Both squid games and parasites solve capitalism’s pitfalls
👨🎤
With much of the Western world haunted by the cultural phenomenon of “squid games,” we delve into Korean films’ critiques of capitalist ideals, including comparing the Netflix series to Bong Joon-ho’s “Parasite.”
Korean film industry takes the world by storm
‘Parasite’ director Bong Joon-ho expressed his desire for Western audiences to participate in world cinema in his Golden Globe speech: “Once you get over the one-inch-high subtitle barrier, you’ll be introduced to more amazing films. “.
Photo by Han Minggu/WireImage
That sentiment is finally starting to gain traction in the Western world, with Bong Joon-ho’s Oscar-winning “Parasite” earning about $53 million at the U.S. box office, and “Squid Game” poised to become Netflix’s biggest show ever, hitting 90 hits Top 10 Netflix in the country.
What started as a light-hearted and optimistic K-pop movement has evolved into an appreciation for a whole new culture.
- trend: Who is number 29 in the squid game?Exploring the police undercover plot line
Do squid games and parasites have much in common?
Both Squid Games and Parasite are highly critical of South Korea’s capitalist society. Bong Joon-ho’s film explores a family’s struggle to get out of their tiny basement apartment, while Netflix’s “Squid Game” explores the extremes people go to when they’re in debt or struggling with money.
In both projects, there is an explicit critique of South Korea’s socioeconomic inequalities, both those who have it and those who don’t. The wealthy families in Parasite look down on their employees and even find their smell repulsive, while VIPS and guards use the players in Squid Game for their sport.
In Squid Game, however, players choose to go back to the horror of the game. As viewers, we see the real-life struggles of living in an oppressive capitalist society: Ki-hoon’s mother has to work standing up all day, unable to afford the medical bills she needs, Ki-hoon can’t feed her own children and Ali runs a bus Can’t afford tickets. Here, the series proves that slow death itself under capitalism is worse than fast death at the hands of the guards, and that the game has at least some chance of economic redemption.
- Squid Game: What is the classical music played before the game?
In Parasite, Chung Sook makes ramdons and feeds wealthy families, supporting them with her and her family’s labor; in squid games, the organs of lower players are harvested to earn money for the guards.
Squid Game is a more blatant critique of capitalism, with each player being quantified at 100 million won ($83,554). While Parasite takes a more personal, insidious, and subtle approach to class divisions, it shows the resentment that builds up inside people, leading to the stunning and unexpected ending Chize eventually breaks.
Twitter users call on fans for parasite comparison
While “Parasite” and “Squid Game” clearly share many broader themes, many users on Twitter joked that they are often compared because it’s the only Korean movie people have ever seen.
- Netflix: Player 067 dreams of Jeju Island in squid game, but is it a real place?
[Guy who has only seen 2 Korean things] Squid Game is in many ways an homage to the movie Parasite.
— Ghostface Kafka (36 rooms) (@RuairiWood) October 3, 2021
The people who compare Squid Game to Parasite are those whose only experience watching Korean movies/TV is Squid Game and Parasite
— Isaac Lee (@IsaacKLee) October 1, 2021
However, it’s clear that Squid Game has opened the minds of people watching non-native language content.
Squid Game, Money Heist, and Parasite make me want to see more English-language series and movies.
— Henry (@HenrieVIII) October 7, 2021
From “Snowpiercer” and “Gangnam Style” to “Parasite” and “Squid Game,” every Korean cultural product that has made a big splash in the U.S. seems to revolve around themes of inequality and fairness.
— Damien Ma (@damienics) October 4, 2021
You can now stream Squid Game on Netflix.
Is there anything to tell us about this article?
Olivia Olphin is an English Literature graduate and an avid film and literature lover. She has many years of review experience, most recently as an accredited media for the London Film Festival. She has also written extensively on culture and sex education, as well as LGBTQ+ and women’s issues.
Who does Kevin Myers play in ‘Pretty Smart’ and why does he look familiar? Who is Bessie in General Hospital and what is she hiding?
Check more articles in our categories Celebrity & News & Wiki.
Thanks for visiting we hope our article Both squid games and parasites solve capitalism’s pitfalls
, help us and share the article on Facebook, pinterest and whatsapp with the hashtags ☑️ #squid #games #parasites #solve #capitalisms #pitfalls ☑️!