Roundtable: The Color of Earth

Last month, First Second released The Color of Earth, a critically acclaimed manhwa by artist Kim Dong Hwa. The story focuses on Ehwa, a young girl on the brink of adolescence, and her mother. The two live in a rural village in pre-war Korea, where Ehwa’s mother, a widow, runs a small tavern. The Color of Earth documents their changing relationship as Ehwa begins to mature, fall in love, and understand her mother’s sometimes precarious, sometime lonely position as a single woman. Though the book isn’t being marketed to teenage readers here in the US, the book occupies a similar place in Korean culture as A Tree Grows in Brooklyn or My Antonia does in American, as a coming-of-story that speaks to both adults and younger readers. We assembled a team of librarians — Robin Brenner, Eva Volin, Snow Wildsmith, and Esther Keller — to discuss the book, its readership, and its treatment of budding adolescent sexuality.

The Color of Earth
By Kim Dong Hwa
No rating (Recommended for 14+)
First Second, 2009, ISBN: 978-1-59643-458-5
320 pp., $16.95

Kate: Most of the manhwa that’s been licensed for the US market seems to have been chosen for the obvious similarities between its tone, style, and subject and that of popular manga series like S.A. and The Wallflower. But Color of Earth is a departure: the artwork has a kind of studied naviete, and the story focuses on two rural women living in a traditional, patriarchal society. How did Color of Earth challenge (or affirm) your notion of what manhwa is? How do you think American teenagers will react to it?

Robin: When I saw the cover of Color of Earth, I knew I was in for something a bit different — it reminded me of Town of Evening Calm, Country of Cherry Blossom in that the art and design signaled that this was not your usual manhwa. I was not surprised that it existed, in the sense that I’m aware that there are many more types of manhwa (and manga, for that matter) that are not yet translated and published here in the States, but I was pleased to see First Second bring out a different sort of story. 

As for how teenagers will react to it — I really cannot predict that. There’s a part of me that thinks the girls (and I think it will be mainly girls who pick it up) who will enjoy it will likely be the more curious, contemplative type rather than those looking for the next romantic comedy. It may gain an audience as teens start passing it around, as they are wont to do. I think initially it will have to catch one avid reader’s attention, and that girl will likely not be the usual manga reader. I cannot decide how the teens will react to the euphemistic aspects of the story in discussing sexual awakening and the roles of women in relationships. I could see them getting impatient with the floral comparisons and gentle pace, and I could also see them giggling about parts of the story without really taking the time to really read it. I admit I was a bit turned off by the subservient, passive roles presented, even though Ehwa herself is spunkier, I fear this may be about her being worn down by her situation. It’s not unrealistic, and certainly is period, but I’m not sure it will make me enjoy the story. I also found I was more critical of the story once I realized the author was a man — that is not a logical reaction, perhaps, but it made me wonder how much of the story is an ideal of what women were or are rather than true to their actual thoughts and actions.

On a totally different note, I will report that I was reading this volume in my favorite local Japanese/Korean restaurant, and the waitress was very impressed that I was reading it as she recognized the creator (although not the title.) She was intrigued that I had it in English, and I told her more was coming out. So, that was cool!

I have ordered it, and I am curious to hear reactions from readers.

Kate: I had the same reaction when I learned the author was a man. Traditional societies are often very segregated, with men and women having their own distinct cultures, and I wasn’t convinced that Kim Dong Hwa could authentically invoke the female "sphere." Sometimes I think he succeeds; other times, I think that sentimental ideas about female purity compromise the story. In particular, I found the euphemistic way in which Ehwa’s mom discussed sexual matters just plain odd — you’d think a widow who ran an inn, fended off advances from male patrons, and ran her own household (right down to raising animals and growing food) would be frank with her teenage daughter. I also found Ehwa’s naivete unconvincing for similar reasons: would a rural girl really be that ignorant of sexual matters?

At the same time, I was bothered by the way in which Ehwa’s playmate Bongsoon was depicted. Bongsoon is a type that we all know from young adult literature: the bossy, sexually forward girl who has a bad reputation among her female peers for "putting out." As Kim draws her, Bongsoon has a piggy face and tiny, slanted eyes that make her look grotesque, especially when contrasted with the graceful way in which he draws Ehwa and her mother. I felt like the author was passing judgment on his own character, inviting us to view Bongsoon in an unfavorable light for being easy.

It’s a shame that the theme of female chastity is so prevalent in the text, as I think Kim does a beautiful job of depicting Ehwa’s first crushes. As Greg McElhatton pointed out in his review, Ehwa has very little interaction with the monk or the rich school boy; her "relationships" with both are primarily in her head, as she’s barely exchanged more than a few sentences with either one. Whether teens will appreciate the subtlety of Kim’s storytelling is hard to gauge. I found these scenes effective because I remember what it was like to experience those first pangs of infatuation; someone just beginning to experience these kind of feelings, however, might not have the emotional distance to understand what Kim is trying to do.

I’m interested to see where Kim Dong Hwa will go with the story in the second volume, though. What will his characters do next? How will Ehwa’s life change as she gets older? Coming of age stories can be been-there-done-that, but I think that a story like this one, which shows both the differences and the similarities of people living in different countries and different times, will speak to teens who want something "foreign," but who will also appreciate the comfort of something familiar. Another book series that worked for me in this way, but from a male perspective, was Lat’s Kampung Boy and Town Boy, both also from First Second.

Esther: I really didn’t know what to expect when I started this story. My only expectation, like Eva said, is that the book was being put out by First Second and I don’t think I read anything by First Second that I didn’t like! I also tend to prefer manhwa over manga. 

I can’t say that The Color of Earth resonated with me very well. I found myself uncomfortable at parts — I think frank and open discussion about sexuality and the body rather than all the innuendos would have been easier on me than all the riddles that Ewha’s mother uses. On the other hand, I felt Ewha’s discovering of herself and of her sexuality was quite realistic, starting from a very young Ewha who first discovers boys and girls are built differently to the teenage Ewha whose body is starting to develop as are the feelings that go along with it.

I was taken with the beauty of the art. The beautiful scenes of fields and gardens had me pause and study those pages for details. I was also taken with the Monk’s story — not only is he falling in love, but that love causes an inner struggle with his own religion and path in life that he has chosen — or was it the life chosen for him. I couldn’t tell. That story, I think, would speak to a lot of teens.

I work primarily with middle school students and even my most sophisticated readers are too young for this title. Not because of content per say (that too), but because they haven’t reached that level of maturity to read this title without giggling over the parts.  But there are a couple of my regulars whom I can picture picking up this title or its sort in a few years — as they grow and mature some more.  I agree with Robin, that it’s hard to predict how this book will do with a teen audience. It’s one of those books librarians and other adults will have to put in the hands of the sophisticated teen reader. Even with all its humor, it’s not light reading. I think we also need to keep in mind that this title wasn’t written for teens. It has quite the nostalgic tone — almost as if someone is looking back into their youth — which makes it less appealing, in my opinion, to teens.

The Color of Earth is the first of a three-part series. The second volume, The Color of Water, will be released on June 9, 2009, and the third, The Color of Heaven, will be released on September 1, 2009.

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