Dissecting Squid Game & Parasite Webinar

Monday, October 25, 2021 - 13:30 to 15:00
Webinar

Topic: Dissecting Squid Game and Parasite

Where: Zoom webinar organised and hosted by the University of Chicago Yuen Campus in Hong Kong

When: Monday, 25 October at 1.30pm GMT

Description: If Parasite made history in the film industry by being the first foreign-language film to win the Academy Awards for best picture and three other awards, Netflix’s Squid Game has further proved that South Korea’s entertainment industry is a power to be recognized. Squid Game has been named Netflix’s most-watched show and has been the talk of many towns since its’ release. From the striking visuals to the clever details in each episode, Squid Game is now Netflix’s most-watched show.

Some say the story characters are cliched, while others say that is precisely why the show is so relatable, thus a global hit. With unique cinematic techniques and unpredictable storylines, both Squid Game and Parasite explore many themes like socio-economic and gender gaps in South Korea. What would sociology, cultural and film studies academics have to say about these two shows? What are the parallels? Were there any crucial details or background stories we have missed? What are the implications of having non-English language films/shows gain worldwide popularity?

Dr Rebecca King O'Riain of Maynooth University Sociology Department, alongside Dr. So Hye Kim and Dr. Aaron Magnan-Park, will discuss the Squid game and Parasite through their academic expertise.

Register here

Speakers:

So Hye Kim (PhD’19)
- Research Professor
- International Research Center for Korean Languages and Culture
- Korea University

Rebecca King-O’Riain
- Associate Professor
- Department of Sociology
- Maynooth University

Aaron Han Joon Magnan-Park
- Assistant Professor
- Department of Comparative Literature
- The University of Hong Kong