Negation And Transcendence:A Research Of Occidentalism On The Idealized Images Illustrated In The Dubbed And Subtitled Films In China From 1949 To 1966

This paper attempts to examine Occidentalism working as both methods and targets in China during 1949 to 1966,with the help of 18 dubbed and subtitled films translated from Britain and U.S..These films were among the few means for Chinese audiences to learn western cultures in those years.The process of dubbing and subtitling the films by Chinese translators reflected idealized visions of the western world,thus illustrating China`s constructing the reality and history of the western societies,and expressing China`s desire to cathch up with and transcend them.As a theory which thrives under the influence of postcolonial studies,Occidentalism defines how the east perceives the west,and it focuses on subjects as cross-cultural products.The images of real and historic western societies created in the process of dubbing and subtitling indicated the reinforcement of China`s political and cultural discourse,and at the same time,revealed its will to build a “Modern China”.The research significance of the paper is that,it could bring a clear and deep analysis into the recognition of the idealized images in certain historic periods through looking into the contents of the dubbed and subtitled films along with the historic documents.The paper indicates that Occidentalism is a theory rather dyanamic than static in its development,changing itself and forming images of others at the same time.In the films observed,Occidentalism processed different western images,providing Chinese audiences a vivid imagination of western societies which they should encounter,thus turning them into the targets that China should transcend and negate.The positive elements of western world fuses into Chinese discourse in such process.Even till today,Occidentalism still presents a strong explantory power on cultural discouses,and could remain vigorous in the new era.