Introduction
The assessment is primarily concerned with the film Parasite. It is a South Korean production directed by Bong Joon-ho, and it was released in 2019. The story is about two families – the Kims and the Parks – who reside in Seoul but occupy opposite ends of the socioeconomic spectrum. The Kims live in a basement apartment and struggle to make money due to low wages and unstable employment; however, the Parks reside in a mansion and enjoy the benefits of their high socioeconomic status (Joon-ho, 2019). Deception is utilized as the primary driver of the plot since the Kim family tricks the Parks into becoming employed within the household. In the end, disturbing secrets around the house’s basement are revealed, which spills out in the blood bath of several murders at a birthday party.
Social Inequity
The film’s first clear example of social inequality is the significant difference in living conditions between the Kim and Park families. The disparity in housing not only symbolizes their different social statuses but also influences their opportunities and access to resources. For example, the Parks have private tutors and high-quality goods, whereas the Kims resort to folding pizza boxes for minimal pay (Joon-ho, 2019). The second example of social inequity occurs when a rainstorm floods the Kim family’s basement apartment; however, the Parks view the same rain as a mere inconvenience (Joon-ho, 2019). The social norms of wealth success and systemic issues – differences in housing and stability in employment – enable these inequalities.
Conflict Theory
The film Parasite epitomizes class conflict theory because it showcases the clash between the rich and poor for resources. Conflict theory essentially states that all societies are comprised of different groups competing for the same resources (Ferrare & Phillippo, 2021). The Parks and the Kims perfectly represent these distinct groups – the poor and the rich. The conflict is manifested in the film since the Kims use deception to access the Parks’ resources, whereas the latter is disgusted by the former and exploits them. This class conflict between the two families ends in an actual, physical, and violent killing of each other – the final form of any conflict. In other words, this mutual hatred, disdain, and abuse escalates to its peak towards the end of the film by reaching an openly murderous conflict.
Conclusion
It should be noted that the film primarily explores the theme of social stratification above all else, which is why it minimally touches upon gender and is not concerned about race. The Kims are poor – they lack access to proper housing, employment, and education; hence, they are more vulnerable to floods and other adversities. In other words, they cannot compete fairly and equally with the rich Parks because of their limited resources. This extends to all modern societies, where the societal structure keeps the poor in poverty and the rich in prosperity; therefore, the gap continues to widen.
References
Ferrare, J. J., & Phillippo, K. (2021). Conflict theory, extended: A framework for understanding contemporary struggles over education policy. Educational Policy, 37(3), 587-623. Web.
Joon-ho, B. (2019). Parasite [Film]. CJ Entertainment.