Analysis Of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon

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The distinctive juxtaposition of western and eastern cultural elements in Crouching tiger hidden dragon, challenges and re-assess the widely perceptive thoughts on eastern and western traditions in specific cultural and historical settings to provide an alternative perspective. This is apparent through the contrast of two dominant characters, Shu lien who represents eastern culture in terms of thought and spirituality and Jen Yu, whom represents the western desire for independence and freedom. Jen’s social status as an noble is demonstrated through the establishment of costume, windows, doors and cropped shots. This can be mainly seen in the close up shot of Jen and low saturation Lighting as she looks out the carriage window, emphasising …show more content…
The painting displays the events of the Tiananmen Square Massacre specifically China's communist society in which censorship is enforced within the nation. It combines elements of both traditional Chinese, as well as Western views of Communist China to create a distinctly visual depiction of the censorship in China. The visual creates a physical act of “execution” to highlight the methods used by the communist society of China. However, the individuals who are performing the execution are not holding any weapons. They are acting out the gesture, empty handed. This is a representation of the Chinese pretence and that most executions are carried out in secret, away from the public eye. Hence, the executions are both ‘unseen’ and ‘invisible’ to the western media. The salience of Ming Jun’s work is the laughing faces. This is his own face, upon all the bodies, including both executed men and the watching soldiers. The same expression on everyone's face shows the political ignorance of Chinese people who aren’t in agreement of china's communist rule. Thus, MIngjun visually demonstrates an artwork which combines both the western view and eastern view of china to alternative the wide traditional perspective of the east and …show more content…
Each character is constrained within the maze of their lives, be it tradition, honour, gender or personal beliefs. Hence, a crucial aspect of each character’s development is the freedom achieved by confronting these obstacles. However, only Jen Yu achieves total freedom and liberation. Throughout the film, Jen fights against what she perceives to be the limitations upon her freedom. Her clash with Lo symbolises one of the first conflicts of power between man and woman. The symbolic destruction of her lady-like personality as she defeats Lo, with a double shot of her standing and kicking him denotes her refusal to play the stereotyped female role even in a setting away from her family. Likewise, her fight against Shu Lien represents resistance against the orthodox Chinese culture defined by her society. Similarly, even as Li Mu Bai attempts to instruct her she chooses her own path “you can keep your lessons to yourself”. A long shot of mountains and green scenery shows Jen diving into clear waters to chase the Green Destiny. This metaphorically represent the cleansing and grasping of her own destiny. Thus, by the end of the film, Jen’s so called suicide encompasses both Eastern and Western values. Her choice to leap from Wudang Mountain is purely her own. The use of a close up of Jen surrounded by white clouds allude to peacefulness and freedom where paradoxically it is she who has really attained what Li Mu Bai

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