The Chinese Legend Under The Western Discourse

Movie, as a specific form of art, is cultural as well as aesthetic. In Hollywood, which is known as"movie capital of the world", the major movie studios not only have solid financial power and set up a global marketing net, but also are adept in utilizing global culture capital. Because of that, Hollywood movies play a considerably important role in intercultural communication. On the one hand, Hollywood movies show the vigor in the effective utilization of different cultures, and on the other, American culture, American spirit are always embodied in the movies.In 1998, Disney's Hollywood Studios focused on an ancient Chinese folktale---the story of Mulan. Mulan's legend is known by one and all in China. People esteem Mulan in that she is a filial and loyal daughter, and her story was widely told for generation and generation. Disney's touch makes the legend take on a new life. This new version of Mulan turned out to be a great triumph when it was shown around the world, by which grossing about $300 million. But in its"homeland", Mulan get a mixed acception. Since this is the first time that Disney recreates a Chinese legend, it becomes a rare case for the study of intercultural communication. Mulan itself becomes a dialogue between Chinese culture and American culture.The thesis does an intercultural analysis of the movie by studying the cultural messages implied in audio-visual materials, story line, and the deep structure of culture, and gets that Mulan has lost its original favor, and becomes a feature about the triumph of a young woman discovering herself. In China, though Mulan received many negative evaluations by critics, it is welcomed by many children and youngsters. Chinese culture has taken on dynamic features, among which the reinforcement of sense of individualism is the most important one. The transmission of Hollywood movies is not only a threat to Chinese movie industry, and the values carried by movies can swallow Chinese traditional ones as well. It's important for us to realize it clearly, and at the same time we should have cultural consciousness when we watch the movies.