A Comparative Study Of Cultural Value Orientations In The Chinese Movie Hua Mulan And American Movie Mulan

Based on the value orientation theory,this research does a comparative study of cultural differences between Chinese movie Hua Mulan and American movie Mulan.The two movies are adapted from the same traditional Chinese poem The Ballad of Mulan.Made by movie team with different culture background,the movies present totally different features.This research applies the value orientation theory by Florence Kluckholn and Fred Strodtbeck.Through the analysis of plots,lines,and emotion of characters,this research compared cultural differences between Chinese culture and American culture on the four dimensions: humanity orientation,human-nature orientation,activity orientation and relational orientation.It also analyzed the culture type of China and the America.This research uses both quantitative method and qualitative method.After identification of the differences between the two cultures,two research questions are put forward: 1.What cultural differences in value orientation are displayed in both Chinese movie Hua Mulan and American movie Mulan? 2.According to Florence Kluckhohn and Fred Strodtbeck's theory,what types of culture are displayed in the two movies respectively? After data collection and analysis,the researcher found that two movies present different features on the four dimensions and distinctive characteristics of different culture types.On the humanity orientation,the Chinese movie Hua Mulan shows more aspects of the good nature in humanity.Its culture tends to be good-oriented culture.The American movie Mulan gives less description about humanity.The only case on this orientation manifests the evil side of human nature.Therefore,it presents the inclined belief of evil humanity of American culture.On the person-nature orientation,the Chinese movie Hua Mulan shows more cases about human's dependence on nature and their incapability to save themselves when they were confronted with natural disasters.It proves that Chinese culture tends to be submissive culture.The American movie Mulan reveals the great desire of changing and utilizing the nature.It indicates the mastery-oriented culture of the Americans.On the relational orientation,there are a lot of episodes about hierarchy and authoritarianism in the Chinese movie Hua Mulan.It presents authoritarian-oriented culture.The American movie Mulan shows some features about authoritarianism.Because the movie Mulan is an adaption of Chinese story,it presents some features of traditional Chinese society.The eminent features of American movie Mulan lies in individualism,such as the pursuit of freedom,equality and self-realization.Therefore,the American culture is individual-oriented culture.On the activity orientation,the plots of Chinese movie Hua Mulan emphasizes much about family background and societal relationship.The Chinese culture is inclined to be being-oriented culture.The American movie Mulan presents a story in which only personal efforts and capabilities can bring about honor and awards.It indicates the doing-oriented culture of the Americans.There exists a good number of differences in Chinese movie Hua Mulan and American movie Mulan.After the exploration of the causes of the differences,this research points out the implications for communication between Chinese culture and American culture.It also offers some suggestions to facilitate the communication of movie industry in the two counties.