迪斯尼动画花木兰女性主义形象视英语论文 影视编导专业

.IntroductionUndertheprocessofglobalization,inter-culturalcommunicationbecomesincreasinglyimportant,itresultstheriseofanewtendencyonthecommunicationbetweenChineseandAmerican,somoreandmoremoviesandTVprograms,whichintermingledbothChinesecultureandAmerica’s,areadaptedforscreen,anditputforwardnewrequirementsforustounderstandtheculturaldifferencesbetweenChinaandWestern,andensurethattheinter-culturalgosmoothly.ThisessayusesFeministLiteraryCriticismtheory,withmethodologyofComparativeAnalysisApproachtoanalysesthedifferentsocialroleoffemalesbetweenChinaandAmerica.Fromtheperspectiveoffeministimage,theessaytakestheBalladofMulanandDisney’smovieMuLanasexamples.ThisessayfromthreepartstoanalysestheculturaldifferenceswhicharereflectedinMulanbetweenChinaandAmerica.FirstareculturaldifferencesbetweenChinaandAmerica;secondistheimageoftraditionalChineseMulan;thirdisDisney’simageofMilanafeminist.BycomparingthedifferentculturesreflectedinMulanandthenconcludethedifferentsocialroleoffemalesbetweenChinaandAmerica.TheessayaimstodifferentiatetheculturaldifferencesbetweenChinaandAmerica,whichwasmostlyreflectedonthefemales’socialrole,andinvokepeople’sculturalsensitivityandensurethattheinter-culturalgosmoothly.TherearefewforeignresearchesontheimageofMulan.Onlyonebook,namedTheArtofMulan,whichwaswrittenbyJeffKurtti.Otherrelevantresearchesarepublishedonnewspapers,magazines,andontheinternet,andmostofthemarecommentsofthemovie,whichpayingmoreattentiontomovie’sartistryandrecreation.IntheEarlyYearsofNewChina,theimageofMulanwasdisplayedbyfilms,dramas,suchasHenanoperaMulan,whichwasadaptedbyChenXianzhang.In1979,theAmericanwriterofChinesedescent,TangTingting,whopublishedherfirsteffortTheWomanWarrior,anditwasthefirsttimethatHuaMulanwasadaptedincross-culturalbackground.TheHongKongscholarChenTaoiwen,andtheDoctorLiXianglininSiChuanUniversity,bothofthemexpoundedtheirviewsonHuaMulan.Atpresent,mostresearchresultswereshowedintheformofessays.Accordingtothedata,reportedbyCNKI,thereareover70essaysresearchingtheimageofMulanfromthedifferentperspectives,somerestsonthepointofnarrating,somefocusesontranslationstrategiesofthesubtitlesinthemovie,otheressaysformthehistoricalperspectivetoanalyzeMulan.2.TheCulturalDifferencesbetweenChinaandAmericaReflectedinMulanHuaMulandisguisesherselfasaman,inordertosubstituteforherfathertoserviceinthearmy.ItisafamousstorythathaspopularizedamongChineseforalongtime.Everyoneknowsit,particularlyherimageofheroine,whichmakesagreatimpressionamongChinesepeople,andtheBalladofMulanwasselectedasonepassageinthetextbookformiddleschoolstudents,inaddition,herstorythatsubstitutesforherfathertoserviceinthearmywasadaptedintomovies,operas,andTVseries.ThelegendaryfigurehasbecomeamodelamongtraditionalwomeninancientChinaforthousandyears,forMulan’sbold,kindness,andtheimagethatwomenrefusetobeoutdonebymen.Withthetendencyofglobalization,ChinesecultureandAmericanculturelearnfromeachother,andcommunicationbecomemoreandmoreclose,andanincreasingnumberofTVprogramswhichintegratedbothsides’cultureswerescreened.In1998,theanimatedfilmMulanwhichwasproducedbyDisneyCompanyshowedAmerica.ThefilmwasadaptedfromtheBalladofMulanofChina,tellingastoryaboutHuaMulanwhosubstitutesforherfathertofightagainstenemiesinSuidynasty.InordertomakethefilmincludingboththecharactersofDisneyandtheculturesofChina,thedirectorpooledwisdomandformedsynergy,andworkersburiedthemselvesinfilm’sstudy,especiallyfocusedonChinatraditionalmartialarts.Intermsofmaintainingthecharactersandspiritoforiginalwork,theexpertsdoresearchonfilm’sscripts,feelingsandscenes,modelsmorethanonce.ThewholefilmfeaturingwashingpaintingofChina,whiletakingspecialprocessingmethodsofDisneytohandleallsourcematerials,aswellasusingmusicfeatheredChinesemelodyandmusicalinstruments.FromtheperspectiveofintegrationofbothChineseandAmericacultures,thefilmisasuccessfulone,costing100million,spending2years,gatheringmorethan700artists’efforts.AndthefilmisthefirstworkwhichDisneyadoptedChineseelementsassourcematerials,gettingthebetterfilmscorenominationof27thAcademyAward,itcauseagreatsensationamongwesterncountries.However,fewChineselikesit.Themainfactoristhatthisfilmwasinflectedbythecultureshockbetweenbothcountriesmoreorless,forexample,theimageofMulanwasportrayedbyDisneywithblackskin,flatnoseandsmalleyesaswellasthicklips,representinganeasternwoman.But,intermsofChinese,thisimagewhosenatureisfrankandwillful,erasingChinesetraditionalfemales’features,whichoutlinesChinesefemaleswithvirtuousandquiet.ThefilmintegratedChineseelementsmostly,fromtheimagesofcharacterandtheselectionofmusic,andthewholeset,neverthelesstherestillexistelementsofAmericanculturesandvaluesmoreorless.Forexample,languagestyle,thefilmwithhumorandinterestingtone,thusmakesharpcontrastwithChineseballadwhichfocusesonthetremendousmomentum,adoptingexcitedtoneandwarscene.Forexample,MulaninthefilmfallsinlovewithLi.AfterMulanreturnstoherhometown,Mr.Licomesandvisitsherfamily.Mulan’sgrandmothersayshappily“Woo,signmeupforthenextwar”.WhenMulanasksLi“Wouldyouliketostayfordinner”,hergrandmotherinterruptslovely“Wouldyouliketostayforever”.AmericanhumorousandcomedicmannershavemadethestoryofMulanmorevivid.2.1TheDifferenceofCulturalTotemsTakeDragonasExampleTotemreflectsculturesandbeliefsofacountryandnation.Differentculturalbackgroundshavedifferentnotionsoftotems.ChineseandAmericanhavedifferentworshipondragon.Alittledragon,namedMuXu,isacuteimage,whichplaysanimportantroleinthefilm.MuXuisalittledragon,withyellowskin;heisnaïveandcoward,intendingtoblowhisowntrumpet.FromtheChineseview,theythinkthatthisdragonistoosmalltoembodythenobleimagethatofinChineseculture.Inancientchina,Dragonrepresentsdignified,noble,influenceandpower,whichembodiesChineseimaginationandalsoamassesakindofChinesespecialculture.Dragonhastakendeeprootinpeople’sminds.It'ssaidthatdragonwithmagicpower,mountingthecloudsandridingthemist,andcontrollingtheforcesofnature.Emperortendstocomparehimselftodragon,toshowhissupremepower,sothedecoratedpatternofdragonwasembroideredonimperialrobes,andimperialchairwasshapedasdragon’smodel.Moreimportant,dragonhasembodiedthesolepossessionofemperorintheslaveandfeudalsocietyforthousandyears,whichisasynonymofemperor’spower.Althoughthefigureofdragononlyexistsonpeople'sminds,dragonwithmagicpowerstillremembereddeeplybypeople.Fromtheperspectiveofwestern,dragonmeansevil.IntheBible,theserpent,whoistheincarnationofthedevil,tricksEvetotakethefruitfromthetreeofKnowledgeandEvil.FromtheperspectiveofChristianity,tenetofthedragoniswildandintractable,andextremelyconceited.WhiledragonworshipedbyChinese,whichwasdemonizedinthewestcountries,suchdifferenceshowedinthefilm,InDisney’sfilmMulan,thedragon,namedMuXu,wasconsideredtoosmalltoprotectMulan,andwasorderedtosweeptheyardforalongtime,whichcannotbeacceptedbyChinesepeople.2.2TheDiversitiesofCulturalValueCultureisthecommonphysicalprocedureamongpeoplewhowereinfluencedbythesameenvironment.Therefore,peopleindifferentregionsandcountries,holdvariousculturalvalues,fortheyhavereceiveddifferenteducation,andhaveworkedondifferentjobsandhavebeeninfluencedbydifferentsocialbackgrounds.Culturedifferencesincludingfivedimensionalities,individualismversuscollectivismisoneofthem,thisparttakesindividualismandcollectivismasmainpoints,comparingthedifferencesbetweenChinaandAmerica.Chinawasafeudalcountryinancienttimes,peoplepouredattentiontotheimportanceofcollectivism,while,Americanpursuestherealizationofone’sownvalueandthepursuitoffreedom.2.2.1CollectiveConceptinChineseCultureCollectivismadvocatesthatindividualshouldobeytofamilyandsociety,andsubmittoone'sowncountry.Whentheconflictsarisebetweenindividualinterestsandcollectiveinterests,individualshouldabandonhisowninterests,andsafeguardcollective’s.Thatmeans,inChinesecollectivistthought,“Hierarchyisemphasizedandpeoplesubmittoauthoritiestothepointofself-sacrifice.”Confucianismholdsthatoneshouldgiveupone’slife,ifnecessary,forthesakeofupholdingthecardinalmoralvaluesofRenandYi.Inpeople’sminds,collectiveinterestsoverpasseverything,asamemberofsociety;everyoneshouldmakeefforttomakecontributions,particularlyinaperiodthatbattlefrequentlybrokeout.InChineseculture,collectivethoughtnotonlymeanseveryoneshouldworktogetherforgroupinterests,butalsofocusesonthatthepowersofgroupisevenstrongerthanthesumoftheindividuals.InMulan,theemperorofBeiweiissuedanimperialedicttodraftsoldierstofightagainstnomadicpeople;eachfamilyhadtorepresentonepersontoserviceinthearmy.Mulan’sfatherwithadvancedage,andherlittlebrotheristooyoungtorepayhiscountrywithrealaction.Mulanworriedaboutherfather,butherfamilycouldn’tdisobeyemperor’sedictsfortheawarenessofZhong,itmeansthatshehadtobeutterlyloyaltohercountry.Soshedeterminedtosubscribeforherfathertojointhearmy,sheremovedherbeautifuldressesandtookupmilitaryweapons,disguisingherselfasman,andjoinedthearmyforheroldfather.AndtheothersceneinthefilmMulanexpressesChinesecollectivismvalue.Mulan'sfather,whoinjuredinwarandbecameinability,hobblingalonewithoutwalkingstick,withhisheadupandchestout,receivingtheimperialedictseriouslywhenanofficialreadoutimperialedict.Thissubtlebehaviordemonstratedcommoners’loyaltoemperorandtheirloveforcountry.Mulanworriedherfather,makinganexplanationtoofficialthatherfatheronceinjured,butherfatherreproachedMulan,andthoughtthatheractionlosinghisface.Inancientchina,peoplewerefearlessofdangeranddifficulties,eventhelossoftheirownlivesfortheinterestofthecountry,whichembodiescollectivisminChineseculture.2.2.2IndividualismConceptinAmerica’sCultureAsacontrary,individualismisoneofthemostimportantpartsinAmericanculture.Individualismtakesintoaccountthatindividualsarethebasisofsocietyandtheessentialcriteriaofvalue.Accordingtotheindividualistthought,allvaluesarehuman-centeredandindividualsareofsupremeimportance.Americanadvocatethatfreeofideasandactions,theyprefertobesuccessfulthroughhardworking.Childrenareeducatedtobeindependentwhentheyare18yearsold,andtheyhavetomakealivingbythemselvesinsteadofrelyingontheirparents.Andtheypursuetheequalstatuebetweenhumanbeings,asDeclarationofIndependencehasstated,“weholdthesetruthstobeself-evident,thatallmenarecreatedequal,thattheyareendowedbytheircreatorwithcertaininalienablerights,amongthesearelife,libertyandthepursuitofhappiness.”Americanpeoplehavebeenproudoftheirindividualisttradition.ThecreationofDisney’sfilmMulan,takingChineseballadassourcematerial,stillintermingledwithAmericanelementsmoreorless,particularlythevalueofindividualism.InDisney’sMulan,HuaMulandisguisedherselfasmanandsubstitutedherfathertoserviceinthearmy,andshetriedtogetridofconstrainsofChinesebids(threeobedienceandfourvirtues),andwantedtobecomeabravewomenholdingstrongAmericanindividualistspirittoachieveherdream.Withherwisdomandintelligence,shebrokethroughtoughissuesandsavedthewholecountry.Andonceshesaidthat“maybe,ldiditnotformyoldfather,butformyself”,shedisguisedherselfasamannotonlyoutofherfilialpiety,butalsorealizingherownvalueaswellaspursuingfreedom.PuttingMulaninthebackgroundofChinesetraditionalculture,heractionthatsubstitutedherfathertoserviceinthearmyisawaytodoherfilialduty,tofulfillherresponsibilitiestowardsherparents,ratherthanrealizingherownvalue.Shewantedtobringgloriestoherfamily,notforherself,whichcontrastDisney’sMulanwhowasinfluencedbythevalueofindividualism.3.TraditionalChineseMulan—HeroicWomanTheheroinehasbeenusedtoportrayoutstandingwomensinceancienttimes,tomakeaconspicuousshowofboldwomen’scharacter.Mulanisagoodillustrationofthisword.ThestoryofMulanpopularizedthroughstreetsandlanes.Shesubstitutesforherfathertoserviceinthearmyoutofloyaltyandfilialpiety,devotingheryouthtothebattlefield.Mulanhaslosthergenderidentityaswellasherspeakingrightsfortwelveyears.AsConfucianismhaspromotedZhongandXiaotheoriesandtraditionalvalues,suchasthreeobedienceandfourvirtues,whichhassuppressedwomen’sthinking,ideasanddoctrinesforalongtimeandhasdeeplyinfluencedChinesepeople,particularlywomen.AncientChinesefeudalsystemhascontrolledpeople’sthinkingandbehaviorstrictly,andtheentirecommunityhasformeditsuniqueculturaltraditionsandsystems.3.1TheChineseImageofMulanTheballadofMulandepictedaboldwoman,namedMulan,whoisfaithfulandobedient,hopingtoreducetheburdenofherfamilyandtryingtoservethecountry.Shesubstitutedforherfathertoserviceinthearmy,andsherefusedtobeanofficialjustwantedtocomebacktohometomeetherfamiliesaftermakingcontributionsonthebattlefield.Theballadpraisedherbravery,aswellasherspiritofdevotingherselftothecountry.HoweverthestoryofMulanalsoshowsregulationsoffeudaldoctrinesbecauseMulancannotfulfillherdreamwithfemaleidentity.Asawoman,shealwaysstaysathomeanddoessomesewing,justliketheopensentenceintheBalladofMulan“click,click,foreverclick,click;Mulansitsatthedoorandwaves”,whichhasoutlinedtheimageofatraditionalwoman.Andthen,theportrayintheballadofMulanthatalthoughherfatherandmothercallingher,shecouldnothear,whatshenoticedisthesongoftheYellowRiverasitshurryingwatershissedandswirledthroughthenight,andshecouldonlyhearthemuffledvoicesofScythianhorsemanridingonthehillsofYin.ThesetwoscenesmakeasharpcontrastofMulan.OneisatypicalChinesewoman,andtheotherisaboldwoman.However,shestillinfluencedbythetraditionalconceptofmarriage,andthefeudalhierarchysystem.3.1.1MarriageConceptTherearethreeobtrusivecharactersofChinesetraditionalmarriage.First,menandwomenhavenorightstochoosetheirownspouse,theirmarriageeitherprenatalbetrothal,ororderoftheparentsandproposalofamatchmaker.Andthemostimportantprincipleisthatfamiliesofbothsidesshouldhavesimilarbackgrounds,whichmeans,richmanhavetomarrywomanfromrichfamily,andotherwise,theirlovewon’tbeacceptedbytheirparents.So,thesweetheartswhoareinlovewitheachotherhavenoopportunitytolivetogether.Second,aftergetmarried,bothwomenandmenhavetoreproducewhicharetheirduties,theirprominentresponsibilitiesarethecontinuanceofafamilyline.Andifawomanhasnoabilitytobear,afterthatmanwillbeforcedtomarrytwoorthreeevenmorewivestocontinuehisfamilyline.It’sunfairforwoman;shewillbedesertedbyherhusbandandhusband’smother.Andshecannotcomebacktoherparents’home,soshelivesinabitterwayuntiltheendofherlife.Third,marriageisoppressionforfemales.Aftermarried,theyhavetosubmitandcrawltotheirhusbands,andhelptheirhusbandsandteachtheirchildrenwithoutfreedom,andwomenhavetoabidebythreeobedienceandfourvirtuesaccordingtoConfucianethics,thatisobediencetoone’sfatherbeforemarriage,toone’shusbandaftermarriage,andtoone’ssonafterone’shusbanddeath.Andwomenhavetomakealinewithmorality;properspeech;modestmanner;anddiligentwork.Buttheunfairruleisthatmaninancienttimescangetmarriedwiththreeorfourwives.Theserulesconstrainswomen’sfree,theirlivesareconfinedinasmallroom.Inancienttimes,marriageoperateswithoutfreedom.Manandwomanhavetosubmittherulesofprenatalbetrothal,andorderoftheparentsandproposalofamatchmaker,whichhavetransferredfromgenerationtogeneration.InancientChina,ifawomanwantstobringglorytoherfamily,theonlywayistomarryarichman,somatchmakerplaysanessentialroleinmarriage.IntheBalladofMulan,beforeMulandecidedtoserviceinthearmy,shewasforcedtoattendabeautycontest,forshewasinfusedthethoughtthatwomenbringglorytotheirancestorsonlythroughmarriage,gettingmarriedwitharichfamily.Andafterthewar,Mulanrefusedtheofficialpositionwhichprovidedbytheemperor,andreturnedtoherhometownand“castasideherheavysoldier’scloak,andworeagainherold-timedress”whichexpressthatherfirstactionismakeupanddressesherbeautifulclothes,itmeansthatshewasinfluencedbythetraditionalrulesthatawomanhavetodowhattheyarerequiredbysociety.3.1.2TraditionalConfucianValuesChinahasprofoundculturesandlonghistory,andConfucianshaveplayedmaincurrentamongvariousvaluesandideas.TraditionalConfuciansadvocatethreecardinalguidesandfourvirtuesasspecifiedintheConfucianethicalcode,thatisrulerguidessubject,fatherteachesson,andhusbandcontrolswife,andfourvirtuesincludingfidelity,physicalcharm,andproprietyinspeechandefficiencyinneedlework.FemaleinancientChinahadtoabidebytheserules;otherwisetheycannotbeacceptedbysociety.Inaddition,thereexistsfeudalhierarchyinfluencedbythreeobedienceandfourvirtues,whichleadstofemalesasinferiortomale.Maleisthecoreofsocietyandfamily,whilefemalehaslowsocialstatue,womenhavenorighttopossesstheirideasandpursuetheirfreedoms;theyonlyplaytheroleofhelpinghusbandandteachingchildrenwithplainlife.Ifawomanwantstobringlorrytoherfamily,shehasnoalternativeexceptformarriage,andonlyrichfamilywithpowercanhelpthemtopossessabundancelife.ThestoryofMulanshowedthatfeudalsocietyisrigidlystratified.Mulan’sfatherisaged,andherlittlebrotherisyoung.Providedthatabidingbyemperororder,Mulan,astheeldestdaughterofHuafamily,sheshouldhavetoserviceinthearmy.However,shecouldnotdoitpublicly,onlythewaythatdisguisesherselfasman,couldsheserviceinthearmyandfightagainstenemies.Inthefilm,Mulanisfoundasagirl,andsuchactiondisobeyssocialconventionsandwillbringseriousresulttoherfamily.SoitisnotedthatintheBalladofMulan,Mulanhasbeenundertheguiseofamanfromthebeginningtotheend,andshehasbecomeaherowithmaleidentity.Neitherhercompanionsnortheemperorsucceededinexposingherfemaleidentity.IntheBalladofMulan,Mulanreturnedintriumphafterthewar,butsherefusedtheofficialpositionwhichemperorofBeiweiprovided,becauseshewantedtohaveareunionwithherfamilymembers.Herbehaviordemonstratedthatwomenofancienttimeshavenoambitioustocreateone’sownbrightfuture.Theyonlywanttoplaytheirsocialrolesasadaughter,asawife,takingtheirresponsibilitiestoshowfilialpiety.Theynevermakeexcessivedemandsthatbetreatedasequalasmen.Theserulestiefemales,theycannotexpresstheirownthoughtsandtheyhavenorighttoyearnforfreedom,whichreflectedtheimageofMulaninancientChina.DisneyAmericanMulan—FeministIn1998,thefamousDisneycompanyproducedananimatedfilmMulan,whichwasasmashhitinAmerica,whereitreeledin300milliondollars,butitwastooAmericantoaudiencesinChina.Why?Actually,itwasabananaworkwhichwaswhiteinsideandyellowoutside,justlikethedirectorTonyBancraftoncesaidthat“ThisisabelovedstoryforChinese,weknowthatweweren’tgoingtomakeaChinesepicture,wecouldn’t,wearenotChinese,wehaveadifferentculturalsensibilityandadifferentstorytellingstyle.”Mulaninthefilmwastransformedintoafeministwhowantedtoproveherselfvalue.4.1Disney’sImageofMulanIn1998,DisneyCompanyaccordingtotheChinesetraditionalstoryHuaMulancreatedfilmMulan,thefilmportraysagirl,namedMulan,whodisguisesherselfamantoserviceinthearmy,butmoreorlessthefilmtransformChinesetraditionalMulanintoanoutstandinggirl,whowereeagertorealizeherownvalves.ThefilmwasadaptedfromtheBalladofMulanofChina,tellingastoryaboutHuaMulanwhosubstitutesforherfathertofightagainstenemyinSuidynasty.InordertomakethefilmincludingboththecharacterofDisneyandthestylesofChina,thedirectorpoolingwisdomandformingsynergy,butithasbecomeatypical‘banana’workwhichisyellowoutsideandwhiteinside.MostpartsoffilmexpressedChinesetraditionalculturesandthoughts,butstillintegratedAmerican’scultureandvaluesmoreorless.InthebackgroundofancienttimesinChina,Mulanisacutegirl,whoinfluencedbytheConfuciansfeudalthoughtsandthreeobedienceandfourvirtues.WhileMulantransformedintoafeministwhohasherownthoughtsandindividuality.SheisanunconventionalandunrestrainedgirlwithAmericancharacters,pursuingtherealizationofself-values.Shedisguisesherselfasmaninordertonotonlyremovetheburdenofherfamily,butalsorealizeherself-value.Thispart,whichbuildsdifferentimagesofMulan,makesasharpcontrastbetweenChinesecultureandAmerica.4.1.1FreeandEqualConceptofMarriageThemarriageconceptofwestcountriesdifferentiatesfromChinesetraditionalconcept,whichtakesfreedomasthemainline.Thereexistthreeobtrusivecharacterstoo.First,theyholdtheviewthatmarriageisaprivateissueconcerningbothmanandwoman,providedthattheyareinlovewitheachother,theycanmakeachoicethemselves.Theyadvocatethefreedomofloveandmarriage,andnobodyhasrighttointerfere,eventheirparents.Meanwhile,marriagenotbelongstovirtuallevel;thereforeeveryonehasaccesstochoosinghisloverbythemselvestolivetogether.Theydon’tpayattentiontotheirspouses’familybackground,iftheyhavesamehobbiesandinterests,thatisenough.Second,theirstandardsofchoosingspouseoutofthepointoftheirwell-coordinated,theydonotconsidertheirfamilybackgrounds;theirlevelofeducated;andsoon.Theythinktheycanmakeahappylifethroughhardworking.Nomatterhowpoortheyare,theybelieveit.Andtherichmancanmarryapoorgirl,orarichwomancangetmarriedwithapoorboy,becausetheythinkthehappinesscannotbemeasurebymoney.Third,bothhusbandandwifehavetotakeresponsibilitytosupporttheirfamilies,andfortriflehousework,thatmeanstheyneedtofinishittogether.Wifedoesnotneedtoabidebythreeobedienceandfourvirtues,theyarefree,andhavetheirownideasandthoughts;theycanoutforwork,andbeappointedwithhighrankofofficialposition.Husbandhasnospecialrighttohavethreeorfourwives.Andit’snormalthathusbandstayathometotakecareofchildren.Inaword,manandwomanhaveequalsocialstatues.InDisney’sfilmMulan,HuaMulannevertiedbytraditionalconceptsofmarriage,shedidn’twanttoobeyherparentsdeterminationthatmarryhertorichman,whenrespondingtothematchmaker,Mulanworkedhardtorecitethosedoctrinesforwomansuchasquiet,demure,graceful,polite,delicate,refined,andpoised.Sheevenwrotesomewordsonherarmthatcanhelpherpasstheexamforshecouldn’tunderstandtheserulesandloath.Andshewantedtomarryamanwhosheloved.Shefollowedherheart,fightingagainstnomadicpeoplewiththegeneral,namedLiXiang,andthenfallinlovewithLiXiang.Attheendoffilm,LiXiangfoundMulan’shome,andwantedtoliveherforever.4.1.2TheConceptThat“AllMenareCreatedEqual’’InAmerica,eachAmericanbelievesthateverybodyisequal,andhasrighttorealizeself-values,andtheyregardthattheirrightsweregivenbyGod,sonobodyhasrighttoremovetheirnaturalrights.IntheDeclarationofIndependencealsostatesthat“allmenarecreatedequal”.InAmerica,women’ssocialroleoncelowerthanmen,andinthe1960s,Americanfemalescarriedoutvigorousfeministmovement.Afterthemovement,thesocialstatusofwomenthereforehasbeenimprovedandwomenhavegotabetterunderstandingofequity.Feministadvocatedthatfemaleshouldnotsubmittomale,thesocialstatueofmanandwomanisequal,theyrealizedthatwomencouldbuildabetterlifeforthemselvesthroughhardworking;suchideawasreflectedinDisney’sMulan.TheimageofunconventionalMulaninDisney’sfilmdressedheruptomeetmatchmakeraftertookherparents’advice,butshefailedthemeeting,andherfatherfeltdisappointed.Then,Mulanstartedtosuspectherownsocialstatue.Atatimewhentheemperordeterminedtowageawar,Mulandecidedtosubstituteforherfathertojointhearmy,heractionnotonlyoutofherfilialpiety,butalsoherpursuittorealizeherownsocialstatue.Sheactedindependentlyandhasherowninitiativeinthearmy.Nomatterhowdifficultthetaskis,shedependedonherownabilitytofinishitandevendidbetterthanmalesoldiersforshewasunwillingtoaffiliatetomen.Inhermind,sheclaimedthatmanandwomanareequal,andwomenhadabilitytodowhatmancouldfinish.Drivenbytheideasoffeminism,Mulanovercamethedifficultandtranscendedherself.Attheendoffilm,Mulanprotectedemperor’ssafebyherwisdom,theemperormadeadeepbowtoherin