Mulan: Orientalism

Growing up in a family that loved to watch Disney movies, Mulan was a popular movie throughout my childhood. The main issue throughout the movie is that Mulan is trying to hide the fact that she is actually a woman fighting in a war where only men are allowed. In the end, Mulan ends up becoming the hero of China, which she did against the odds, making the theme of the story that woman can work just as hard and perform just as well as men. Although the movie is portrayed as inspirational and uplifting, with the newly learned concept of Orientalism, I am able to notice some concerning moments in the movie.

In the beginning of the movie, Mulan is told that she will never bring honor to her family because she would not able to treat her husband "the right way". As well as she got in trouble to talking back to an imperial messenger. Mulan later took her fathers war order, cut her hair, and went in to train for war disguised as a man. By doing this, her ancestors showed themselves as ghostly figures who felt they needed to protect her. The concerning part about this is that it enhances the stereotype that the Chinese are very spiritual when in reality, although there may be people that speak and pray to their ancestors, most of China is not like that.

After going into the Chinese army disguised as a man, Mulan then gets into her first battle later in the movie with the antagonist, where she ends up saving the captains life. In doing so, she gets injured resulting in people finding out that she is a woman when they treat her for her injuries. When this happens, Mulan is worried that she has ruined her families honor by trying to help. That is another issue, the stereotype that one must uphold the family honor. Yes, every family has expectations for their children, but holding up your families honor is another stereotype that revolves around an Orientalist mindset.

Finally, Although the movie Mulan is able to portray an amazing message of strength, determination, and resilience, ultimately it is held back due to the orientalism behind it all.

Learning about orientalism has helped me in being able to acknowledge it when I see it or hear it. I have heard the term "orient" before but was never certain as to what it was. after learning about what it means to call someone an orient as well as what it means to have an Orientalist mindset, it has helped me become more aware to the sensitivity behind it and how wrong it actually is.