【The story of "Parasite"】
"Parasite" was originally a set of ten-volume comics, created by Japanese cartoonist Iwaaki Jun in the 1990s, released between 1990 and 1995, and republished several times until it was adapted into a live-action film in 2013, which was released in Japan and Taiwan. Released, in October 2014, the Japanese TV station broadcast the cartoon "Parasitic Beast: The Principle of Life" adapted from the comic, and the Chinese mainland network media followed up and introduced it until it was all broadcast in April this year. The reprints and adaptations over the past 20 years are a testament to its influence and classics. This sci-fi story tells that there are countless parasitic spores on the earth that are parasitic in the body and assimilate with the brain cells. After being parasitized, the head can be deformed arbitrarily, and its food is the same species as the host: human. As the parasites gradually understand human society, they learn to plan and organize and use political power to ensure the survival of their own species, the future of the world is plunged into endless panic. The protagonist Izumi Shinichi is one of the human beings parasitized by parasites, but due to some accident, the parasitic creature "Little Right" in his body did not merge with his brain, but matured in his right hand and helped him He gained superhuman abilities, experienced this human catastrophe with him, and launched a series of mortal struggles and spiritual battles with other complete parasites. The story starts from characters with different personalities and positions, including violent and complete parasitic beasts, parasitic beasts (Tamura Reiko) who are curious about human nature, consciously think, and give birth to human babies, and parasitic beasts who provide political umbrellas, develop self-power, Humans hiding in the parasitic beast camp, the extreme environmentalist Mayor Hirokawa, etc., used the behaviors, vocabulary and life history of these many distinctive characters to construct a picture that explores the capture, hunting, predation, capture and life of people in contemporary society. The allegorical picture of parasitism, enemy and friend, interdependence, collective and individual survival, through the continuous push of the climax, integrates the creator's inquiry and answer to the complexity of life and mind. A state reflected in Parasitic Beast, the behavior and consciousness from individual to group are full of contradictory portrayals. The meaning conveyed by the work, because the protagonist's brain is still the height of the human soul, and is not parasitized by "beasts", the constant theme is how the truth, goodness and beauty overcome the ugliness and cruelty that appear to be reality, sacrifice countless, and regret are all in the past. Continue to "face the bleak life" and be a "true warrior", the protagonist's last fight, and finally bring peace to the world and give love a consummation. I remember how the protagonist grew from a weak middle school student to a heroic character, how he thought and abide by the bottom line of being a human being, how he bravely challenged and fought, and finally returned to a strong ordinary person. When I saw the end of the play, my eyes were wet, and I sincerely described the "rule of life" for the original author.
In a Japanese restaurant, when you pick up a plate of sashimi sushi and put it in your mouth, you can't help but think of the problem of parasites. Indeed, perhaps it is Japan, a troubled island nation that has experienced many ups and downs in the Eastern Pacific, and gave birth to such imaginative works as "Parasite". In addition to talking about the philosophical speculation of "Parasite" on human society above, I think this work also indirectly reflects Japan's anxiety and deep sense of insecurity about the environment, resources, and biology. Now, this kind of thinking about environmental sustainability and the mutual existence of species is the theme of global concern.
【Me and the parasite】
Why do I pay such close attention to the topic of parasitism? Perhaps because of the study background of ecology, there is some accumulation and exploration in this area. The organisms in the ecosystem generally have interactions such as predation, competition, parasitism, mutualism, symbiosis, and symbiosis. Parasitism is a very special category and a very important category in evolutionary history. Cordyceps sinensis is the parasitic phenomenon of fungi; parasitic plants are considered to be the most evolved branch of the plant kingdom, they survive by absorbing nutrients from host plants; parasites and viruses are exploring how to balance and share benefits with their hosts to achieve long-term coexistence, which is evolutionary dynamics, One of the frontier directions of game evolution theory research. I have studied parasitic plants with students from different majors, developed life cycle models of parasites, investigated the distribution of parasites, and gathered a lot of wisdom and energy on this issue. On June 5th last year on Environment Day, the team's results on parasites also won the "Green Future Award" from UNEP and Tongji University! Late last year, I was invited to participate in the Australia-China University Alliance Forum at the University of New South Wales in Sydney with the article "The Metaphor of Parasitism: Population Modeling". During the meeting, I met Dr. Les Rymer from the conference lead agency. He is a very humble and wise old gentleman with many years of research, teaching and interdisciplinary management experience. Coincidentally, Mr. Les was also born in ecology, and he was engaged in forest research, which made us have a lot of common language. During the exchange, he humorously said that he has now entered the government from the research field and has become a "parasite" in society. After this exchange, I have richer associations with parasites and their relationship: Will we also become "parasites"? Is the parental generation’s sustenance for the future also a kind of hope parasitic on us? Who is parasitizing whom? Is the service industry parasitic on industry and agriculture? Is there a parasite called "aging" that lives in our body? Are we just a bunch of parasites that inhabit the earth?
【end】
Regarding the reality that "Parasitic Beast" is about to be banned and taken off the shelves, I can choose to remain silent, or vent out casually, or be thankful that I have finished watching the whole show anyway, so I can save my energy and continue to do my own thing - but this time I If you want to write it out, write the story behind it. I will try to spread it in the form I want and share my thoughts with more people. Many times, especially after graduating from college, I was thinking about the value of my personal strength. Several encounters and constant comparisons made me occasionally discouraged, and I was determined to abandon all kinds of narcissism and self-deception. Later, as I came into contact with some environmental protection public organizations and social lofty ideals, I felt that no matter how desperate an individual is emotionally, he should not give up in action. Recently, I'm relieved to see that a few papers published before are starting to get five or six new citations, and I feel like there's a moment of being needed - that little bit of your contribution, indirect or Being directly needed - that's enough! I tell myself that you are involved in this history that you are living in, and you write it down, it is a kind of participation and strength.
The day when the Japanese anime "Parasite" and other works were taken off the shelves was the season when the cherry blossoms in Tsinghua Garden were in full bloom and the cherry blossoms were raining. Thinking about the fascinating works can bring you a day of pondering, accompany you to sleep, wake up, run, and move forward. In a blink of an eye, you want to reminisce and share it, but it is difficult to find it - beautiful but short-lived! Just like the cherry blossom rain in this season. The cherry blossoms dance in the wind, and the clusters are closely arranged, huddled together and united, and scattered all over the place is spectacular. The fleeting cherry blossoms impress everyone who cherishes time and praises life. I cherish this season of bravery and no longer hesitate to write and publish these words quickly.
View more about Parasyte: The Maxim reviews
