Ok,
let's say there is ambivalence for western audience to see the east –
“the east is seen as a fascinating realm of the exotic, mystical
and seductive”; but, when the western media presenting the east,
the eastern elements such as the characters and the traditional
ideologies are marginalised.
What
I've learnt from the class is the concept of Eurocentrism. It was
introduced to be “an approach that takes European/western values,
judgements, beliefs, and cultures as normal, natural and ideal”.The
word 'middle-east' and 'far-east' are here to represent the central
position of Europe. I find it important to be used here is that the
white appears to be dominant, not only because of the economic
superiority, but also the essentialism. The prejudices to the east
are generally exist.
To
make connection with media, the prejudices are presented on screen
through the centralised western figures and the marginalised Chinese
characters. The white appears to be mighty and is considered to be
the one who holds the power; while Chinese figures appear to be
passive and are waiting to be led by the western protagonists.
Examples can be given here – Bingbing Fan in X-men and
Bingbing Li in Resident Evil.
Another
example could be given as the Disney cartoon character – Mulan.
Even
the whole story is originally taken from China and the visual
elements are presented to be very traditional, it appears that the
core ideologies are changed. The media has the power to change it, to
change the intrinsic meanings of Chinese-ness and turn Mulan's
characteristics into western style. The original version was designed
to promote the necessity of respecting and being filial to one's
parents. Instead, the Disney version has turned it to encourage women
with the ideologies of being independent, courageous and finally the
theme of feminism is brought up. The Disney tried to shape a
westernised Mulan from filling in the western ideologies.
Media
has the power to construct identities as well as to shape the
existing culture by creating media products, for instance, the
films. Film can be used as a discursive strategy to express the
ideologies. Western media tends to present its own ideologies
although they are trying to involve the non-western elements. The
result is those elements are edited and transformed to adapt to the
western ideologies.
Sources:
I agree with you in that Mulan is just another of Disney’s failed attempt to portray a different ethnic group in their films, and a BIG yes the western ideologies incorporated in the Mulan. I like how you pointed out “Chinese-ness”, like what is Chinese in the film? The names-yes, derived from a Chinese story-yes… anything else? NO, cause it’s not fully Chinese. I really pick on that scene like the girls line up in front of the dragon lady- they have their face painted, that doesn’t happen (not to that kind of flamboyant and artistic level) that sort of makeup reminds me of the geisha makeup Japanese women do= a cultural flattening done by Disney to suggest “all Asian countries are the same”. I read an article before that suggests that the “dragon lady system” was not existent (or at least not at that era), Disney doesn’t bother to look into the historical details to make this film accurate. And there are so many westernisation in this film! Like bacon, eggs and bread for breakfast… or Wushu with a distinguishable and heavy America accent… Disney couldn’t even get the small details like that right! What is more infuriating, Mulan is not considered a Disney “princess”, yes I agree she isn’t formally one, my question is more “why didn’t Disney make her one?” is it because she is Chinese/Asian? Not white? Is that the racists and Eurocentric ideals Disney goes by in choosing who get to be royalty?
ReplyDeleteI do agree with about the lack of Chinese-ness point. The Hollywood or American cinema pretty much face world widely. The reception and audience are not mostly targeted at the Americans or the Whites. Almost every corner of the world share the similar watching experience from the American audience, which means that the Hollywood movies are really popular globally. However, the casting is still lack of multicultural elements. But I do think there should be a process for Hollywood to digest the non-eurocentrism era and make a effort towards it. It shouldn't be a hurry, and we shall just enjoy our time at the nowadays cinema. Afterwards some Asian casting Hollywood films received far effect, such as the action film Tokyo Drift, and Asian countries have there own cinema and film industry!
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