从电影《花木兰》和迪斯尼动画《Mulan》比较中美文化价值观

论文总字数：41544字

摘 要

中美两国对花木兰故事的改编反映了其不同的文化价值观。本论文以个人主义和集体主义、墨守陈规和思想开放、权力距离、社会等级以及女权主义等五个角度对比分析迪斯尼动画《Mulan》和中国电影《花木兰》的电影对白所反映出的中美两国的差异，并由此对继承和发扬中华文化进行反思。本论文的分析结果不仅有利于中美跨文化交际的有效进行，而且有利于继承和发扬中华文化。

关键词：花木兰；文化价值观；中美差异

Contents

1. Introduction 1

2. Literature Review 2

2.1 Cultural Values 2

2.2 The Chinese Film Mulan and the Disney Cartoon Mulan 4

3. The Comparison between the Chinese Film Mulan and the Disney Cartoon Version 5

3.1 Individualism and Collectivism 5

3.2 Ideologism and Open-mindedness 7

3.3 Power Distance 9

3.4 Social Hierarchy 10

3.5 Feminism 12

4. Enlightenment to Inherit and Carry Forward Chinese Culture 13

4.1 Turning the Mentality of Blindly Worshipping Everything Foreign 14

4.2 Combining the Traditional Culture of China with Modern Culture 14

4.3 Complementing Chinese Culture with Western Culture 15

4.4 Strengthening Cultural Exchanges as well as Focusing on Local Culture Exports 16

5. Conclusion 17

Works Cited 19

1. Introduction

With the rapid development of science and technology, the distance between people around the world tends to become closer and closer. As is known to all, the world is becoming smaller and smaller and the global village is forming. Meanwhile, the exchanges of different cultures have been strengthened. However, due to different cultural background and values, people from different cultural groups may be confronted with cultural misunderstandings when they communicate with each other. Thus, it is necessary to step up cultural exchanges for people all over the world. There are many kinds of cultural carriers to promote intercultural communications. As one of carriers of culture, film plays a very crucial role in intercultural communication. Lots of people are inclined to learn other cultures and values via films. To strength cultural exchanges, more and more movie directors tend to produce intercultural films to show how two distinguishing cultures interact with each other. The Disney cartoon Mulan (1998) is a typical example of interacting between Chinese culture and American culture. Although it won a success in box-office, this film only borrowed some Chinese elements instead of understanding the essence of traditional Chinese values correctly. Ten years later, the film Mulan launched by Chinese director Ma Chucheng shows a traditional character Mulan, which is intended to reveal a correct image of the well-known ancient Chinese heroine.

After the two movies launched, many scholars have carried on studies of the two movies from different aspects. Some of them compared the two movies from the aspect of cultural values and drew some conclusions about the differences between China and America in cultural values. Their conclusions of the studies enlighten further studies. Although they had given comparison between the two films and had drawn many valuable conclusions, their researches had just explained where and why the two films differ in cultural values. They rarely provide some enlightenment about how to make foreigners understand Chinese cultural values. The paper focuses on the differences of cultural values reflected from the two films and offers some enlightenment to inherit and spread Chinese culture.

The paper can be divided into five parts. Chapter one is introduction, including the background of the study, the former research on the study, the limitation of former studies and the structure of the paper. Chapter two is literature review which introduces some relevant study on cultural values and some information about the two movies, the Chinese film Mulan and the Disney cartoon Mulan. Chapter three focuses on comparing the two movies from the viewpoint of cultural values. Chapter four gives some enlightenment to inherit and carry forward Chinese culture, based on the comparison of the two different versions in cultural values respective. Finally, the last chapter is a conclusion, consisting of the summary of the paper and its strengths and limitations.

2. Literature Review

The chapter focuses on some relevant conceptions of cultural values. And then, it gives a brief introduction about the two movies, the Chinese film Mulan and the Disney cartoon Mulan.

2.1 Cultural Values

Values are the principles, beliefs and standards that the subjects adopt to appraise the meaning of the objects for oneself and society. Different cultural groups may have different values, but there are some values throughout a culture, which are called cultural values, “the governing ideas and guiding principles for thought and action” (Strikandath, 1991:166). Cultural values are values owned by a certain group of people living in a common cultural background. Differences between two culture groups are led by their diverse values. Therefore, it is essential for people from two culture groups to realize their different cultural values if they want to have successful intercultural communications.

Study of cultural values is a part of cross-cultural communication. For several decades, the topic has raised heated discussions and researches all over the world. Geert Hofstede puts forward cultural dimensions theories through theoretical reasoning and statistical analyzing, which are individualism/collectivism, uncertainty avoidance, power distance, and masculinity/femininity. Power represents status, rights, wealth and respect. Power distance is defined by Hofstede as “the extent to which the less powerful members of institutions and organizations with a country expect and accept that power is distributed unequally” (Hofstede, 2005:46).Power distance which sets its root in the social inequality can be found everywhere in the society. Actually, power distance is necessary for a society because such “inequality of power in organizations is essential for temporarily overcoming the law of entropy, which states that disorder will increase” (Hofstede, 1984:97). In 1999, Maryanne Kearny Datesman et al put forward traditional American values and beliefs are individual freedom, self-reliance, and equality of opportunity, competition, material wealth, and hard work. They pointed out “by freedom, Americans mean the desire and the ability of all individuals to control their own destiny without outside interference from the government, a ruling noble class, the church, or any other organized authority” (Datesman, Crandall and Kearny, 1999:23). They also said self-reliance meant Americans should independent from their parent both financially and emotionally. In their book, they corrected one of misunderstandings to equality in American culture. In American culture, equality doesn’t mean everyone is or should be equal. However, it means each one should have equal chance to succeed. Because of it, the awareness of competition is inspired into Americans’ minds from a very young age. The book explained another understanding that Americans are materialistic. Actually, Americans view their material possessions as the natural reward for their hard work. In 2001, American professor Linell Davis published the book Doing Culture: Cross-cultural Communication in Action to compare cultural values and she compared Chinese values and Western values in the book. She pointed out “if China has what some experts call a shame culture, then the West is dominated by guilt cultures” (Davis, 2001:194). According to her, “in shame cultures, the good is an ideal everyone hopes to realize but may not be possible to achieve in every situation. What is important is that you meet your obligation to be a model of virtue for a particular group of people to whom you have such a responsibility” (Davis, 2001:194). However, “in guilt cultures, the person is expected to know the difference between right and wrong and to feel guilty if he or she does or even thinks something wrong, whether or not anyone knows about it ”(Davis, 2001:194). Although some American scholars have studied cultural values, a few of them focus on analyzing the differences between China and America.

After intercultural communication was introduced into China, the studies in the field have made a great progress. American Values and its Culture Reading Course wrote by Ning Hong introduced the definition of culture and American culture in 2004. In 2009, Xu LiSheng’s book Intercultural Communication in English (Revised Edition) was published and was used to the teaching of intercultural communication for English major students, giving a thorough introduction to cross-cultural communication. In 2011, Jin Li published the book Myths in American Culture to introduce American culture as well as relevant literature works. Nowadays, in China, more and more colleges set up cross-cultural communication courses to develop relevant scholars and the studies in the field need to be continued deeply.

2.2 The Chinese Film Mulan and the Disney Cartoon Mulan

Disney released the cartoon Mulan in 1998, directed by Barry Cook and Tony Bancroft. The film adapts from the well-known Chinese story Hua Mulan. In the film, Mulan is an ambitious girl who wants to please her parents and brings honor to her family. However, all her efforts make her and her parents disappointed. One day, each family of her village is asked to send one man to the army in order to resist the Hun invasion. Worrying her father’s health, Mulan dresses like a man and joins the army for her father secretly. Her commander, Captain Shang, is very impressed by her braveness, wisdom and ingenuity. She helps the army beat back the nation’s enemies. However, she is wounded and is found that she is actually a girl. Then, she is abandoned in the snow and ice by the army. After being abandoned, she finds the Hun army is still alive and marches to the Imperial Palace by accident. Finally, she defeats the enemy and saves the Emperor. She wins the love of Captain Shang and proves her personal value as a woman. The film got a success in box-office. Beth Hannan Rimmels remarked that Mulan “not only won the honor for the Disney, but also influenced other women who learned from Mulan” (Kurtti, 1998: 30). By changing the original story and spreading via advanced media, “Mulan” even becomes popular in China. Jia Dongliang and Li Lin pointed out that “from that we find integration and collision between the Eastern and Western cultures. Besides, we will also find something of us to take into deep consideration” (Jia Dongliang amp; Li Lin, 2005:120).

After the release of the Disney cartoon Mulan, the Chinese also launched a film Mulan in 2009. The Chinese film Mulan shows an image complying with Chinese cultural values. The film also adapts from the Chinese story Hua Mulan and adds something different from original story into the film. In the film, Hua Mulan is a traditional Chinese girl who is respectful and dutiful when she is at home. She lives with her father and looks after him because her mother has been dead for several years. When the Emperor orders every family sends one man to join the army, Hua Mulan disguises herself as a man to replace her father for serving the army. During the war, she is as brave as men and is loyal to her country. She falls in love with Wen Tai who is the seventh son of the Emperor. To protect their country, they hide personal feelings. Finally, in order to keep their nation peace and stable, they have to sacrifice their love. Wen Tai marries with Rouran princess while Hua Mulan returns home to look after her father. The film attracts many Chinese audiences as well as foreigners and gains high praise.

3. The Comparison between the Chinese Film Mulan and the Disney Cartoon Version

The chapter is a comparison between the Chinese film Mulan and the Disney cartoon version from the following aspects: individualism and collectivism, ideologism and open-mindedness, power distance, social hierarchy, and feminism.

3.1 Individualism and Collectivism

Individualism/collectivism is one of the basic concerns of all cultures involve people’s relationships to the larger social groups of which they are a part. It is a typical difference between America and China.

Example 1

Mulan: I should never have left home.

Mushu: Hey, come on. You went to save your father’s life. Who knew you’d end up shamin’ him, disgracing your ancestors and losin’ all your friends? You know, you just gotta…you gotta learn to let these things go.

Mulan: Maybe l didn’t go for my father. Maybe what l really wanted was to prove l could do things right.

The dialogue in example 1 is selected from the Disney film Mulan. It happened when Mulan was found that she was a girl. As soon as Mulan starts the conversation, she expresses that she regrets having left home because she maybe cause a serious problem for her family. The little dragon Mushu comforts Mulan that she does such a thing for her father. However, Mulan says what she does is just for herself. The dialogue makes audiences feel that Mulan joining the army is just for her self-realization. However, as is known to all, in fact, Mulan’s real intention is to be for the sake of her father. So, this reflects individualism which advocates individual interests. From the example, it can be seen that the character Mulan is full of American individual spirits that highlight personal interests without showing Chinese cultural values.

Different from America, China is a typical collective society, so the Chinese film Mulan shows more collective spirits.

Example 2

Wen Tai: Let’s go away together! Doesn’t matter where!

Hua Mulan: You once said if you could give your life...to end this war, you would do it

Wen Tai: It’s easy for me to give up my life but it’s too difficult to give up the woman I love

Hua Mulan: In order that there be no more Tigers. That no more families end up with just a bloody dog tag...

Wen Tai: I understand.

Hua Mulan: Forget about me!

The dialogue in example 2 happened at the end of the film. Wen Tai expresses to Hua Mulan that he wants to get together with her. However, Hua Mulan lets Wen Tai forget her and marry Rouran princess in order to end the war. She says that she doesn’t hope to see more families are separated by wars. The dialogue shows to audiences that Hua Mulan sacrifices her affection to Wen Tai for the peace and stability of the nation and the unit of thousands of family. It makes audiences feel sorry for her because she has to give up her personal interests for the safety of the nation. From the dialogue, the Chinese collectivism is shown that one prefers to sacrifice his personal interests for collective interests. The dialogue shows to audiences that a real and correct Chinese culture which stresses collectivism.

Through comparing, such a result can be concluded. On the one hand, America highlights individualism. American individualism tends to self-independent and self-realization. On the other hand, China advocates collectivism. China is more favorable for collectivism and Chinese speak highly of collectivism.

3.2 Ideologism and Open-mindedness

Influenced by Confucianism, Chinese culture is full of tradition. When Chinese treat others and deal with affairs, they usually follow certain principles and don’t prefer to make some changes casually. Different from Chinese ideologiam, Americans tend to open-mindedness.

American social structure is loose and informal. There are very few lines that socially are not allowed to be crossed. Americans are more open-minded than Chinese. Thus, the Disney Mulan does not pay much attention to Confucian ethics.

Example 3

Matchmaker: Fa Mulan.

Mulan: Present.

Matchmaker: Speaking without permission.

Mulan: Oops. Who spit in her bean curd?

Matchmaker: Too skinny. Not good for bearing sons. Recite the final admonition. Well?

Mulan: Fulfill your duties calmly and... respectfully. Um, reflect before you snack...

Matchmaker: Act! This shall bring you honor and glory.

The dialogue in example 3 happened between Mulan and the matchmaker. At first, the matchmaker calls Mulan’s name and Mulan replies to her. However, she gets impatient and asks Mulan to keep silence. Next, she asks Mulan something about women’s rules but Mulan answers stutteringly and incorrectly. The dialogue reflects that Mulan disobeys the traditional Chinese rules for women which should be kept in women’s minded in ancient China. She ignores these social requirements and virtues for women. She prefers freedom and hates being tied up. She is rebellious as if she were a modern girl. The dialogue shows that Mulan is more like an American girl who pursues for freedom. So, the dialogue makes audiences misunderstand that women can behave like this Mulan in ancient China. In the Chinese opinion, she is not the traditional Mulan in history and is not the Mulan whom they are familiar with.

In the Chinese film, Hua Mulan is more respectful and dutiful. She lives with father and looks after him.

Example 4

Hua Mulan: Father, time for your medicine!

Hua Hu: I don’t want medicine. I want to drink wine!

Hua Mulan: Sure. Let me pour for you. Here!

Hua Hu: I don’t want this one, l want that one.

It’s still medicine!

The dialogue in example 4 happened at the beginning of the film. At that moment Mulan brought a bowl of medicine and a graybeard to her father. She asks her father to take medicine. However, her father says he wants to drink wine and choose to drink the liquid in the graybeard. So, Hua Mulan conformably poured out a bowl of “wine” for her father without any incompliance. Actually, in the graybeard was also medicine. She looks after her ill father carefully and skillfully and persuades her father to take medicines without being against her father’s will. The character accords with a traditional Chinese woman. It makes Chinese audiences feel that the Mulan is who they are familiar with and gives foreigner audiences a correct image of Mulan. In ancient Chinese culture, children should follow their elders’ orders without any excuse whether the orders are right or wrong. It is a reflex for ideologism.

Following differences can be concluded. In Chinese culture, people are ideologism. They do not prefer to change their minds and lifestyle positively. They would rather follow given rules. Different from Chinese, Americans are more open-minded. They follow few rules in their life.

3.3 Power Distance

Power distance is the first dimension that makes a distinction between two cultures. It refers to the unequal distribution in an organization. Power distance can be measured by power distance index (PDI). A high-power-distance culture emphasizes that each person has a rightful and sheltered place in his social order, that authorities’ actions should not be allowed to be challenged or questioned, and that those with higher social status have rights to use their power for whatever purposes and in whatever ways they deem reasonable. However, low power distance attaches the importance of minimizing social or class inequalities, questioning or challenging authority figures, and using power only for legitimate purposes.

America is a low-power-distance country. The countrymen hold the idea that everyone has equal power. In Disney film Mulan, low power distance shows clearly.

Example 5

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