On June 8, 1998, the Walt Disney Company released the 36th animated film Mulan, which is an adaptation based on a Chinese poem, usually known as The Legend or The Ballad of Mu-lun. This poem, by an anonymous writer of the Southern and Northern dynasties (A.D. 420-581), has been popular for generations in China and was collected in Yuefu, the Song dynasty compendium of lyrics, songs and poems. As Disney’s Mulan is an adaptation of a legendary story remotely set in ancient China, it raises issues such as the authenticity and accuracy of Chinese culture values and facts. Critique has it that the issues of cultural authenticity and cultural accuracy become particularly important if the purpose is to evaluate the film Mulan as an art/literary work for young viewers and to investigate its influence upon children in terms of multicultural education. Particularly under the circumstances of the innovation and development of this century’s media, children’s literature has not been confined to paper books. Children often watch video tapes before they read a story if there is one available. Schoolteachers usually adopt Disney’s animated films as a motivating approach to usher children into the world of classic children’s literature. Therefore, it is crucial for schoolteachers and parents to take Mulan seriously and carefully whether to incorporate into school’s curriculum. Educators should be alert to the offensive, racially-coded language and cultural clichés presented in Mulan and discuss the stereotype and cultural distortions in Mulan with children.
Consequently, the purpose of this action research includes:
(1) to investigate students’ opinions toward Disney’ Mulan. Can they be aware of the stereotype, distortions and misinterpretations of Chinese culture in “Mulan”?
(2) to guide students to analyze and deconstruct Mulan in the perspectives of cultural authenticity and cultural accuracy so as to inspire students the importance of Chinese cultural awareness.
(3) Seeing that Disney’s treatment of Mulan can not reflect the authenticity and accuracy of Chinese culture seriously and honestly, students should take this case as a profound lesson, that is to say, try not to misinterpret or distort when dealing with multicultural issues. An attitude with respect, admiration, and heart always alike is needed when facing any micro or macro cultures if the purpose is to enhance students’ cultural learning and global understanding and establish a harmonic world in the long run.
The major findings of this study are given as follows:
1. Students can not be aware of the stereotype, distortions and misinterpretations of Chinese culture in Mulan before the researcher intervenes to inspire them the importance of Chinese cultural awareness.
2. As the development of activities, students can analyze and deconstruct Mulan in the perspectives of cultural authenticity and cultural accuracy little by little.
3. Students’ cultural awareness has changed from the state of invisibility to visibility.
4. To take Mulan for example, students can present a positive and constructive attitude to cope with multicultural issues.
5. As to the core value of multiculturalism, cultural learning and global understanding, students can gain the knowledge of both eastern and western philosophical concepts at the same time, that is to say, understand the reason why Disney animators interpret Chinese legendary story Hua Mu-lan in this way in “Mulan” and re-examine their awareness toward Chinese culture so as to expand their cultural experience and field of vision.