韩国假面舞：笑声中的社会批评
On a warm summer evening in the ancient city of Andong, a crowd gathers to watch talchum. Dancers in colorful robes leap and spin, their wooden masks frozen in exaggerated smiles. The audience erupts in laughter, but the humor is only the surface; beneath the jokes lies a sharp critique of power.
Talchum dates back to the Joseon Dynasty, when commoners used performance to mock the elite. Corrupt officials, greedy merchants, and hypocritical monks were all targets. The masks gave performers anonymity and freedom, allowing them to speak truth to power. This tradition became a vital outlet for social criticism in a rigidly hierarchical society.
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