Layers of Inequality: An Intersectional Analysis of Power, Privilege, and Marginalization in Parasite

Abstract

Intersectionality, when applied to Film Studies, allows us to analyse how films represent and reflect the experiences of individuals with multiple oppressing identities. Such a study examines ways in which power dynamics and social hierarchies intersect. The paper attempts an intersectional analysis of the 2019 movie Parasite directed by Bong Joon-ho. Set in South Korea, the film examines the experiences of two families: the wealthy Parks and the impoverished Kim family. The film’s exploration of class is central to its intersectional analysis and shows how other aspects such as education, gender, race, and economic status intersect. The subplot of the movie, involving the Park family’s former housekeeper and husband, is also an example of Intersectionality as they are marginalized not only by their economic status but also by their racial background. The title “Parasite” is a metaphor for the ways in which marginalized individuals or groups are often viewed and treated within society.