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239 | ISLLAC : Journal of Intensive Studies on Language, Literature, Art, and Culture
ISLLAC : Journal of Intensive Studies on Language, Literature,
Art, and Culture
Volume 5 Issue 2, 2021
Journal homepage : http://journal2.um.ac.id/index.php/jisllac
REPRESENTATION OF SYMBOLS IN “PARASITE” MOVIE
Tira Nur Fitria
*
Institut Teknologi Bisnis AAS Indonesia
A R T I C L E I N F O
A B S T R A C T
Article history:
Received: 20 Aug 2021
Accepted: 20 Des 2021
Published: 29 Des 2021
Keyword:
Movie, Symbol, Semiotic
Approach, Parasite
Movie
Symbols as one of the primary media in the communication
process which are directly capable of translating the thoughts
and feelings of the communicator to the readers or audiences.
In the Parasite movie, many symbols are hidden. This study
investigates the representation of symbols in the Parasite
movie. The method of this study was qualitative with a
semiotic approach. The result analysis shows that several
symbols found in the movie: Morse code, rain, underground
(semi-basement), stone, smell, bunker (basement), and food
can be seen in the “Parasite movie”. A Morse code symbol is a
message. The code HELP being misinterpreted as HOLP cause
the message not to be transmitted well. Rain as a symbol
represents both the wealthy and the poor. Rain is a blessing to
the wealthy but it is a curse to the poor, as it brings disasters
(flooding). Underground is related to Kim's family home, who
live in a cramped semi-basement space in a crowded complex.
The stone's symbolism is linked to good fortune and
prosperity. The viewing block (scholar stone) is spiritually
idiosyncratic of good fortune and stable life. It symbolizes a
sense of social status by smiles or implies a distinction
between Kim's and Park's families about rich and poor people.
Bunker (basement) is related to the hidden secret which is
connected to the Park family's estate, only the former
homeowner and housemaid know it. The final symbol is
Ramdon, a food. It's a mixture of ramen and udon. This food
has a symbiotic relationship due to the mixture of noodles and
meat. As an act of showcasing the Park family's love of a "high-
class" dish, an expensive steak was added on the cheap of an
instant noodle.
*
Corresponding author.
E-mail addresses: tiranurfitria@gmail.com (Tira Nur Fitria)
ISSN : 2597-7385 (Online) - ISLLAC : Journal of Intensive Studies on Language, Literature, Art, and Culture
is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/BY/4.0/).
240 | ISLLAC : Journal of Intensive Studies on Language, Literature, Art, and Culture
INTRODUCTION
The symbol has been a prevalent term in literary criticism since the twentieth
century (Kaiser, 1999, p. 28). Symbols structure and serve our lives daily that stands for
something else. (Brady & Lee, 2010, p. 165), (Fleming, 2019). Symbols are something
that reflects anything else outside it, or a concept associated with it, in the most
fundamental sense (Baldick, 2008). This argument is also reinforced by Ricoeur (1976, p.
54) that the fact that a symbol/sign often applies to elements of linguistic to someone
else or others. Symbols can convey surprising context and sense (Fleming, 2019). A
symbol may be shifted from one context to another without modifying or changing its
meaning (Hausman, 1989, p. 16). The sense of a symbol influences its meaning. Within
the same genre or society, people (such as filmmakers or creators) can use any symbols
in different ways in their works (Olderr, 2017, p. 1).
Golden (2013, p. 175) states that the subtitles in which the interaction took place
affect the symbols. The symbol's usage, how it's used, and by whom it's used can all be
determined by the context. Symbols are artifacts, locations, persons, and other items that
relate to or mean something other than what it is (Lorcher, 2019). Words and letters are
just metaphors for stuff. The viewer will never know what is going on in the minds of the
characters in the film.
Symbols show meaning both are hidden at first and only appear once or twice. A
symbol is a physical representation and reflection of abstract realities (Balla, 2012, p.
20). Symbols, on the other hand, are not limited to the relation between tangible objects
and symbolic reality, but actions may also be interpreted in this manner.
Balla (2012) explains that symbols can be a mix of sentences, ideas, and
movements. Colors, geometrical shapes, smells, odors, gait, grin, dance, stop, look, rhyme
scheme, and rhythm are some of the other elements that may reflect symbol (Balla, 2012,
p. 21). Numbers can reflect or implies symbols because sometimes it is similar to holy
numbers of numerology with particular symbolic meanings. In writing, color is often
used as a metaphor to emphasize the main characters and relationship (Bevier, 2019).
Iconic symbols are common. It resembles the kind of stuff they're referring to
(Tresidder, 2012). Symbols are a form of metaphor that uses tangible figures to convey
an idea (Eco, 2012). A symbol is a specific object or process that represents an abstract
object or process (Schweinitz, 2011, p. 170).
A symbol's image and context communicate better than words (Alhaj, 2015, p.
109). A symbol feature in a literary work are generally linked to the abstraction it
represents (Alhaj, 2015, p. 109). In literary work, a concept is linked to a big issue that
often acts as an emblem. Symbols are objects, acts, or people that become a part of a
fictional work's narrative that can be seen, touched, heard, perceived, or perceived by the
story's main characters.
The film portrays the continuation of a sequence of incidents (Golden, 2013, p.
145). Symbolism is an appropriate way to take multiple forms, such as a figure of speech
in which an object, person, location, or circumstance has a different meaning than its
literal meaning (Priman, 2018). Visuals, lyrics, audio/sound effects, nonverbal, and
verbal symbols all contribute to the meaning.” All good writings evoke our innate ability
to create or make new symbols or remember those we already know (Brady & Lee, 2010,
p. 165).
A film is a medium that contains an icon, index, and mark, as well as the three
elements of the symbol (Ferry, 2014). The filmmakers can affect audiences and interpret
it through symbols and the use of metaphors (Scrawler, 2017). To inform audiences of
241 | ISLLAC : Journal of Intensive Studies on Language, Literature, Art, and Culture
the messages, the writers or filmmakers attempt to communicate gestures, signals,
codes, and traditions in a film (Reeper, 2013).
In literary works, the film is the most symbolic art form (Fraim, 2014). It uses a lot
of gestures and symbolism to communicate the story's essence or messages. Few
individuals, on the other hand, are familiar with symbols and symbolism, and how to use
them efficiently in film screenplays. Certain films are better at managing to mean than
others, so directors often concentrate on certain aspects to offer the plot depth (Wilson,
2018). In reality, certain films conceal their images or references to the point that
viewers/audiences are unaware that great films are rich in symbolism. Take, for
example, the film Parasite.
The film Parasite is directed by Bong Joon-ho directed the 2019 South Korean
black comedy thriller (Wikipedia, 2020). The film tells of life between two families, the
Kim Family, and the Park Family, the film depicts social and economic inequality. The
story of Parasite centers around two families: the Parks and the Kims (Vassar, 2020).
"Parasite" starts with a social commentary, a grim black comedy (Maffei, 2020) This film
immerses viewers in a peculiar immersive comedy atmosphere. Then, roughly halfway
through the film, it moves to a mystery with horror overtones, then to disaster with a
bitter and memorable ending.
Behind the success of this film, it turns out that some hidden things can be
analyzed by the researcher. The film "Parasite" is full of symbolism (Laman, 2020). Jung
(2020) explains that at the start of the film, Ki-woo and the rest of the family are seen as
individual workers infiltrating the Parks' house through hazy networks. Therefore, the
goals of this study are to learn about the symbols in the film "Parasite" and their
representations.
METHOD
The researcher analyzes the symbol in the film using descriptive qualitative
analysis with a semiotic approach. The qualitative analysis focuses on the observation of
a phenomenon from the researcher's point of view (Lapan et al., 2011). It also means that
qualitative analysis is a naturalistic and interpretative approach to understanding the
concepts associated with phenomena in the social worlds, as stated by Maruster (2013,
p. 5).
In conducting this research, the researcher uses a descriptive qualitative
approach with the semiotic method in discussing it. The semiotic method is a science that
examines all aspects of signs and symbols which seeks to decipher the meanings
displayed in it. The researcher uses Pierce's theory because this theory fits the
formulation of the problem discussed in this study. Peirce divides signs into three types,
namely icons, indexes, and symbols. This research only focuses on a symbol, as a sign
whose relation to an object is a matter of convention, agreement, or rule.
The document analysis was chosen as a data collection technique. Documents,
according to Flick et al., (2004) are structured artifacts that are traditionally drawn from
formats such as notes, remarks, diaries, contracts, statistics, annual reports, letters, case
papers, drafts, or expert opinions. The data source used in this study is from the film
"Parasite." There are symbols in the movie "Parasite" that can be found and analyzed
based on structural or intrinsic elements.
In data analysis methodology, there are three main ways of qualitative data
analysis: data elimination, data show, and result drawing/verification (Gratton & Jones,
2004).
242 | ISLLAC : Journal of Intensive Studies on Language, Literature, Art, and Culture
FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION
Findings
There are some secret items in this study that can be found behind the popularity
of the "Parasite film." The following are few examples of symbols:
Morse code
The following are several subtitles from the film "Parasite" that depicts a symbol:
The 1st example:
01:19:53,520 --> --> 01:20:31,916
Geun-sae
:
You feed and house me, Mr. Park. Respect is due!
Mr. Kim
Is this something you do every day?
Geun-sae
:
Yes, I even give him whole sentences to express my gratitude. Someone your
age should be aware of it.
Mr. Kim
:
What's more?
Geun-sae
:
Morse Code is a type of code that is used to communicate. The sensor has
gone insane. Da-song, as a Scout, would be aware of it. Isn't that ridiculous?
As seen in the subtitle above, Moon Gwang's husband has been living in the
bunker (basement) of Mr. Park's family home for several years. Every day, by sending a
morse code line through his house's lights, he requested Da Song's help. However, Da
Song mistook the term HELP for HOLP, causing the message to be lost. Da-song didn't tell
his parents right away. However, before the very end of the movie, it seems as though the
subtitle is meaningless. When Moon Gwang's husband asks Da-song for help through
Morse code, it is the one who lives underground who answers. In the past, he was able to
cause Da-song to have convulsions on his birthday.
The 2nd example:
01:58:46,809 --> --> 02:00:52,984
Ki-woo
:
Neither Mom nor I knew where Dad was. Those policemen, on the other hand,
wore themselves out chasing us. After the tails ended, the news went silent,
and I began climbing the mountain. You have a nice view of the house from
up there. About the cold, I went out that day. I decided to linger a bit longer.
Narrator
:
Son! Son! Dash-dash-dot-dot.
Mr. Kim
:
At the very least, you will be able to read this letter. I'm writing this just in
case you were a Boy Scout. Are you recovered from your injuries? I'm sure
your mother is in good condition. I'm fine in this place. Even so, recalling Ki-
jung makes me cry. What happened that day seems surreal even now. It
doesn't seem like a dream, but it is. I suddenly realized this when I walked out
the doors that day. I was able to get to where I wanted to go.
As seen in the subtitle above, Geun-Se attempted to enlist the assistance of Da-
Song, who had learned to scout in his school by using Morse code. In the final episode, a
subtitle that contradicts Morse code; maybe this is to remind the viewers that the lights
going out is Morse code, so Ki-Taek uses the same tool to interact with his son, Ki-Woo.
However, before the end of the movie, it seems the subtitle is meaningless.
Rain
Rain is the sign object of the rain in the film "Parasite." The following are several
subtitles from the film "Parasite" that depicts a symbol:
The 1st example:
00:54:48,433 --> --> 00:54:50,359
243 | ISLLAC : Journal of Intensive Studies on Language, Literature, Art, and Culture
Mrs. Park
:
Even, keep an eye out for Da-raincoat song from his camping trip. When it
rains, he is ecstatic. Thank you for all of the rain that fell yesterday. As a
result, we forewent camping in favor of a garden party. The rain was a huge
help!
The 2nd example:
01:26:44,389 --> 01:26:57,134
Mr. Park
:
Is there a risk the tent would leak?
Mrs. Park
:
It'll be fine because we bought it from the United States. We have a good
view of the tent.
Mr. Park
:
That's a great idea. I'll be much healthier.
Mrs. Park
:
Let us keep an eye on him as we sleep.
As seen in the subtitle above, rain subtitles are depicted in this interesting video.
Kim's family's house was flooded due to the heavy storm, and they were busy salvaging
treasure. Rain, on the other hand, is seen as a gift by the Park family. Even if it's raining a
lot, Da-tent Songs would be perfect, according to Ms. Park. It's an American tent, but it
won't fall. If it rains, Da-Song tries to pitch a tent in the yard and spend the night there;
his parents don't object; they agree to let him sleep in the family room. Rain, according to
some wealthier people, is welcome for several reasons, while rain is hated by the poor
because it creates hazards such as flooding, which floods poor families' homes.
The 3rd example:
01:35:33,542 --> 01:36:12,714
Mr. Kim
:
What exactly are you doing in that location? Please rush!
Chung-sok
:
What is going on?
Mr. Kim
:
Much of this is sewage water.
Chung-sok
:
Is it true that our window was open?
Mr. Kim
:
Ki-woo, please shut the window! You were taken aback?
Chung-sok
:
Ki-woo, please assist me! I'm getting a bit woozy.
Kiwoo
:
Just wait a moment.
Mr. Kim
:
Take note. Nothing should be touched.
As seen in the subtitle above, Kim's family hides under a table until the clock hits
midnight. They crept out while the Park family fell asleep. However, it rained heavily on
the way home. When Kim arrived at their underground flat, they learned that their home
had been flooded. The mud combined with the flood gushed vigorously from the
building's bathroom, which was located in the highest part of the property. They still
want to save as many as they can. And they went to the nearest gym with other flood
victims. Since their homes are underground and frequently near the drainage of big
structures, residents of Banjiha must be prepared for floods when heavy rains fall. The
Kim family lives in a crowded apartment complex in Banjiha, where semi-basement
rooms are scant.
Underground (Semi-basement)
Underground is the sign target of the house in the film "Parasite." Kim's family has
been seen to live underground since the beginning of the film. How challenging it is for
them to connect to local Wi-Fi and check for signals to satisfy their everyday needs. Even
his house's window was right on the ground, allowing them to see pedestrians walking
on it. The Kim family lives in Banjiha, a crowded apartment complex where semi-
244 | ISLLAC : Journal of Intensive Studies on Language, Literature, Art, and Culture
basement rooms are scant. The following are several subtitles from the film "Parasite"
that depicts a symbol:
The 1st example:
00:52:07,189 --> 00:52:11,509
Mrs. Kim
:
Do you mean I have to do four loads of laundry every time? That isn't the
case. It's the scent of a semi-basement. To get rid of the odor, we need to
leave this building.
The 2nd example:
00:03:20,890 --> 00:03:21,665
Mrs. Kim
:
Lock the window.
Mr. Kim
:
Allow it to remain available. We'll be exterminated for free.
Kiwoo
:
Get rid of the stink bugs.
Mr. Kim
:
These days, there are far too many stink bugs. Oh, my goodness, that stinks!
The 3rd example:
00:06:13,187 --> 00:06:15,322
Kiwoo
:
Take a look at the jerk.
Chung-sok
:
It hasn't even been dark yet.
Kiwoo
:
Why didn't you put up a sign that says "No Urinating"? I warned you!
Signs like those, on the other hand, make them pee some more. At the
very least, yell at him! Don't scream. "Please don't pee!"
Ki-jeung
:
Isn't that Min?
Min-hyuk
:
That's not a toilet, mister.
As seen in the subtitle above, the mansion of the Park owners, which is dim and
dust-free. The other mansion is the basement, which is used to store wine and other
parasites (Yang, 2020). The Kim family lives in a dusty and dirty old semi-basement with
just a partial glimpse of the world through the walls. Even they can see what is going on
outdoors, for example, frogs in a shallow well or pests that dislike the sun and choose to
hide indoors. Mr. Kim requested that the overwhelming pesticide clean his house by
leaving the windows open.
Stone
The scholar stone, also known as the viewing stone, is a culturally unique good
luck charm dependent on its surface (Laman, 2020). Ki-family woo's is often praised in
the "Parasite" film for both the stone and the idea of going upward on solid financial
footing. The following are several subtitles from the film "Parasite" that depicts a
symbol:
The first example:
00:08:12,014 --> 00:08:15,167
Min-hyuk
:
My grandfather insisted that I introduce this to you when I told him I was
meeting Ki-woo.
Kiwoo
:
What was the name of that thing? Is it likely that this is a landscape type?
Mr. Kim
:
You may also think of it as an abstract form.
Min-hyuk
:
Wow, you're familiar with these! Since his cadet days, my grandfather has
been gathering scholar's crystals. The annex, the library, and every room in
the house are now crammed with these things. However, it is said that this
stone would bring material riches to families.
245 | ISLLAC : Journal of Intensive Studies on Language, Literature, Art, and Culture
Kiwoo
:
Minimalist! Wow, this is so symbolic.
Mr. Kim
:
Yes, of course. It's an excellent present. And, of course. Please express our
heartfelt appreciation to your grandparents.
Mrs. Kim
:
Meat would be preferred.
Kiwoo
:
What was the name of that thing? Is this a landscape stone? Are you a rock
collector as well?
The first example:
01:40:52,027 -->01:41:05,631
Mr. Kim
:
What's the point of hugging the stone?
Kiwoo
:
Is this it? It continues to cling to me.
Mr. Kim
:
I assume you require some rest.
Kiwoo
:
I'm not kidding. It continues to pursue me.
As seen in the subtitle above, Kiwoo collects a stone from a family acquaintance.
Min-hyuk, a good Kiwoo' mate, gave the viewing stone (scholar stone) as a gift. It
represents the prosperous life they wish to live. The family generally wishes for a
prosperous future and a rich family. The hopes and desires symbolized by the stone are
beginning to materialize (Hellerman, 2020). Ki-woo has replaced Min-position hyuk as
Park's daughter's English teacher who has a forged college diploma. The Kim family
comes up with a novel plan and new scams to penetrate the Park family's house (Willis,
2020).
Smell
Smell plays a part in the plot in this subtitle. As the film progresses, this sense of
smell can be linked to both literal and figurative meanings. The following are several
subtitles from the film "Parasite" that depicts a symbol:
The 1st example:
00:51:44,383 -->00:51:49,695
Mr. Park
:
What's the acting like now?
Mrs. Park
:
Don't do it, Da-song!
Da Song
:
It's almost the same! They both have the same fragrance!
The 2nd example:
00:51:49,796 -->00:52:20,209
Mr. Kim
:
Jessica has the same scent.
Mrs. Kim
:
So, do we all have to turn to a new soap now?
Ki-jeung
:
We'll also need to use a particular laundry detergent and fabric softener,
Dad.
Mrs. Kim
:
Can you mean four different loads of laundry per time? That isn't the case.
It's the scent of a semi-basement. To get rid of the odor, we need to leave
this building.
The 3rd example:
01:27:16,880 -->--> 01:28:26,706
Mr. Park
:
Only a moment. What's the source of the odor?
Mrs. Park
What's the odor?
Mr. Park
:
Mr. Kim's odor.
Mrs. Park
:
Mr. Kim, what's your name? I'm not sure what you're looking at.
246 | ISLLAC : Journal of Intensive Studies on Language, Literature, Art, and Culture
Mr. Park
:
You must have caught a whiff of it. How can you explain the scent that
pervades the car?
Mrs. Park
:
Is it an elderly man's odor?
Mr. Park
:
No no.
Mrs. Park
:
What exactly is it? Do you sound like an ancient radish?
Mr. Park
:
No, it's not true. Do you know what happens when you cook a rag?
That's how it smells. Regardless, despite seeming to be on the brink of
jumping the line, he never does. That's excellent. I'm going to give him
credit. However, the odor goes too far. It rips straight through to the
back seat.
Mrs. Park
:
Is it so bad?
Mr. Park
:
I'm not sure. It's complicated to transform into words. However, you can
smell it on the subway from time to time. I haven't used the subway in a
long time. People who use the subway have a distinct odor. Yeah, I agree.
Isn't this similar to the back seat of a car?
As seen in the subtitle above, the odor of a person's body or body odor may be
used as a class indicator; in the film Parasite, rich families hate poor families' odor. Mr.
Park purposefully opened the car doors, allowing the rush of air to eliminate the driver's
odor. He also said the impoverished families smelled like stale turnips to his mom. Mr.
Park tried to fire poor families because he couldn't bear their body odor, but he couldn't
because poor families never make mistakes at work. With their manager, Kim's smells a
little strange. Both Kims, according to Da Song and his relatives, have the same odor.
They have a bad odor and seem to be related, but he is unaware of this. Furthermore, the
word 'smell' is commonly used during the Da-song sequence, the Park family's youngest
sibling, during the Park family subtitle about the smell. He noticed that all of the Park
family's employees had the same body odor. Mr. and Mrs. Park are confused in several
subtitles and display a racial side of Kim's body odor. In this film, body odor indicates
social status.
Bunker (basement)
Bunker is the symbol object of a bunker in the film "Parasite" (basement). This
bunker is the representation of all the secrets that humans keep hidden. The following is
a subtitle from the film "Parasite" that depicts a symbol:
The 1st example:
01:08:29,170 -->--> 01:09:14,656
Mrs. Kim
:
Has your husband been down here for a long time?
Moon-gwang
:
4 years, 3 months, and 17 days have elapsed. Right now, it's June. I took my
husband down here. Before Mr. Park's family moved in, Mr. Namgoong, an
architect, moved to Paris four years ago. Many wealthy people's homes
have hidden bunkers where you can hide. In the event of a North Korean
invasion or a break-in by creditors. Mr. Namgoong, seems to have been
embarrassed by this, as he never addressed it to Mr. Park's family. As a
consequence, only I am conscious of it.
Mrs. Kim
:
But that's how it went down. But now that I do, I can't help but call the
cops! How would you possibly survive in such a place?
Mrs. Kim
Many people remain underground. Especially if semi-basements are
included.
Mrs. Kim
:
What are the plans? You don't have a strategy in place?
Moon-gwang
:
I just feel at home here. It's as if I was born in this place.
247 | ISLLAC : Journal of Intensive Studies on Language, Literature, Art, and Culture
As seen in the subtitle above, in this film, everybody has a secret. Except for Moon-
gwang, the housekeeper and former homeowner. There is a shelter in the Park family's
home that no one knows about. Of course, for the sake of her family's wellbeing, she will
not disclose this knowledge as long as her life and her husband will proceed as normal.
Mr. Park mentions Moon-(old Gwang's maid) flaws, including her proclivity for
overeating, implying that he still feeds her husband in secret. When the basement guy
says "love" to Mr. Park, even though he is dying and ignored, he is referring to the way a
billionaire is idolized and admired by other people, as well as the fact that he is riding in
the basement).
Food (Ramdon)
Food (Ramdon) portrays the symbol object of food, Ramdon, in the film "Parasite."
It's a fast noodle with sirloin on top. The following is a subtitle from the film "Parasite"
that depicts a symbol:
The 1st example:
01:15:43,896 --> 01:24:54,353
Mrs. Park
:
What's up? Do you know how to prepare ram-don?
Mrs. Kim
:
Ram-don?
Mrs. Park
:
Ram-don is Da- song's favorite dish. The timing would be fine if you boil the
water right now. There's sirloin in the fridge, so chuck it in as well.
Mrs. Kim
:
Here's where you'll find sirloin. Is it cooked? Well done in the middle.
As seen in the subtitle above, when the Park family returns home from camping
Mrs. Kim calls the housekeeper and asks her to make Ramdon for Da-song with the
sirloin meat. Ramdon is traditionally made with Chapaggeti and Neoguri instant noodles,
both of which are popular in South Korea. Chapagetti is the Italian word for Chajang
noodles (noodles with black bean sauce). Neoguri, on the other hand, is a soup noodle
with a hot sauce and chewy noodles. They have a wonderful flavor when mixed. This
subtitle illustrates the contrast between wealthy and poor households (Yang, 2020).
DISCUSSION
The film “Parasite” is about two families with opposing economies of scale (Han,
2019). A literary instrument that conveys a particular message is known as a symbol. An
abstract definition may be represented by a symbol (Harper et al., 2014). Symbols as a
way of influencing the viewers or audiences (Hellerman, 2020). Symbols have a method
of influencing viewers/audiences (Hellerman, 2020). They are story artifacts that refer to
or reflect something more important. Symbolism generates an effect by applying extra
significance to an object, an event, or an individual (Wiehardt, 2019). Symbolism takes
something that is usually concrete and then associates it with something else to give it a
new or even greater meaning.
There are many symbols (symbolism) in the “Parasite movie,” including Morse
code, rain, underground (semi-basement), stone, sense of smell, bunker (basement), and
food (Ramdon). The below are the descriptions:
1) Morse code. This stone is the representation of communication or message. Morse
code usually uses a standard dot and line symbol scheme to represent letters,
numbers, punctuation, and signals in the form of certain characters. Since Da-song
248 | ISLLAC : Journal of Intensive Studies on Language, Literature, Art, and Culture
misread Morse code, which should have read HELP instead of HOLP, the message was
not sent.
2) Rain. This rain is the representation of the rich and poor families. According to some
wealthier people, it is welcome for several reasons, while rain is hated by the poor
because it creates hazards such as flooding.
3) Underground. This stone is the representation of home. Kim's family has been seen to
live underground since the beginning of the film. How challenging it is for them to
check for signals or connect to local Wi-Fi to need and satisfy their needs. Even his
house's window was right on the ground, so it allows them to see pedestrians
walking on it. The Kim family lives in a crowded apartment complex (Banjiha) as a
semi-basement room is scant.
4) Stone. This stone is the representation of the prosperous life they wish to live. The
family generally wishes for a prosperous future and a rich family. As does Bong Joon
Ho's statement about the stone. According to Chernick (2020), Elements such as wind
and water have naturally formed Suseok. It comes in a variety of sizes, from large
boulders used in landscaping to smaller stones once used on scholars' writing tables
(or scholar's rocks).
5) Smell. This smell is the representation of a sign of social status. The smell/odor can
uncover one's personality and the hidden mysteries that lay underneath (Lawless,
2020). The word 'smell' is commonly used during the Da-song sequence, the Park
family's youngest sibling, in comparison to the Park family subtitle about the smell.
He noticed that all of the Park family's employees had the same body odor. Kim
enters a big house that is tidy and smells nice, in comparison to their slum, which
smells of cheap foods and people peeing outside their house.
6) Bunker. This bunker is the representation of all the secrets that humans keep hidden.
Everyone in this film has a hidden place. Except for Moon-gwang, the housekeeper
and former homeowner, there is a shelter in the Park family's home that no one
knows about it.
7) Food. Ramdon, also known as ramen and udon, was used in the film "Parasite."
Jjapaguri is another name for Ramdon. Chapaguri also symbolizes the coming
together of the wealthy and the needy. The symbiotic relationship between the
parasite and its host is symbolized by the mixture of noodles and beef. Mrs. Park's
love of a "high-class" dish is qualified and justified by the addition of meat/steak on
top of instant noodles.
CONCLUSION
In the lives of two families, the Kim Family and the Park Family, the film "Parasite"
explores social and economic inequality. Ki-woo and the rest of the family infiltrate the
Park house as independent employees, claiming to only meet each other via loose
networks, at the start of the novel. Finally, this film includes several tense tensions and
tragedies.
A parasite is equivalent to the terrible something that would also make the
landlady 'suffer,' based on the whole narrative of the film "Parasite." This is also seen in a
scene where 'the parasite' is enjoying a good time when the landlady is caught off guard.
Many special symbols are hidden in the film "Parasite”, such as Morse code, rain,
underground (semi-basement), stone, sense of smell, bunker (basement), and food.
249 | ISLLAC : Journal of Intensive Studies on Language, Literature, Art, and Culture
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