Finding aid for the Neil Flowers North Korea Journal photograph album 3037
Joy Kim
USC Libraries East Asian Library
2013 July
Doheny Memorial Library
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California 90089-1825
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries East Asian Library
Title: Neil Flowers North Korea Journal photograph album
Creator:
Flowers, Neil
Identifier/Call Number: 3037
Identifier/Call Number: /repositories/6/resources/1524
Physical Description:
2 Linear Feet
1 box
Date (inclusive): 1995-2002
Abstract: North Korea Journal: 2002 is a large album (30 cm x 42 cm) of photographs taken by poet, screenwriter, writer, director, actor,
editor, and USC alumnus Neil Flowers during a trip to North Korea (DPRK) in June 2002. Flowers, a Canadian who lives and
works in Los Angeles, was the only Caucasian amongst 19 Koreans from L.A. who were invited by the government to visit the
DPRK. These Korean Angelenos (and Flowers) had been contributing financially to a noodle factory in Pyongyang that fed the
poor. The group also brought books, clothes, food and other items for the Buddhist monks who maintain the remaining temples
in the country (many were destroyed during the war). The images depict places Flowers visited and people he met during his
visit. The beautifully restored temple Kwang Bop Sa (Kwangbopsa) is featured in the photographs; as is Pyongyang, the massive
performance art spectacle called Arirang, and the United Nations buildings at the 48th parallel DMZ. One page features propaganda
billboards in the capital city. Captions are included for many of the photographs in the form of description and/or poetry.
The photographs are mostly in color with a few in black and white. This is a unique one-of-a-kind book that captures a moment
in the history of "The Hermit Kingdom".
Language of Material:
English,
Korean.
Container: 1
Neil Flowers, a Canadian who lives and works in Los Angeles, was the only Caucasian amongst 19 Koreans from L.A. who were
invited by the North Korean government to visit the DPRK. These Korean Angelenos (and Flowers) had been contributing financially
to a noodle factory in Pyongyang that fed the poor. The group also brought books, clothes, food and other items for the Buddhist
monks who maintain the remaining temples in the country (many were destroyed during the war).
North Korea Journal: 2002 is a large album (30 cm x 42 cm) of photographs taken by poet, screenwriter, writer, director, actor,
editor, and USC alumnus Neil Flowers during a trip to North Korea (DPRK) in June 2002. The images depict places Flowers visited
and people he met during his visit. The beautifully restored temple Kwang Bop Sa (Kwangbopsa) is featured in the photographs;
as is Pyongyang, the massive performance art spectacle called Arirang, and the United Nations buildings at the 48th parallel
DMZ. One page features propaganda billboards in the capital city. Captions are included for many of the photographs in the
form of description and/or poetry. The photographs are mostly in color with a few in black and white. This is a unique one-of-a-kind
book that captures a moment in the history of "The Hermit Kingdom". Also included in this collection are pamphlets, guides,
maps, and a second photograph album on his trip to South Korea and China.
Advance notice required for access.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Curator, Korean Heritage
Library. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Korean Heritage Library as the owner of the physical items and
is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Gift of Neil Flowers, July 18, 2013.
[Box/folder# or item name], Neil Flowers North Korea Journal photograph album, Collection no. 3037, Korean Heritage Library,
East Asian Library, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
This collection is unprocessed.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Photographs
P'yŏngyang (Korea) -- Photographs
Korea (North) -- Description and Travel -- Photographs
Korea (North) -- Photographs
Photograph albums
Korea (South)
China
guidebooks
Maps
Pamphlets
Flowers, Neil -- Photograph collections