Disney's 1998 Film: Mulan

MULAN

Released 1998

The films that I chose for this particular blog was Mulan, which is not only a movie that I grew up with but also a movie that has been dubbed as one of my favorites, by far. I know the songs, I know the characters, and I can say that without a doubt I know the plot, forwards and backwards. However With all of that being said I am also shocked and amazed at everything that I happened to miss between 1998 and today. 

Disney's Mulan 

Disney's Mulan 

As a child I remember watching this movie and just thinking that Mulan was the greatest person ever. She was strong, smart, witty, and caring, and even more than any of those things, she was really good at kicking butt. She fought for what she felt was right and that was something that my mother always taught me to do myself. When she didn't agree with her father leaving, she took his place, when she couldn't remember what she was suppose to say to the match maker, she wrote it on her arm. Milan was filled with flaws and I just remember thinking that it was okay, because I was too; but if she was able to be this great of a person then I would be able to be too. I would be able to have Disney make movies about the wonderful nature of my life and all of the great things that I did. I mean who wouldn't want to raise a child that stands up for what they believe is right in the world, protects their family, and accepts fault where it lies. I always thought that, it made a recipe for a pretty great child. Its seems now that, that opinion may differ more so now than ever before. 

Hua Mulan Statue in Henan Province

Although there are many different underlying aspects to this movie, most of which we will discuss, I must admit that I will be showing this to my children when they come of a certain age (which will be determined) and that I hope that they will take from it, what I took from it when I was their age, and what I continually take from it today; even after learning about the dark backing and stereotypes of it. I hope that my children will be able to see the innocence of the movie, just as it is portrayed to be. I want to make it abundantly clear that although, though this assignment I have learned a multitude of things about this film, that I still see this as a children Disney movie, and that unless adults make it into something racially charged, or about lying to ones parents or any other thing, that the children will not pick up on that and instead they will learn the good hearted story of family and love that has been told though this. I hope that they will learn of the true nature that this movie stems from and that with the true story they will learn about courage and faith, because I think that is something that generations are beginning to lack. We all are starting to have a little less faith in one another as the years go on. 

Although the real story of Hua Mulan is nothing like the Disney version, I believe that Disney does great things in trying to bring a somewhat historical aspect into the lives of children, by not only making it into something that they would love to watch, but also by not taking everything historical out of the movies that they make. Though this is considered one of Disney's darkest movies, specifically by a blogger named Minna who titles her blog "Disney’s Mulan: A Dark Film Rife with Racism, Sexism, and Questionable Morals" it by no means make this any less dark than Phcohontas, another Disney movie in which there is kidnapping, stealing and lying at its finest. Not to mention the historical background that goes into that movie. 

So, What are children REALLY seeing when they watch this movie?

Now every child will be different when it comes to this question, and I think that is something that we all need to sit back and remember. But the idea of what children are absorbing can range far and wide, it can run the gamete of everything that they have ever been taught. So let me start with what I don't think that children are taking away from Disney's Mulan. 

They are surely not taking away your classical stereotypical racism that so many movies have. I can almost promise that your child will not walk away from watching this movie and think that women are any less than men, although is was touched on in the beginning and many other times throughout the movie. They won't, mostly because the overlying story and morals of this movie out weight any small- ambiguous notion of women being less than men. Children will not walk away thinking that they need to lie to their parents as suggested in the the blog my Mianna where she states, "The overall message of the film seems to be that it’s alright to defy your parents, lie to your superiors, etc… as long as it is all for a good cause, and as long as you’re being true to what you believe to be right, which is certainly not a good message for children to be left with."  Children are not going to walk away from this movie thinking that it is okay to lie to their parents and run away to war. Children will however learn a verity of things that can have negative holdings on them for the future. 

"Fulfill your duties calmly and respectfully."
"Um. Reflect before you snack..."
"ACT, this shall bring you honor and glory."

 The discussion of men that happens in the movie is repetitive. This may lead to little girls thinking that although Mulan is a women and she is doing everything for herself, that she is still not as good as men are. Listen to the song "I'll Make a Man Out of You" which just so happens to have lyrics :"You're a spineless, pale pathetic lot- And you haven't got a clue.-Somehow I'll make a man- Out of you." Basically stating that if you are not a man then you are considered spineless, pale and pathetic. None of which people, let alone women really want to be. Men  are seen as creatures who are okay to do whatever they please with no consequences, where as women are seen as these weak and feeble creatures who are meant to entertain men and their future in-laws. 




However I thin that with all of this being said that is is one of the most important things to look at both sides of the sexism table. Although men are seen as these big strong and very helpful brutes in the beginning of this movie, it is women who are needed in the end. Although in a sexual light, it is still the act of being a women needed to defeat the Huns. 

Though I could go on and on about the minuscule things that can be considered racist and sexist and stereotypical I believe that none of it was done to be exactly that. Especially when it comes to racism and stereotypes. This is a historical story, although relayed in a Disney movie, Disney does do its best, many times, to keep it as historically accurate as possible. Meaning that women are dressed as Geishas, men are the heads of the household, only men are allowed to fight in wars, women are homemakers, etc. 

I think that it is more important to realize what children of the future will be taking away from the big story that is told thought the movie. What they are picking up as a child. Instead of what they will look back on as an adult. Children are smart and they can pick up on the littlest of things, however I think that when it comes to movies like this, they will pick up more so on the overall moral of the story and less on the sexism, racism and stereotypes. 

So with that being said I think that it is important to remember what children will walk away with from this movie. Children will walk away thinking a variety of great things that will not only help them grow as a person, individually but also help their community grow around them: 

1. Boys and girls can be equal
2. Girls do not have to have a boy to be happy
3. Standing up for what you believe in is important. 
4. Protecting family is a great virtue to have
5. Lying doesn't get you anywhere and, even though it may be hard to tell the truth, in the end when you do it is for the better. 
6. It is okay to be different. 
7. Strength and Courage are important
8. Never give up, Keep trying until you succeed. 
9. Its okay to be afraid, but you must try. 

All in all Mulan is a great movie for children of all ages, and I firmly believe that if you are watching it with a seven year old, then you are going to have more discussions about how boys and girls can be and are equal, as opposed to if you are watching it with a 16 year old, then your conversation may be more tilted towards sexism and racism. Its not the movie that the message is dependent on, it is who is watching it. 

Bibliography

"A Visit to Mulan's Hometown." A Visit to Mulan's Hometown. Accessed November 18, 2014. http://www.chinavista.com/travel/mulan/part1.html.

"Disney's Mulan: A Dark Film Rife with Racism, Sexism, and Questionable Morals." Minnas Disney Blog. Accessed November 25, 2014. http://disneyminna.wordpress.com/2012/04/14/disneys-mulan-a-dark-film-rife-with-racism-sexism-and-questionable-morals/.

"Mulan - Movie Review." Mulan Movie Review. Accessed November 27, 2014. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/mulan.