Date of Award

2016

Document Type

Research Paper

First Advisor

Kenneth Berthel

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is to compare the different Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon film reviews from Chinese and American reviewers respectively, and to see how they evaluate and understand the film in different ways. The reception theory will be the framework and hermeneutics will be the methodology of this thesis to analyze and explain the phenomenon behind the Chinese reception on the film. This film is critically acclaimed globally and yet is was rejected by its domestic audience, however, the phenomenon that this is will be exploring is how and why the Chinese audience, who initially disapproved of the film, accepts and even praise it ten years after. Along with analyzing the local reception of the film, we will also analyze the international reception on Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, more specifically the reception from the American audience. Meanwhile, ideas to explain why the film has such contrasting responses from both cultures and how some reviews, more specifically the Chinese, changed over time will be presented. We will also examine how Ang Lee directed the film and his purpose behind his filmmaking to explain how such a fim manifested. The way the film was produced and the timeframe of its release has a lot to do with how these two cultures reacted to it. Influences such as international trade, local and foreign film screenings at the time will also be evaluated and considered in this thesis. The main findings of this thesis show that Chinese and American reviewers do have some distinct evaluations, understandings and views about the film. Culture and aesthetic become the two major factors to influence the response from both sides.

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