Much ado over Hua Mulan about nothing
- By Xiao Lixin
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E-mail China Daily, July 23, 2015
Moreover, Jia's recreation of Mulan's character reconciles with the original theme of the legend as she portrays the legend as a brave woman taking on the enemy. Viewed without prejudice, what could be more encouraging that seeing a cowardly and down-to-earth nobody become a brave warrior after undergoing army training and beating back intruders to protect her homeland?
Contrary to some righteous critics, it is absurd to assume that Jia chose Mulan to tarnish her legendary image or change the traditional perception about her. It is these critics' attempt to morally kidnap the issue and label Jia as a renegade just because she has tried to amuse the audience with a different Mulan that has irritated netizens, including those who might not have liked the show in the first place.
The image of Mulan and her heroic deeds are deeply rooted in Chinese people's mind thanks to bedtime stories and school textbooks, as well as the relatively orthodox versions of film and TV productions, which cannot be erased by Jia's sketch.
If people find Jia's show vulgar or offensive, they can easily choose to watch other more desirable TV programs, and those who see her spoof as interesting and entertaining can stick to the program.
Commercially speaking, the scriptwriters and actors cannot be blamed for recreating or reconstructing traditional culture and adding a little modern touch to cater to the audience's changing tastes.
Yet the emergence of overly exaggerated films and TV productions in recent years such as scenes showing a Chinese resistance fighter tearing a Japanese soldier in two with his bare hands in TV drama based on the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1937-45), it is understandable that some people fear such works could prompt the teenage audience to conceive history differently. Writers, therefore, should pay attention both to tradition and creativity so as not allow lampooning to spoil the classic tales.
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