Western vs. Eastern Cinema
Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon thematically differs from Western Cinema as it values collectivism over individualism. In Western films, individualistic ideas prioritize one’s own happiness and credits that as more important than anything else. These films tend to advocate for changing the status quo and voicing one’s own opinion to shape a society that is better for the protagonist. They teach its audiences to love even those whom they cannot love and passionately fight to be together with those whom they cannot be with. For example, films like Romeo and Juliet, Moonrise Kingdom, and Midnight in Paris all star two individuals who cannot be together but the entire film illustrates the “heroic journey” to battle against society and allow two lovers be in love. In Romeo and Juliet, the two lovers spark even more conflict between the Montague and Capulet families. In Moonrise Kingdom, Sam and Suzy run away to be together causing their families, the boy scouts, and essentially the whole island to go into a frenzy searching for them before a deadly storm hits. In Midnight in Paris, Gil falls in love with a woman of the past while he is engaged to his fiancée causing much conflict with the family and everyone involved in the wedding. Meanwhile, Yu Shu Lien and Li Mu Bai of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon fight evil forces to retain the status quo and keep the peace. Even though they are clearly in love with one another, they know that due to societal expectations and rules, they cannot confess how they feel about one another. The film advocates for the well-being of society collectively over the happiness of an individual. Through the romantic relationships of two protagonists, it is clear to see the thematic differences between Western and Eastern Cinema.
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- NATHAN XiA ASPA PORTFOLiO Nathan Xia