An Exploratory Analysis of the concept of Combined Arts in Korea

This study is an exploratory analysis of the concept of combined arts in contemporary Korea based on the definition of combined arts by artists, focusing on the ambiguity of the concept of multiple arts. 100 business applications submitted to the “2021 Combined Arts REBOOT Activity Support Project” operated by the Korea Culture and Arts Commission in 2021 were randomly extracted and the definition of multiple arts described by artists was analyzed according to the grounded theory methodology. As a result of the analysis, the concept of combined arts recognized by artists was derived into five major categories: “genre indifference,” “experiment and subversion,” “multimedia,” “simultaneous values,” and “equal and fair sense.” While existing genres tried to create aesthetic values based on specific artistic languages and expressions and maintain traditional discourse, combined arts radiated contemporary values and expanded discourse through attempts to cross experimental and innovative genres. It was pointed out that combined arts have the same direction as existing art genres in that they ultimately aim to build a new art world based on the artist's identity, but in the process, it is important to understand the specificity of combined arts in an institutional context in addition to the characteristics of the art genre in that they value post-order perspectives and attitudes such as acceptance, cooperation, connection, and equality.