An Analysis on Gender and the True Love Between Generations

University of British Columbia

Department of Asian Studies

ASIA 355 003

History of Chinese Cinema

Winter Session Term 2 (January-April) 2016

Midterm Paper

Title: An analysis on Gender and the True Love between Generations

Student Name: Taewan Kim

Student Number: 48929103

Course Instructor: Rui Wang

Date of Submission: 25/February/2016

Introduction

The King of Masks (1996), directed by a fourth generation Chinese filmmaker Wu Tianming, portrays the contemporary Chinese issue of gender inequality through the melodramatic story between an old man and a little girl. The story depicts how humans suffer and adapt to change in the era of confusion, arouse from the rapid change in traditional values and cultural identities. Through the story of a lonely old street performer who searches for an heir for his art, Bian Lian – face changing, Tianming discusses gender discrimination under the established ideals and demonstrates that it is only a true love that can make a change and put forth a different way of thinking.

Gender Discrimination

Gender inequality prevails in China, whether it be in 1930’s or contemporary China as the patrilineal idea of Confucianism has been a societal norm. The King is no exception; he is desperate for an heir who has a capability of continuing his art work. At a tea between the King and Master Liang – a young famous opera star – Liang urges the King to search for a male heir so that the art of the king of masks will not die. Encouraged by the opera star, the old man buys an 8-year-old boy – who was named Doggie afterwards – at a slave market where male babies are highly valued than female ones. The value of having an heir is demonstrated not only by the King’s expression of happiness, but also by the reactions of the villagers towards the King’s new ‘grandson’. The King makes clear of his intention of adoption and patrilineal idea by explicitly saying “… I will teach it [the face-change art] to you… And only you. It’s a...