Symbolism and stereotypes in the cultural depiction of Turning Red movie
Keywords:
cultural representation, stereotypes, Turning Red movieAbstract
This paper explores the cultural representation in Turning Red, focusing on the use of symbolism and stereotypes. Through an analysis of key motifs and visual elements in the film examines how the narrative reflects and challenges cultural identities, particularly those within the Asian diaspora. The study applies a qualitative content analysis methodology, identifying and interpreting symbols related to culture, tradition, and family dynamics. Key results reveal that the film uses the metaphor of transformation to represent the protagonist’s struggle with generational expectations while also highlighting stereotypes associated with Asian heritage. The analysis also shows how these symbols are both subverted and reinforced throughout the film, creating a complex portrayal of cultural identity. In conclusion, Turning Red presents a nuanced perspective on cultural representation, using symbolism and stereotypes to challenge and affirm cultural narratives, ultimately offering a deeper understanding of generational conflict and cultural belonging.
References
Aravind, A. (2020, June 1). Movie Genres: 120+ Examples of Different Movie Genres. Nashville Film Institute.
https://www.nfi.edu/movie-genres/ China Insights. (2021, October).
Chua, A. (2011). Battle hymn of the tiger mother. New York: Penguin Books.
Embassy of China in Indonesia. (2020, October). Tai-chi (太æžæ‹³). https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2112961768834089
Ghosh, R.K. (2018). The Literary Narrative and Moral Values. In: Essays in Literary Aesthetics (pp. 63-82). Singapore: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-2460-4_6
Hornby, A. S., Deuter, M., Bradbery, J., Turnbull, J., Suzanne, L., Holloway, S., Hancock, M., & Ashby, M. (2015). Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of current English. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Hu, A. (2016). Ancestor worship in contemporary China: An empirical investigation. China Review, 16(1), 169-186.
Huston, P., & McFarlane, B. (2016). Health benefits of tai chi: what is the evidence? Canadian Family Physician, 62(11), 881-890.
Liang, S. Simplified Tai Chi Chuan: 24 Postures with Applications and Standard 48 Postures. Wolfeboro, Nh, Ymaa Publication Center, 2014.
Marx, D., & Ko, S. J. (2019). Stereotypes and Prejudice. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Psychology, May. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190236557.013.307
Mishra, D. S. (2021, September 6). Reading books vs watching movies: Which One is better for brain? Sunday mirror. THE NEURON. Retrieved April 8, 2022, from https://theneuron.blog/2021/09/05/book-vs-movie/
Owens, L. S. (2020). Perceptions of Asian American Representation in Entertainment Media. Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 7736.
Paner, I. (2018). The Marginalization and Stereotyping of Asians in American Film. Honors Theses. 36. https://doi.org/10.33015/dominican.edu/2018.HONORS.ST.08
Peper
Peper, J. S., & Dahl, R. E. (2013). The teenage brain: Surging hormones—Brain-behavior interactions during puberty. Current directions in psychological science, 22(2), 134-139.
Putriwana, N., & Yustisia, K. (2021). Belle’s characterization as the main character in Beauty and The Beast movie by Bill Condon. EnJourMe (English Journal of Merdeka) : Culture, Language, and Teaching of English, 6(1), 70-76. doi:https://doi.org/10.26905/enjourme.v6i1.6131
Ramrao, N. (2016). Film and literature: An overview. Epitome Journals, 2(9), 149-156.
Schwartzel, E. (2022). Red carpet: Hollywood, China, and the global battle for cultural supremacy. Penguin Press.
Setiawan, A. R. (2020). How Popular North American Movie Represents Chinese.
Sociology: Understanding and Changing the Social World. (2016). University Of Minnesota Libraries Publishing. https://open.lib.umn.edu/sociology/
Spiezio, C., Altamura, M., Weerman, J., & Regaiolli, B. (2022). Behaviour of Zoo-Housed Red Pandas (Ailurus fulgens): A Case-Study Testing the Behavioural Variety Index. Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens, 3(2), 223-237.
Sriganeshvarun, N., & Chien, P. W. (2020). Asian Stereotypes: Asian Representation in Hollywood Films. INTI JOURNAL, 2020(63).
The Bass. (n.d.). The Bass Museum of Art https://thebass.org/learn/lesson-plan-world-of-color/
The Chinese Language Institute. “Chinese Lanterns: Their History and Modern Uses.†CLI, 23 Mar. 2020, https://studycli.org/chinese-culture/chinese-lanterns/.
Thompson, T. L., Kiang, L., & Witkow, M. R. (2016). “You’re Asian; You’re supposed to be smartâ€: Adolescents’ experiences with the Model Minority Stereotype and longitudinal links with identity. Asian American Journal of Psychology, 7(2), 108.
Tukachinsky, R., Mastro, D. & Yarchi, M. (2015). Documenting portrayals of race/ethnicity on primetime television over a 20-year span and their association with national-level racial/ethnic attitudes. Journal of Social Issues, 71, 17–38. https://doi.org/10.1111/josi.12094
Umeda, M. (2018). Asian Stereotypes in American Films. ä¸äº¬è‹±æ–‡å¦ (Chukyo University), 38, 145-71.
Xinhua. (2022, April 14). More Hollywood movies feature Chinese culture and language - Global Times. Www.globaltimes.cn. https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202204/1259327.shtml
Yee, A. (2021, August 4). Asian Americans Are Poorly Represented in Hollywood, Study Shows. Bloomberg.com. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-04/asian-americans-are-poorly-represented-in-hollywood-study-shows
Yu, H. C. (2014). A cross-cultural analysis of symbolic meanings of color. Chang Gung Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 7(1), 49-74.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
(1) Copyright of the published articles will be transferred to the journal as the publisher of the manuscripts. Therefore, the author confirms that the copyright has been managed by the journal.
(2) Publisher of EnJourMe (English Journal of Merdeka) : Culture, Language, and Teaching of English is University of Merdeka Malang.
(3) The copyright follows Creative Commons Attribution–ShareAlike License (CC BY SA): This license allows to Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format, Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material, for any purpose, even commercially.
