ABSTRACT
Gulsin 굴신 (屈伸, bending [one’s] body), a compound comprised of gul 굴 (bending) + sin 신 (extending), is an umbrella term that has been utilized to describe or even theorize many types of movement that can be found in Korean performances. Generally speaking, these movements are performed not with an extended and lengthened body but with a bent form. To understand the importance of gulsin in movement, imagine an inchworm. An inchworm wants to move forward, but forward motion can only be achieved through bending its body. This bending-based movement is the theoretical emphasis of gulsin. The theorization of the term as yet has been thin and spotty, but possibly because it is so basic and ubiquitous, gulsin has become a quintessential term through which Korean performers have articulated the differences between their arts and the arts in other nations.
