Q2. Why does Parasite being awarded Best Picture make history for Hollywood and Korea?
Social media went into meltdown during the Oscars, and this was just a snippet. Korean pride in this cinematic masterpiece swept through my Twitter timeline.
And by the time Parasite was named Best Picture - winning its fourth Oscar - the voices across the country had reached a crescendo of wild congratulatory joy.
Yes, this is historic. Bong Joon-ho's comedy-thriller is the first non-English language film to win Best Picture. But to South Korea, these awards mean more than that. It is a cultural breakthrough.
For a decade this country has ploughed money into the so-called Korean wave or Hallyu - K-drama, K-pop and Korean cinema.
The accolades from the Academy are proof that this cultural wave has come crashing down on Hollywood.
Still, director Bong Joon-ho believes his influence is nowhere near that of K-pop idols BTS.
"I think BTS has 3000 times the power and influence I have. I think Korea produces a lot of great artists because we are a very emotionally dynamic people," he told reporters outside the Oscars.
Parasite. The film is about class warfare. It is about rich and poor - a universal theme which has made it possible for this South Korean story to resonate with audiences around the world.
Although, it seems ironic that this social satire about class warfare came about with the help of one of South Korea's richest companies, but all of these factors combined appear to have created a surprise hit.
"They orchestrated a very clever and effective release strategy, releasing it on a small number of screens in October before expanding it as strong word-of-mouth pulled more people in.”
But building on this success won't be easy, says film critic Ha Sung-tea.
"I think now the government, the industry, and big conglomerates need to all work together to promote diverse creators and their unique perspectives."
Regardless, the Oscars are an affirmation that South Korea is a cultural powerhouse - and it now has a place in the history books.
Vocabulary Review
Match the underlined words and phrases from the passage to their meanings
| when news or information is passed on through conversation _________________ | a combination of business entities operating in entirely different industries but under one group __________________ | a phrase meaning a viral online reaction to information or an event ___________________ |
| an emphasis of the amount of money invested into something _________________ | to arrange a situation to produce a desired effect ____________________ | awards granted as a special honor or merit ________________ |
| to be able to convey feelings in a powerful or energetic manner ____________________ | a writing technique (in media) to criticize society or cultural norms _____________________ | in which people can feel a common connection or feeling with a subject _________________ |
| a feeling of emotional support or encouragement in response to something __________________ | the idea that a (film) can apply to anyone – regardless of cultural differences or geographic location ___________________ | the highest point of progressive intensity in a situation ____________________ |
| a small piece or brief extract ___________________ | the struggle and tension for political and economic power between social classes ________________ | the process of overcoming something and achieving success as a community __________________ |
Comprehension Questions
Read the passage and answer the below questions with appropriate grammar.
Q1. How many Oscars were awarded to the film Parasite, and which was the record-breaking award? _______________________________________________________________
Q2. Why does Parasite being awarded Best Picture make history for Hollywood and Korea?
_____________________________________________________________________
Q3. Why does the passage credit the theme of class warfare as one of the reasons for the film’s success?
______________________________________________________________________
Q4. What is the other strategy explained by the writer that aided in Parasite’s success?
_____________________________________________________________________
Vocabulary Review
Match the underlined words and phrases from the passage to their meanings
| when news or information is passed on through conversation word-of-mouth | a combination of business entities operating in entirely different industries but under one group conglomerates | a phrase meaning a viral online reaction to information or an event went into meltdown |
| an emphasis of the amount of money invested into something ploughed money into | to arrange a situation to produce a desired effect orchestrated | awards granted as a special honor or merit accolades |
| to be able to convey feelings in a powerful or energetic manner emotionally dynamic | a writing technique (in media) to criticize society or cultural norms social satire | in which people can feel a common connection or feeling with a subject resonate |
| a feeling of emotional support or encouragement in response to something affimation | the idea that a (film) can apply to anyone – regardless of cultural differences or geographic location universal theme | the highest point of progressive intensity in a situation crescendo |
| a small piece or brief extract snippet | the struggle and tension for political and economic power between social classes class warfare | the process of overcoming something and achieving success as a community cultural breakthrough |
Comprehension Questions
Read the passage and answer the below questions with appropriate grammar.
Q1. How many Oscars were awarded to the film Parasite, and which was the record-breaking award? Four Oscars were awarded to Parasite, including the record-breaking Best Picture.
Q2. Why does Parasite being awarded Best Picture make history for Hollywood and Korea?
It is the first non-English language film to win Best Picture.
Q3. Why does the passage credit the theme of class warfare as one of the reasons for the film’s success? Because class warfare is a “universal theme” which can “resonate with audiences around the world.”
Q4. What is the other strategy explained by the writer that aided in Parasite’s success?
A “very clever and effective release strategy” which “pulled more people in” with word-of-mouth.