Entertain, enlighten or subvert?: "Liberation Day" and Laibach

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Entertain, enlighten or subvert?: “Liberation Day” and Laibach

Funny, slick and odd...but what else?

Hamish Macdonald November 24, 2016

Entertain, enlighten or subvert?: “Liberation Day” and Laibach

Promotional poster from the band’s concert. Valnoir/Morten Traavik

In August 2015, Slovenian rock group Laibach played in Pyongyang to coincide with North Korea’s liberation day celebration, which is held on August 15.

The announcement of the concert in North Korea was understandably met with media fanfare and global surprise considering the closed nature of the regime and the musical style of Laibach, which is perhaps best described as avant-garde.

About the Author

Hamish Macdonald

Hamish Macdonald is an Associate Fellow at RUSI who formerly worked on Project SANDSTONE and formerly a journalist and researcher who has focused uniquely on North Korea related topics and affairs. He was previously the COO of the Korea Risk Group, which produces the NK News and NK Pro. Specialising in this area, his investigations covered topics including North Korean sanctions evasion activities, domestic economic development and human rights.

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