7-1 Final Project Anthropological Film Study

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7-1 Final Project: Anthropological Film Study 7-1 Final Project: Anthropological Film Study Angela Hobson Southern New Hampshire University ATH 111 December 08, 2023

7-1 Final Project: Anthropological Film Study Introduction : The 1998 Disney film, “Mulan,” directed by Tony Bancroft and Barry Cook, tells the story of a young woman who discovers that her sick father has been summoned to fight in the war against the Huns. Fearful for his safety and determined to protect him, she assumes a false identity as a man and takes up arms in his place. Seeking guidance from her family’s ancestors before leaving home, Mulan is gifted with Mushu, an unlikely ally in the form of a small Chinese dragon. Through courage and determination, Mulan emerges victorious over the Hun leader on her own terms, honored for displaying remarkable bravery when offered membership in Emperies Council at the movie’s end. Mulan has the power to alter perceptions about gender, religion/system of belief, and the rite of passage. By demonstrating extraordinary courage by concealing her true gender while battling the Huns, she achieved victory. Culture: The film features an array of cultures, including gender norms and traditional clothing. In the village where Mulan resides, women are expected to prioritize procreation and honor, while men are tasked with defending their country through military service. Additionally, attire plays a significant role in this subculture, as characters can be seen sporting authentic Chinese garments throughout the movie. This is especially evident during scenes depicting females preparing for matchmaking ceremonies, whereby they apply historical Tang Dynasty-Style makeup (Khor, 2020). In the movie, Mulan challenges traditional cultural norms as she attempts to take her father’s place in battle. Women are expected to stay at home and tend to their families, while men go off and fight. However, throughout the film, you can see various examples of Tang

7-1 Final Project: Anthropological Film Study Dynasty clothing that reflect important aspects of Chinese culture during that time period. Mulan has a distinct appearance when wearing Betrothal makeup, an ancient type of makeup commonly used in China during this era. This style may seem unusual compared to madern standards, but it is actually accurate according to historical records (Khor, 2020). Similarly, female characters wear Da Xiu Shan clothing made from flowy materials like silk or grass, which was commonplace among women in wealthy households who had many outfit options, including short skirt jackets with long skirts tied high over the chest, loose-sleeved shirts with shawls, or low-cut gowns worn tightly around their waists (National Clothing, 2018). Despite being different than others around her because it didn’t fit into societal expectations for gender roles within society-instead choosing warrior training so she could become strong enough mentally & physically able bodied alongside boys serving beside males on behalf of all peaceful citizens hoping accolades would honorably protect them accordingly regardless if they were male/female alike participating equally underlines importance challenging religious beliefs beyond typical perception ideas historically mandated years prior continuing now today influencing continuous development making positive changes together united hand-in-hand towards bright future ahead forging better pathways ensuring fairer treatment everybody involved based merit rather than specified parameters predetermined notions previously held back progress! Both cultures existed during the Tang Dynasty and were regarded as customary for that period, which led to some similarities. Female from both societies wore similar outfits in order to appear more attractive and be chosen by matchmakers for marriage proposals. Despite these parallels, there were also notable differences highlighted throughout the movie regarding how men and women are treated. Women were expected to stay home caring for children while men

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7-1 Final Project: Anthropological Film Study went off to fight wars; moreover, females had a greater burden of having to work harder than males if they wanted something—exemplified when Mulan must exert herself beyond her male peers within the army to earn respect just because she is a female. A moment in the movie depicting cultural disparities occurs when Mulan arrives at the training camp and encounters hostility from her fellow soldiers. They seize her essential equipment, hindering her ability to train effectively. This obstacle had serious consequences for Mulan, as it almost led to his expulsion from training altogether. However, she used this experience as motivation to work harder and show that she was just as deserving of a place among them as any other soldier present there. Anthropological Concepts: Throughout the film, several anthropological concepts were portrayed. However, I found three main themes particularly noteworthy: perception of gender identity and roles; religion or a system of beliefs shared by groups; and rite of passage ceremonies marking an individual’s transition from one group to another. Anthropologically speaking, gender encompasses both biological traits and culturally defined values, assigning distinct responsibilities for each social grouping within a give context. Religion refers to communal norms upheld through consistent practice among people similarly aligned in their set belief systems. “Rites of passage and refers specifically to public rituals enacted during significant life transitions that are designed to acknowledge changes experienced as individuals move into new stages fitting with different cultural settings (MindEdge, 2023). The film highlights the issue of gender, with female characters in the village limited to homemaking and child-rearing while only men can become soldiers. The matchmaker's role is crucial for women seeking husbands; failing to secure a suitable match risk bringing dishonor

7-1 Final Project: Anthropological Film Study to their family. A standout scene features Mulan attempting to stop the Huns by firing a cannon into snowy mountains, which exposes her true gender and forces her out of military service, making it clear that male hierarchy excludes women from such positions. As Mulan prepared for her departure to the training camp, she sought strength, guidance, and protection from her ancestors through prayer. The devotion to their forebears extended beyond Mulan, as even her parents and grandmother preyed upon learning that she had taken up arms in place of a male family member. This act highlights how deeply their religious beliefs are rooted in honoring those who have come before them. Religion plays an evident role throughout various moments within the storyline, such as when Mulan was dressing herself up for a meeting with the matchmaker while fervently offering rice sacrifices to honor departed relatives. Similarly, prior to setting off on this life-changing journey, both she and her kin beseeched divine intervention, asking for protection and direction, which resulted in Mushu, a petite yet mighty Chinese dragon sent forth by unseen forces, proving instrumental aid during difficult times at boot camp! The conclusion of the movie highlights anthropological principles in the form of rites de passage. Mulan's successful vanquishing of Shan Yu, the leader of the Huns, and all alone at that, earned her an invitation to serve on China's council as recognition for her extraordinary valor. Established gender roles in ancient Chinese culture designated women exclusively for homemaking duties such as childrearing while striving to maintain family honor; a coveted opportunity like this was unprecedentedly unheard-of before by any woman. Applications:

7-1 Final Project: Anthropological Film Study Mulan would be my top choice for a film interview, as I believe it could provide invaluable insights into her character. If I could get an interview with Mulan these would be the questions I would ask her: 1. In what way do you perceive that your efforts surpassed those of the other soldiers to establish your worthiness to attend the training camp? 2. Do you believe you would still take your father's spot in the training camp if he wasn't sick? 3. What are your thoughts on being the inaugural woman to join the Council of Empire? 4. Do you think that praying to your ancestors can aid when they have sent Mushu, the miniature Chinese dragon? 5. How did you feel when you informed everyone that the Huns were still alive, but no one paid attention to your warning? Moreover, how did it make you feel knowing that defeating Shan Yu was solely your responsibility? I think that these questions can aid me in comprehending Mulan's experiences and emotions throughout her journey. I find that Mulan's culture shares many similarities with my own. In the movie, women are expected to marry and have children by a certain age, or they feel as if they've failed their families. Similarly, in my culture, we strive for perfection and fear disappointing our family if we fall short. Additionally, both cultures recognize that it can be more challenging for women than men to achieve their goals, and in each society, there are expectations about what activities each gender is allowed to pursue, often limiting opportunities available to women while emphasizing traditional roles like breadwinning reserved solely for men. For example, in Mulan’s world, only males were permitted at training camp, whilst females obliged her

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7-1 Final Project: Anthropological Film Study husband wishes to be relegated housebound just the same as machismo dominates aspects of life from where I come from, dictating male superiority over female contributions even though this isn’t necessarily fair nor equal either way! Upon my initial viewing of the film, I perceived Mulan as a symbol of breaking free from cultural expectations. She defied gender conventions by assuming her father's place in training camp and successfully defeated Shan Yu without any assistance. As a result, she was acknowledged for her courage with an invitation to join the Emperor's Council, all while shattering preconceived notions about what it means to be female. Conclusion: Throughout this film study project, I have gained a deeper understanding of how culture can shape individuals and societies. From my observations, it is evident that every culture possesses unique characteristics that distinguish them from others. Furthermore, our upbringing greatly influences who we become in the future. While analyzing various films during this project, I came across numerous cultures and sub-cultures depicted in each one. These varied cultural groups emphasized the diversity within society as well as its impact on people's lives universally. Applying anthropological concepts to these diverse examples of cultures portrayed throughout the movies studied here gave me insight into how certain principles could be viewed similarly or quite differently between different groups depending upon their backgrounds. Overall, this experience has allowed me to approach other people's cultural views with an open mind due to what this project has taught me about culture because we all come from differing backgrounds that shape our experiences individually and collectively as humans coexisting together regardless of where in the world we are.

7-1 Final Project: Anthropological Film Study References Khor, S. (2020, August 23). Mulan’s Make-Up Explained: A Closer Look At the Tang Dynasty Look. https://www.airasia.com/play/assets/bltbd5a5c556282ab3c/mulans-make-up- explained-a-closer-look-at-the-tang-dynasty-look MindEdge, Inc. (2023). Introduction to Cultural Anthropology. SNHU. Southern New Hampshire University: https://snhu.mindedgeonline.com/content.php?cid=114779 Traditional clothing of Chinese dynasties: from Xia and Shang Dynasties to Tang Dynasty. (2018, September 14). https://nationalclothing.org/asia/39-china/352-traditional- clothing-of-chinese-dynasties-from-xia-and-shang-dynasties-to-tang-dynasty.html

7-1 Final Project Anthropological Film Study

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