lives of individuals within their communities. 
* “Endlings had its Off-Broadway Premiere at New York Theatre Workshop, Jim Nicola, Artistic Director, Jeremy Blocker, Managing Director, 2020”