木兰形象从《木兰辞》到迪士尼动画《木兰》的改变-文学学士毕业论文.doc

The Change of Mulan’s Image from The Ballad of Mulan to the Disney Cartoon Film Mulan
中文摘要
当今多元文化发展迅速，中西文化交流日益增多，其中有融合，也有区别和差异。美国迪士尼公司创作的动画片《木兰》，借用《木兰辞》的故事，在不改变史实的情况下，用新的创作理念和文化差异，创作出了一个全新的花木兰，使故事内容有了新看点，使木兰这个人物再次深入人心。两个不同的花木兰表现出的明显差异，值得我们深思。本文将首先介绍并分析动画《木兰》对花木兰形象的改编，如对外表，语言等，现代元素的加入，如两个虚构的配角——木须和蟋蟀，接着将其与《木兰辞》中的花木兰形象进行对比，尝试总结导致这种变化的原因——文化霸权，美国正借助大众媒介和信息技术的力量进行文化扩张。对此我们深思我们应该提高文化警觉性，保护自己的优秀文化。
关键词：花木兰；美国价值观；文化霸权

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Table of Contents

Abstract i
中文摘要 ii
1. Introduction 1
2. Two Different Mulans 2
2.1 Mulan’s image in The Ballad of Mulan 2
2.2 Mulan’s image in the Disney cartoon film Mulan 3
3. Major Changes Made in Mulan’s Image in the Disney Cartoon Film Mulan 4
3.1 Change in appearance 4
3.2 Change in language 4
3.3 Change in body language 4
3.4 Change in character 5
3.5 Change in thinking 5
3.6 Addition of love 6
3.7 Modern elements melted in the cartoon film Mulan 6
4. Manifestation of Cultural Hegemony in the Cartoon Film Mulan 7
4.1 Defining cultural hegemony and manifestations of cultural hegemony 7
4.2 Manifestation of cultural hegemony in the cartoon film Mulan 8
4.2.1 Manifestation in cartoon Mulan’s character 8
4.2.2 Manifestation in cartoon Mulan’s language 9
4.2.3 Manifestation in cartoon Mulan’s thinking 9
4.2.4 Manifestation in cartoon Mulan’s love 9
5. Conclusion 11
References 12
Acknowledgements 13

1. Introduction
“Tsiek tsiek and again tsiek tsiek, Mu-lan weaves, facing the door” (傅汉思, 2010:132). This is the beginning of a well known ballad, Mu-lan. Mulan is a girl who disguised herself as a man and fought in her father’s place. Her story fully shows a typical Chinese image, a filial daughter. For thousands of years, Mulan's story has spread over China, and has profoundly affected every Chinese. This story has been displayed by many kinds of performance. In particular, it was adapted as movies and TV plays many times. This story has become famous over the world. In 1998, Disney Company created a cartoon film Mulan, which was added with new modern elements with the background of The Ballad of Mulan. The Americans did not change the original history, but looked at this eastern legend with the values of Americans. With the new creative idea, a brand-new Mulan has been created. In the ballad, Mulan is a filial daughter which is traditional woman’s image in Chinese Confucianism. But in the Disney cartoon film Mulan, Mulan is a girl who desired to realize herself and bravely fought for her love. This cartoon film is full of Hollywood movie features, such as individualism and heroism. The movie won a great economic success and propagated American culture and the values of Americans. Sun Lijun (2005:88) said, “This cartoon movie makes Chinese confused. On one hand, Chinese was glad that their traditional legend has taken on a new look with the adaptation of Disney Company. On the other hand, Chinese was perplexed by Mulan who is so different from the ballad.” In one word, the Disney cartoon film Mulan is a combination of Chinese story with the values of Americans (王传东, 2007:24). Therefore, while we are learning the innovational spirit of Americans, we need to think deeply about the two different images of Mulan.

2. Two Different Mulans

2.1 Mulan’s image in The Ballad of Mulan
The ballad shows traditional Chinese thinking that is filial piety. It is thought the ballad was collected into an anthology of YueFu in the mid-sixth century, and later popularized during the Tang dynasty (贾黎丽, 2009:17). There are five parts in the ballad.
In the first part, there is a weaving scene of Mulan. “Tsiek tsiek and again tsiek tsiek, Mu-lan weaves, facing the door.”(傅汉思, 2010:132). Then, we find that Mulan has secrets in her mind. “You don’t hear shuttle’s sound, you only hear Daughter’s sighs.”(傅汉思,2010:132). She told her mother that her father will report to the camp. But he is too old to fight against the enemies and has no grown-up son. So she has to fight in his place. “Last night I saw the draft posters… And serve in the army in Father’s place.”(傅汉思,2010:132-133).
In the second part, there are four sentences with parallelism. They describe that Mulan was preparing for fighting. “In the East Market she buys a spirited horse... In the North Market she buys a long whip.”(傅汉思,2010:133). Because of the situation was urgent, Mulan said good bye to her parents and started off in the morning. On the way to the army, Mulan missed her home and her parents. “At dawn she takes leave of Father and Mother, In the evening camps on the Yellow River’s bank. She doesn’t hear the sound of Father and Mother calling, she only hears the Yellow River’s flowing water cry tsien tsien… She only hears Mount Yen’s nomad horses cry tsiu tsiu.”(傅汉思,2010:133).
In the third part, there are brief sentences to describe life of Mulan in the 10-year hardship of war. “She goes ten thousand miles on the business of war; she crosses passes and mountains like flying. Northern gusts carry the rattle of army pots, chilly light shines on iron armor. Generals die in a hundred battles, Stout soldiers return after ten years.”(傅汉思,2010:133).
In the forth part, Mulan returned with victory. But she declined the emperor’s award and said that she longed to take care of her family. At that time, Mulan’s real status was still not known by everyone. “On her return she sees the Son of Heaven…The Khan asks her what she desires. ‘Mu-lan has no use for a minister’s post. I wish to ride a swift mount to take me back to my home’.”(傅汉思,2010:133-134).
The last part is the culmination of the ballad. Her family was so happy that Mulan was allowed to return home. “When Father and Mother hear Daughter is coming, They go outside the wall to meet her, leaning on each other. When Elder Sister hears Younger Sister is coming, she fixes her rouge, facing the door. When Little Brother hears Elder Sister is coming, he whets the knife, quick quick, for pig and sheep.”(傅汉思,2010:134). And Mulan was so happy that she can dress as a girl again. “I open the door to my east chamber… Hanging up a mirror she dabs on yellow flower powder.”(傅汉思,2010:134). When her comrades saw Mulan in female dressing, they were shocked to discover that Mulan whom they have fought astride for years is a girl. “She goes out the door and sees her comrades. Her comrades are all amazed and perplexed…”(傅汉思,2010:134). At the end of the ballad, there are two sentences with metaphor to show the reason why Mulan’ real status was not revealed for the war years. “’The he-hare’s feet go hop and skip, the she-hare’s eyes are muddled and fuddled. Two hares running side by side close to the ground, how can they tell if I am he or she.’”(傅汉思,2010:134-135).
This ballad shows that Mulan joined the army for her father not for herself. She desires to be a good daughter to her parents as well as a good man to her nation. That is Mulan’s image in The Ballad of Mulan.

2.2 Mulan’s image in the Disney cartoon film Mulan
The Disney cartoon film Mulan is neither Chinese style nor American style. It is a mixed product which has traditional Chinese elements and American elements. Mulan’s image in this cartoon film turns into a girl who is somehow familiar with and strange to Chinese.
The major theme changed from “filial piety” to “self-identity”. Mulan’s image in this cartoon film turned into a brave and clever girl risking her life to save her elder sick father. This cartoon film expresses freedom and equality that belong to the values of Americans.
At the beginning of this cartoon film, Mulan is a girl who desired to bring her family honor. She deeply loved her parents and her grandmother. When the Huns invade China, every strong man is called to arms. Mulan’s father is no exception. But her father has an old wound leg and cannot walk properly. At the same time, Mulan failed in the blind date. She decided to take an opportunity. So she decided to fight in her father’s place without her father’s permission. At the midnight, she stole her father’s wartime gown, leaving home soundlessly. At that time, her ancestors disapproved her decision but sent a little dragon, Mushu to aid her unavoidably. Mulan’s father never thought that her daughter will fight in his place. So, Mulan’s kungfu was very poor at the beginning. But with her perseverance, she became a good soldier. On the way to the battle, Mulan’s real status was revealed. She was abandoned on the way. But she found that the Huns survived and wanted to kill the emperor. So she decided to risk everything for saving her country. With her force and her intelligence, she saved the emperor and protected her country.
In this cartoon film, Mulan has a perfect love at the end, which does not exist in the ballad. From the above, we can find that Mulan’s image changed. She became a resister against feudal society and pursued identity. Her action is for proving herself. That is different from the ballad and shows the values of Americans.

3. Major Changes Made in Mulan’s Image in the Disney Cartoon Film Mulan
In order to have a great economic success, there are many changes in the Disney cartoon film Mulan, Disney Company changed Mulan’s image, such as her appearance, language, body language, character, thinking, addition of love and new elements melted.

3.1 Change in appearance
At the beginning of the background of The Ballad of Mulan, we can image that Mulan is an elegant girl who has beautiful appearance. Disney Company did not design Mulan to have beautiful appearance like Snowwhite and Cinderella. They used traditional Chinese art, Chinese monochromes, as reference to create Mulan’s appearance (白水, 2003:10). Making Mulan’s image mild and strong, they created brand-new image of Mulan that has Asian feature. In this cartoon film, Mulan has a flat nose and long black hair. In addition, Mulan’s girl dressing is so smooth (孙立军, 2005:92).
In ancient China, people’s hair was never allowed to be cut and should be tied. But in this cartoon film, Mulan’s hair was not tied as the modern female style. She has her hair cut when she joined the army. In the ballad, there are few descriptions about Mulan’s male dressing. But in this cartoon film, Mulan is made as a strong and fine-looking man in the army. Moreover, in ancient China, girls’ dressing must be modest. But, at the beginning of this cartoon film, Mulan worn sun-top, which completely belongs to the Western characteristic.

3.2 Change in language
Although The Ballad of Mulan is very short, it is a complete story. It shapes a wonderful traditional Chinese woman. But it is not enough for an 80-minute cartoon film (孙立军,2005:90). So, there are many spaces for creation. Dialogue is a major creation. Without it, the film will become a dumb show. In the ballad, Mulan has few words. But in the Disney cartoon film Mulan, Mulan has many dialogues, even monolog. In addition, songs are the major feature in Disney cartoon, this cartoon film is no exception. For example, the songs that began after the blind date: “look at me, I will never to pass a perfect bride or a perfect daughter.” These lyrics show what Mulan was thinking about. But in the ballad, there is no word for Mulan to express herself. In this cartoon film, it shows with a song. Another example: Mulan rushed to prevent her father from taking the draft posters and cried “father, you can’t go. Please, sir, my father has already fought bravely…” Her crying shows that she was worrying about her father. As we known, unmarried girl did not allow appearing to strangers. Mulan just told to her mother and she did not rush to stop her father. But in this cartoon film, she did.

3.3 Change in body language
In ancient China, female has no right to embrace other male except her father, brother and her husband. Chinese etiquette is totally different from American. At the end of the Disney cartoon film Mulan, when the emperor was bowing to Mulan, Mulan hugged him in her arm. This action was not allowed and that was an impolite action in ancient China. But it is common in America. There is another example: Mulan broke the cup to stop her father reporting to the camp. This action is also irreverent in ancient China. For showing Mulan’s attitude, Disney Company used this action to emphasize it. Another example: Chinese female action is elegant. But in this cartoon film, Mulan’s action does not like traditional Chinese female action. Body language also includes Mulan’s kungfu. Although there is no description about her kungfu in the ballad, many kinds of performance show that Mulan has good kungfu. But at the beginning of this cartoon film, Mulan’s kungfu is very poor and her actions are clumsy.

3.4 Change in character
In ancient China, women had lower status than men have. In The Ballad of Mulan, we can find that Mulan is a filial, intelligent, elegant and brave girl. She got rid of that traditional Chinese value. She fought against the Huns and protected her father. Her encouragement of fighting expresses her courage; and her action for her elder father expresses her filial piety. In the 10-year hardship training and war, she prevented herself from revealing with unbelievable will. To be different, in the Disney cartoon film Mulan, Mulan’s character has been changed. Disney Company made Mulan as a next-door girl (孙立军, 2005:92).In her life, she failed in blind date and her status revealed on the way to the battle. Life experiences make her outgoing, daring, agile and traitorous. It is contrary to the ballad. To some extent, her character is rude. She likes a casual girl who always walked without shoes at home, feeding animal without earnest. In one word, her character is also the reason why she fought in her father’s place, why she desired to prove herself.

3.5 Change in thinking
In The Ballad of Mulan, Mulan has secrets in her mind. Then she told her mother what she was worrying about. But it is a burden for Mulan who is seventeen-year-old (张莉, 2007:54). We can find that Mulan’s action is passive. But in the Disney cartoon film Mulan, there is no scene about that, instead, there is a scene about her action to stop her father from reporting to the camp. Disney Company changed Mulan’s action from passive to initiative (孙立军, 2005:92).On the other hand, there is a blind date at the beginning of this cartoon film. Before the blind date, Mulan always said that she has to bring her family honor, and she desired to be proud of her family. On the way to the battle, Mulan’s status was revealed. At that time, she found that her real thinking is to prove herself. In addition, Mulan has her parents’ permission to leave home in the ballad. But in this cartoon film, she stole her father’s wartime gown, soundlessly, leaving home that without notice. Firstly, we thought that she did it for her father. But obvious evidence demonstrates the other in her monolog. This monologue shows that