{"id":1111,"date":"2023-05-17T22:11:03","date_gmt":"2023-05-17T12:11:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pbw.id.au\/blog\/?p=1111"},"modified":"2023-08-20T15:06:37","modified_gmt":"2023-08-20T05:06:37","slug":"parasite-christianity-with-korean-characteristics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pbw.id.au\/blog\/2023\/05\/parasite-christianity-with-korean-characteristics\/","title":{"rendered":"Parasite: Christianity with Korean characteristics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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First published at NewCatallaxy blog on 27 January, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

I was struck by a particular sequence in the movie the first time I saw it (on the TV, I have to confess) two or three years ago. WolfmanOz\u2019s commentaries on movies brought that sequence to mind again. If you haven\u2019t seen Parasite, it is probably best not to read this post, which is certainly a spoiler. I apologise for the quality of the video clips, which come from screen captures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I know nothing of pre-Christian Korean religious practice or folk lore, but a cursory search yielded a whole Pantheon, represented, for example, like so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s easy enough to see which ones are dangerous, and the convention that is used. It may be that all of the elements of Parasite can be accounted for in terms of Korean mythology. Nonetheless, major elements of the movie strike me as being specifically Christian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The two main families of the story are the Kims \u2013 father Ki Taek, mother Chung Sook, daughter Ki Jung and son Ki Woo \u2013 and the Parks \u2013 father Dong Ik, mother Yeon Kyo, daughter Da Hye, and young son Da Song. The Kims are scroungers living in the lower reaches of the city in a sub-basement with windows at street level. The Parks are wealthy, living on the heights in a house designed by a famous architect. A successful contemporary of the Kim children is going overseas, and recommends the son to take over his tutoring of the Park\u2019s daughter. This friend brings to Ki Woo from his grandfather a scholar\u2019s stone, for no obvious reason. It\u2019s a grace. Scholar\u2019s stones, or landscape stones, are microcosms of mountainous landscapes; a kind of bonsai mountain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Daughter Ki Jung\u2019s talent for fraud begins to shine through as she expertly forges qualifications for Ki Woo, who, unlike his contemporary, is not attending university. Ki Jung is subsequently represented by Ki Woo as an art therapist for the Park\u2019s son, Da Song. She immediately exerts iron control over both the son and the mother, showing an enviable ability to bend others to her will. This young woman is CEO, or at least, Vice-President (Human Resources), material. Mrs Park, obsessed with all things American, calls Ki Woo Kevin, and Ki Jung, Jessica.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By similarly polished deceit and manipulation, the Parks\u2019 driver is replaced by Kim the Elder. The housekeeper, Moon Gwong, was inherited by the Parks from the original owner, the architect himself, so she is a tough proposition. In elaborate choreographed interactions, the Kims manoeuvre Mrs Park into dismissing her without notice. She is then replaced, of course, by Mrs Kim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The whole family is now employed by the Parks, who then leave for a camping holiday to mark son Da Song\u2019s birthday. The Kims are sprawled over the living room furniture enjoying the Park\u2019s food and booze, as the rain begins to come down more and more heavily. Then Moon Gwong rings the doorbell and begs to be let in for something she has forgotten. Beneath the basement, hidden behind shelves and a blast door, is a deeper basement bomb shelter, and living down there is Moon Gwong\u2019s husband, Geun Se, who has been emerging at night to get food ever since the Parks moved in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The couple discover the family relationship of the Kims, and after some slapstick, they are restrained by the Kims in the shelter, when Mrs Park calls to announce they will be home in a few minutes. Only Chung Sook is supposed to be in the house. More slapstick. At this point, as father, son and daughter scatter into hiding, Mrs Kim serves dinner to Mrs Park, and Bong Joon Ho begins to reveal his purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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