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‘Parasite’: Creativity and education policy
Parasite was not created overnight. Bong must have worked hard to refine his skills by learning from his teachers in schools and beyond. Indonesia and other Asian countries that have similarities with Korea must learn something.
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A class apart: South Korean director Bong Joon-ho poses with the Oscars for his movie Parasite. The film exposes sad truths about class struggle in South Korea. (Reuters/Eric Gaillard)
B
ong Joon-ho was down to earth when he said: “I am honored to win this award. Although the film is in Korean, I think the story and nonverbal expression is the universal language.”
Winning best original screenplay at the 2020 Writers Guild Awards, BAFTA awards and Oscars looked easy for him and co-writer Han Jin-won. It took hard work and, for sure, creativity.
Bong’s movie Parasite won the Oscar for best film— the first Asian movie to make the mark, too. It was nominated for the award in the prestigious competition along with 1917, Joker, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, The Irishman, Little Women, Jojo Rabbit, Ford v Ferrari and Marriage Story, which were the works of titan directors.
Indeed, Bong, the grandson of novelist Park Taewon, surprised the world with his extraordinary work. He created the film in the Korean language, yet global audiences could connect with it. The film explores Shakespearean class discrimination between the wealthy Park and destitute Kim families. .
Old wine in new bottle? Nope. It is the magic of creativity, which is one of the 4 Cs of 21st century skills; the other three are critical thinking, collaboration and communication.
Good education today must be capable of producing good people who are creative and worthy to be alive in this ever-changing and ever-disrupting age. If we think that Bong is the product of a good education system, then we must conclude that South Koreans are lucky enough to have it. Nevertheless, it is the outcome that matters the most for any education system in the world.
In the last 2018 PISA test, South Korea did not take the top spot, which went to Singapore for reading, science and math. Indeed, the Parasite phenomenon is much more significant this year for emphasizing the outcome of good education.
