At first glance at the title and photo on the front of Roald Maliangkay's Broken Voices, one might assume that this book deals strictly, or primarily, with music. Music certainly is this work's central theme, but it offers insight into far more than a view of Korean folk music and its preservation. Rather, this volume also investigates the history and significance of both the Japanese and the Korean Cultural Properties Protection Laws (CPPL) and the subsequent designation of Important Intangible Cultural Properties, detailing both domestic Korean and international interactions and policy making. Thus, scholars of Korean history broadly, those interested in South Korea's postcolonial period of growth and transformation, individuals researching preservation systems, and music novices and seasoned academics alike will glean much from this well-written, thought-provoking book.
The first half of Broken Voices deals with government policies and practices to preserve and promote intangible heritage, focusing especially on...
