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Mulan Essay

Decent Essays

The film Mulan is set in ancient China, in an undefined dynasty. The Huns have penetrated the Great Wall and have invaded China. The emperor orders that new soldiers be drafted. Mulan, a girl who recently humiliated her family by failing the Matchmaker’s assessment, in order to save her aging father from death at war, steals her father’s armor and masquerades as a soldier. Throughout the film, several historical inaccuracies, as well as accurate portrayals, become apparent, in such respects as religious philosophies, historical inconsistencies and through the heavy American influence in the making of the film. Ancient Chinese philosophies, which are still present today, played a huge role in the film and were accurately utilized in …show more content…

Mulan contains somewhat extreme asian stereotypes that were spawned from the American view of asian societies. The story is also influenced by American culture. One idea that is seen by many as distinctly American is the desire to do what is right, even if it against the norm. This idea is the subject of many a famous American story. That idea is present again in Mulan, as she rides off to war to save her father, despite his wishes and the law. The whole idea of ‘doing what you know is right’ is an idea that Americans hold on tight to. Examining the Huns, the primary antagonists in the film, we see them portrayed how Americans would portray any of its national enemies. Throughout the film, the Huns make themselves out to be unstoppable brutes with an everlasting bloodlust, who press on to assault the Chinese capital despite losing their entire army, save a few. By the end of the film, we can’t help but see them as rabid animals who can only be stopped by being put down. Historically, America is very good at dehumanizing its enemies in this manner, most notably during World War 2, with the Japanese and Germans, and even today to an extent, making terrorists in the middle east seem like targets for missiles and shells in our eyes. American culture influenced the writing if the Huns’ characters heavily. Mulan is without a doubt an excellent film that has entertained more than a few generations. However, it is filled with historical inaccuracies as well as ideas

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