The role that Bulguk temple plays in the cultural life of Korea ; in multimedia and computer simulation form.

SUMMARY

1. Why Bulguksa ?

2. The historical background

3. Indicative Questions to be asked

4. My aims

5. Why computer ? Why website ?

6. My methodology

7. Next year.

1. Why Bulguksa ?

• I first visited the Temple when I was 10 years old - remembering how it looked against the sky, and took many photographs of it during High School Years.

• I photographed the site extensively for the Ministry of Culture in 1996 as part of a high speed rail project.

2. The historical background

528 AD the foundation of the Temple;

751 the development to a large structure in the temple complex;

1593 the Temple destroyed - Japan invades Korea in 1592;

1700 the Temple ’s rebuilt;

1910 Japan conquered Korea ;

1945 Korea independent from Japan;

1969 rebuilding programme

3. Indicative Questions to be asked

• What role does the building play in Korean national life today ?

• what balance is required between tourism and heritage ?

• How does the building compare with a Western equivalent as a religious structure, as a focus for tourism, as a centre for worship ?

• How can the building be better explored and explained to a Korean audience and to a British audience to enhance cultural understanding ?

• Is there a tension between the national cultural focus within Korea, and the universality of Buddhism ?

• Is computer realisation of sacred architecture ever in danger of being seen as irreligious, blasphemous or in bad taste ?

4. My aims are

to enhance understanding of structural and functional elements within the building;

to provide a museum display to explain to visitors the context of displayed items;

to model an interactive structure on computer of the Bulguksa complex;

to encourage cross cultural links between UK and Korea.

5. Why computer ? Why website ?

• for greater understanding of the structure in addition to book based experience and the possibilities when visiting the site;

• to make the information accessible on a global basis through the internet;

• to provide a fusion of objective and subjective interpretations of the site ;

• to provide a critical interactive database using still and moving images

• to encourage the viewer to choose from a set of interactive possibilities on screen

6. My methodology presenting information on screen and devising patterns of understanding testing the information flow (discussion groups and questionnaires) comparing the building with a western equivalent (e.g. Norwich Cathedral)

7. Next year. (see Time Table)

WORKING TIME

7.1 reassurances as to working time I want to transfer to part time mode I have now ordered my professional life to enable me to work more systematically

SPOKEN AND WRITTEN ENGLISH

7.2 spoken and written exercises - undertakings. Regular exercises in reading, speaking and writing PROJECT WORK

7.3 Developing the raw material from my English journeys

Making Slideshow for detail (5 minutes of movie) Starting to make Norwich Cathedral website.

Making three speed options for Trajectory.

Making database of Architectural features.

Making Comparisons Draft of Thesis initial outline

Writing a descriptive page for each thesis section

Trying thesis section in website structure.

Written section draft No.1 e.g. religious architecture how it reflects society?

Written section No.2 comparative exercises Windows and Doors.

Written section No.3 factors of restoration Korea/UK.

Questionnaires drafted taken to Norwich.

Testing and interview on architecture students at the University of Brighton.

Possible Mphil/PhD transfer meeting.