Multiculturalism in Mulan
As many of the films based outside of the USA, but are still made by American filmmakers, Disney can misinterpret certain cultures, stories or legends the films are based on. Mulan for example, is a film based on a Chinese legend that originates from a poem written around 1500 years ago about a woman names Hua Mulan (Ward, 2002, p.94). However, through telling this, Disney has combined both Western and Eastern cultures within the film. Misinterpretation of this legend was inevitable when a company as big as Disney is producing films about foreign legends in order to attempt to reach a larger audience, nationally and internationally, that it produces as many films as possible to create a bigger profit (Ward, 2002, p.96). It needed to represent Chinese culture to respect the legend, however in order to appeal to its Western audience, had to maintain western values also. For example, the film shows the character of Mulan constantly being torn between a western individualist culture, (concern for oneself over others and the need for individuality) and a more eastern view of collectivism (putting others before oneself and valuing other's perceptions of them)(Ward, 2002, p.98). This is shown by her desire to bring honour to her family, but her individuality causes her attempts to fail, making her stand out from the rest. This could be Disney trying to Americanize the protagonist, by letting these individuality characteristics dominate her.
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The fact she is going to war also creates a conflict in Mulan’s eastern and western culture. The act of going to war to redeem herself and bring honour to her family follows the eastern ideology of collectivism, however she also shows the western individualist view of wanting to prove to her father that she can achieve in something, and the fact she overshadows the other soilders in the training camp when she succeeds supports the fact that she has to be different to stand out.
This is shown during the song "I'll make a man out of you" |