Parasite: Context

Question 1

What are key true events linked to Parasite?

Answer 1

-‘Chaebol system’- wealthy family owned corporations in South Korea have concentrated wealth
-Cho Kuk, the Justice Minister was involved in a scandal and had to resign due to involvement in falsifying documents so his children could go to University

Question 2

What is some context of Bong related to Parasite and its boundaries?

Answer 2

He was blacklisted and banned from state funding for critising former president Park who was impeached and is now serving 24 years in prison due to his abuse of power

Question 3

What are some facts on Parasite’s success?

Answer 3

-First non-English movie to win Oscar for Best Picture

Question 4

What is society like in Korea and how does that relate to Parasite?

Answer 4

-Strong class divide
-Capitalist
-Defined by income gaps and social inequality
-Systematic unfairness and bias
-Young people struggle to get jobs and rich people get the priority
-‘Gold’ and ‘dirt’ spoon analogy with Park and Kims
-Film is a ‘critique of South Korea’s modern society’
-No clear concept of good vs evil or protagonist vs antagonist but a moral dilemma within social class

Question 5

What is a phrase used to describe the living hell of South Korea?

Answer 5

Hell Joseon

Question 6

What is the word that connects how we behave to our position in the world?

Answer 6

Habitus

Question 7

What is orientalism and who created its theory?

Answer 7

Said- the way the West view the East and how their identities and constructions rely on the making from the West. This may be sexualised women, stagnant economic development and emasculated men. The idea of curiosity for the East/Orient.

The East is inferior to the West

Eastern individuals presented as exotic, dangerous, fascinating, the ‘Other’

Question 8

How is Orientalism shown in Parasite?

Answer 8

-South Koreas economic boom depended on American investment which allows the rich to get rich and the poor to get poorer
-Westernised culture of Parks which therefore means Kims

Question 9

What are references to American culture in Parasite?

Answer 9

-Jessica from Illinois, Chicago
-Da-song’s obsession with Indian culture
-Kevin, Jessica, Nathan Park
-Scouts- tent is well made as it is American
-Morse Code
-Nuclear bunkers- North Korea
-Wifi/ making Pizza boxes
-Reference to Oxford- falsifying documents
-Italian Opera music at Da-song’s birthday party