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Literary Themes In Okja

Decent Essays

In a world where the problem of mass hunger persists, the perpetual need to find new ways to feed the hungry has grown immensely. From new types of farming techniques to using different types of fertilizers, genetically modified organisms have become the trend to stopping world hunger. Consequently, many have chosen to ridicule the ethicality of using biotechnology to modify animals for consumers. Most notably, the movie Okja, directed by Bong Joon Ho, follows a young girl named, Mija, as she goes on a quest to save her super pig, Okja, stripped from her by a heartless corporation. The clear underlying theme revolves around the idea of loss of innocence and is employed through many elements of literature described in Thomas C. Foster’s How to Read Literature Like a Professor: placement of geography, a metaphorical vampire, and a hero's quest Throughout the movie, Okja, the geological settings help accentuate important scenes and give depth to the story. As stated in Foster’s book, “Hills and valleys have a life of their own” (Fostern 181). The altitudes of the high mountains and low valleys play as symbolic environments. Likewise, Okja and Mija’s home lies up in the lush hills where they are isolated from the main city of Seoul. The hills represent a paradise where Mija has grown up in and symbolizes Mija’s youthfulness and innocence. It's only when Mija leaves the mountains to chase after Okja that she encounters the hustle and bustle of the big city. After a group known

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