“Parasite” memes conquer social media as young viewers overturn establishment

Posted on : 2020-02-16 17:09 KST Modified on : 2020-02-16 17:09 KST
The Oscar success of Bong Joon-ho’s latest film is rooted in trends among younger viewers
A collection of social media posts and memes related to “Parasite.”
A collection of social media posts and memes related to “Parasite.”

Bong Joon-ho’s “Parasite” is all over YouTube, Twitter, and other social media platforms as memes about the film and its director circulate among young people around the world. It’s quite possible that support from the youth backing this trend helped “Parasite” win four Academy Awards.

The “Jessica jingle” game is at its peak on YouTube and Twitter. Before Gi-jeong (played by Park So-dam) enters the house of Mr. Park (played by Lee Seon-gyun) in “Parasite,” she sings a mnemonic jingle to herself: “Jessica, only child, Illinois, Chicago / Classmate Kim Jin-mo is your cousin.” The scene unleashed a flood of videos in which people sing the lines or a parody of them. Another meme involves parodying the “Parasite” poster by drawing a black line over one’s face in a photograph. Since the Academy Awards ceremony, people have also been adding an Oscar trophy to photographs with editing software.

Twitter is overflowing with clever memes that parody Bong Joon-ho photos and video clips. Pictures and video clips of Bong in routine situations are being turned into memes and posted under the hashtag #BongHive. “BongHive” is a play on “Beyhive,” as in Beyonce’s fandom.

The people circulated these memes are concentrated in the Millennial generation (those born between the early 1980s and the early 2000s) and Generation Z (those born between the mid-1990s and the mid-2000s). These people, who grew up with smartphones, YouTube, and social media, are determined to spread their love of “Parasite.” Since they’re already used to watching videos that cross national borders and languages, it’s easy for them to open up to non-English content such as “Paradise.” This help explain the global fervor surrounding K-pop group BTS despite the language barrier.

“The YouTube generation is taking to YouTube and Twitter to share its ‘Parasite,’ obsession,” said film critic Yun Pil-lip.

The mood online was expressed by American entertainment website Variety, which pointed out that, while Academy Award nominees typically gain support from older people, “Parasite” has captivated the attention of millennials and Generation Z.

Members of these generations posted videos to YouTube of their joyous reaction to “Parasite” sweeping the Oscars. Columnist Lee Seung-han points to a tendency to root for the underdog. “The frustration of people who felt that ‘Parasite’ wasn’t being recognized as a great film motivated them to express their feelings online, which boosted the film’s credibility for the Oscars. These people are particularly excited because the underdog finally won the approval of mainstream society.”

The frenzy over “Parasite” can also be seen as reflecting the mindset behind young Westerners’ use of the catchphrase “OK boomer” to dismiss attempts by baby boomers — representing the establishment — to interject or explain.

“A lot of young people seem to relish the fact that Bong mocked the establishment by calling the Academy Awards a ‘very local’ ceremony. That’s why people who resent the establishment are especially delighted by the coup that ‘Parasite’ pulled at the Oscars,” said Kim Seon-yeong, a critic.

By Suh Jung-min, music correspondent

Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]

button that move to original korean article (클릭시 원문으로 이동하는 버튼)

Related stories

Most viewed articles