Leiden University Student Repository

Minderman, Jamie (2020)

Moving Beyond the ‘Foreign’: Transnationalism and Korean Identity in the Films of Bong Joon Ho

Bachelor thesis | International Studies (BA)

This paper deals with the correlation between transnationalism and Korean identity in the films of Bong Joon Ho. The aim of this research is to highlight the presence of transnationalism and Korean identity in Bong Joon Ho’s films, by examining specific segments of the films that illustrate this. The research demonstrates the interrelationship or conjunction of both transnationalism, with its influences from other film industries, and the reformulation or re-appropriation of the Korean identity in Bong Joon Ho’s films. The research question reads as follows: “How did Bong Joon Ho develop a transnational style of filmmaking that is successful globally, while still retaining a distinct South Korean identity?” In order to answer this question, the research presents all that has been written previously by scholars on the topic of Bong Joon Ho’s style of filmmaking and the concept of transnationalism in relation to East Asian film. In addition, this paper analyses four of Bong Joon Ho’s...Show moreThis paper deals with the correlation between transnationalism and Korean identity in the films of Bong Joon Ho. The aim of this research is to highlight the presence of transnationalism and Korean identity in Bong Joon Ho’s films, by examining specific segments of the films that illustrate this. The research demonstrates the interrelationship or conjunction of both transnationalism, with its influences from other film industries, and the reformulation or re-appropriation of the Korean identity in Bong Joon Ho’s films. The research question reads as follows: “How did Bong Joon Ho develop a transnational style of filmmaking that is successful globally, while still retaining a distinct South Korean identity?” In order to answer this question, the research presents all that has been written previously by scholars on the topic of Bong Joon Ho’s style of filmmaking and the concept of transnationalism in relation to East Asian film. In addition, this paper analyses four of Bong Joon Ho’s films, ​The Host, Snowpiercer, Okja​, and ​Parasite​. This research posits that Bong’s distinctive style of transnational filmmaking has been a worldwide success, due to his ability to accommodate to global audiences by transforming and improving Hollywood genre conventions, while addressing global issues. Furthermore, Bong’s incorporation and expression of Korean identity in his films are perhaps what makes Bong Joon Ho even more successful, due to the renewed interest in globally familiar topics from different cultural perspectives.Show less

Transnationalism

Film

South-Korea

Korean Identity

Glocalisation

Author

Minderman, Jamie

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

East Asia

Supervisors

Crandol, Michael

ECTS Credits

15

Language

en