Parasite Flashcards
Who inspired Bong Joon-ho in making Parasite?
Two films and directors: The Housemaid by Kim Ki-young and Psycho by Alfred Hitchcock
The Housemaid explores class struggles, while Psycho uses staircases as a suspense motif.
Why is Parasite referred to as a ‘staircase movie’?
It uses stairs to display class division and vertical space
Stairs symbolize the struggle of moving between social classes.
What does the staircase symbolize in The Housemaid and Parasite?
The struggle for social mobility and class division
Working-class characters are often pushed down the stairs, representing their hardships.
What architectural feature does Bong Joon-ho use to symbolize social stratification?
The multi-level home of the wealthy Park family
This design highlights the divide between different social classes.
How does Bong Joon-ho pay homage to The Housemaid in Parasite?
By mirroring the disruptive presence of the housemaid and exploring class complexities
This reflects ongoing societal issues.
What dramatic role do stairs play in Hitchcock’s Psycho?
They create tension and symbolize danger and escape
Bong uses stairs similarly to signify impending doom in Parasite.
What visual element does Bong use to illustrate the upper class’s better life?
Sunlight
Higher social status is depicted as being ‘closer to the sun’.
What does the 180-degree rule represent in Parasite?
The line of action between the two families’ windows
This visual design parallels Bong’s work in Snowpiercer.
What socioeconomic context does Parasite reflect about South Korea?
The Miracle on the Han River and the rapid economic transformation
This period marks South Korea’s transition from poverty to wealth.
What are ‘chaebols’ in the context of South Korea’s economy?
Large, family-controlled conglomerates supported by the government
They play a dominant role in driving economic growth.
What educational emphasis did South Korea adopt post-Korean War?
Education for everyone, prioritizing university degrees
South Korea became one of the most educated countries in the world.
What characterizes South Korea’s work ethic?
An extreme workaholic culture with long weekly hours
Maximum work hours reached 68 per week.
What was the unemployment rate among students in South Korea?
21.6%
High academic pressure contributed to mental health issues among students.
What does the term ‘golden spoons’ refer to in South Korean society?
Wealthy individuals or those born into affluence
‘Dirt spoons’ denote those from poor backgrounds.
What is the significance of the Kim family’s semi-basement apartment?
It symbolizes their lower social status and economic struggles
The design reflects their aspirations and living conditions.
What does the viewing stone symbolize in Parasite?
Material wealth and the aspirations of the Kim family
It represents Ki-woo’s inner desires.
How does Bong Joon-ho visually represent the gap between rich and poor in Parasite?
Through the use of sunlight and lighting contrasts
The poorer the characters, the less sunlight they have access to.
What role does the camera movement play in Parasite?
It enhances the narrative and visual storytelling
Bong often favors camera movements over cuts.
What does the flood sequence in Parasite symbolize?
The connection between wealth and misfortune
Water flows from the rich to the poor, highlighting class disparity.
What does Bong Joon-ho suggest about the Park family’s perception of rain?
It’s seen as an inconvenience, contrasting with the Kim family’s disaster
This highlights the ignorance of the wealthy towards the struggles of the poor.
What thematic element is emphasized by the use of windows and walls in Parasite?
The division of social classes
Physical barriers symbolize the separation between the wealthy and the poor.
How does rain affect the Park family during their camping trip?
Rain is merely an inconvenience that Mrs. Park describes as a ‘blessing’ for clearing pollution.
What impact does rain have on the Kim family?
The rain destroys their semi-basement and renders the family homeless.
How is the rain portrayed in the Park’s house compared to the Kim’s?
In the Park’s house, the rain is delicate and romantic, while for the Kim’s, it becomes an antagonist.
What does Bong Joon-ho highlight by contrasting the living conditions of the Park and Kim families?
He underscores themes of class disparity and struggles faced by those at the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder.
What does the horizontal solidarity among the poor indicate in Parasite?
It indicates that the poor fight against each other rather than unite.
What does Ki-taek collect to preserve a sense of identity?
He collects his wife’s medal and the family’s identification documents.
What does Ki-woo’s collection of the landscape stone symbolize?
It reveals his ambition and aspiration for upward social mobility.
What does Ki-jung’s decision to smoke represent?
It expresses her defiance against her circumstances.
What does the floating landscape stone symbolize in Parasite?
It symbolizes that their sunken dreams are still afloat and new plans can be hatched.
What overarching theme does the landscape stone represent?
It represents the empty promises of social mobility in a capitalist society.
What does the flickering light motif symbolize?
It symbolizes Ki-woo holding onto hope.
What does Ki-woo’s disappearance into the light represent?
It is a visual metaphor for the emptiness of his dreams.
What does Ki-taek imply about making plans?
He implies that making a plan often leads to disappointment.
What limitations does Ki-taek acknowledge regarding his family’s opportunities?
He acknowledges the systematic barriers and economic disparities that hinder social mobility.
What event prompted Korean authorities to ban semi-basement apartments?
The drowning of 13 people in floods in Seoul.
How does the cyclical structure of Parasite manifest at the end of the film?
It ends with the same shot from the start, highlighting the lack of social mobility.
What does Ki-woo’s direct address to the lens signify?
It brings the audience into the film and shows the struggles of the poor.
What does the motif of food represent in Parasite?
It shows class warfare and is used as a weapon.
What does the peach symbolize in Parasite?
It symbolizes manipulation and the desperation of the Kim family.
What does Ki-woo’s final plan reveal about his outlook?
It reveals his deluded hope to get rich and buy the Park’s old house.
What percentage of lower-middle-class South Koreans in their 20s were optimistic about their quality of life improving in 2019?
Only 23%.
What does Bong Joon-ho describe the last shot of Parasite as?
A ‘surefire kill’.
What does the end-credits song ‘soju han jan’ represent?
It documents a hard day’s work and a drink of soju, reflecting Ki-woo’s ongoing struggles.
Fill in the blank: ‘Hope is the emotional ______ in the film: the things that keeps us going but sucks our marrow dry.’
parasite
What does Bong want to convey through the lyrics of the end-credits song?
A very simple sense that Ki-woo’s living on with his life.
How long would it take Ki-woo to save up enough money to buy the Park’s house?
564 years.
What happens to Chung-sook at the end of Parasite?
She loses authority and resorts to being a traditional housewife.
