CulturedifferencesreflectedinthefilmGuashaTreatment.doc

Culture differences reflected in the film Guasha TreatmentAbstract: The story in the Chinese movie Guasha Treatment tookplace in the U. S.A. The movie shows us a legal conflictresulted from Guasha, a Chinese medical treatment of children. It seems that the story is a misunderstanding or a legal dispute, but actually, it indicates some cultural differences between China and the West .This paper tries to analyze these differences reflected in the film Guasha Treatment. Key words: Guasha; cultural difference1. IntroductionAs one of the most popular films released in 2001, Guasha Treatment made the culture differences between China and the west be a hot topic because of the sharp clashes reflected in the film.The film told the story about a young coupleXu Datong and Jian Ningwho immigrated to Middle America, and had a son. They are wrongfully accused of child abuse because of American miscomprehension of Guashaan ancient oriental practice that releases toxins from the body by scraping the skin with jade at relevant acupuncture points. In the later story, Datong suffered a lot. He was abandoned by his best friend and lost his job. He was forced to separate with his wife and his lovely son. And he had to sent his old father who came to America and intended to enjoy a good life with him back China. All of those clashes were attributed to his different culture compared with local people who he had to confront.And this paper will discuss the difference between China and the west based on the film Guasha Treatment. 2. Culture differences2.1 Emotion and lawsThe concept of value is a order that people can not be avoided in social or cultural life. Peoples behavior rules, ways of thinking, cognitive criterion, social philosophy, deductive reasoning and evaluation of things, moral standards are so deeply restricted by their own different values. 【1】 As a immigrant who had lived in the United States for eight years , Datong is essentially dominated by the Chinese traditional values, for example, thinking highly of filial piety. As a result, Datong lies the court that it was himself who Guasha to his son, in order to protect his father. However, in America, if telling lies in court, people will be charged with perjury. When his good friend, Mr. Quinlin knows that it was not Datong but his father Guasha to Dennis, he is very shocked. According to American ideas, each person should not perjury, even if it is to protect his father, However as a American, Quinlin can not understand Chinese culture value system. In the Chinese culture, people will consciously or unconsciously deal with the problem according to traditional Chinese values. This is a reflection of the cultural unconsciousness.2.2 Friendship and obligationThe concept “cultural unconsciousness” is put forward by the Li ShuYi in 1988, which is said that it is one of the phenomenon of human unconsciousness formed in a certain social and cultural environment. It dominates peoples behavior in a subtle way, and thus unconsciously, indirectly, carry out the dominant role by awareness. 2 As the existence of cultural unconsciousness, Chinese people tend to make it full of human interest even in the field beyond human emotions. Chinese people think that a good friend should “through fire and water without any hesitation”. In the film this concept also affects the behavior of Datong. However in American society, people are unwilling to assume more obligations of friends. In their mind, the order is a legal, reason and human feeling when they deal with a problem. Because Quinlin was his friend, Datong thinks certainly that Quinlin should be loyal to him regardless of any circumstances.So at the first hearing, Datong naturally think he can trust Quinlin as his own lawyer even though Quinlin isnt major in that sector. However, after seen the bruise on Dennis back, Quinlin believed that Datong had “long-term punishment and neglect to the son “. He could not longer defend for Datong , because the West are often more rational than emotional. Even for friends and families they have to act according to law, which is the manifestation of Americans cultural unconsciousness.2.3 Childrens educationIn the beginning of the story, Datongs son Dennis hit the bosss son Paul. Datong immediately calls Dennis to apologize to Paul, but Quinlan think that fighting is normal and there is no question of the apology. Datong fight his son in front of the boss because his son did not apologize to the bosss son, and says: “Hitting him because he is my child, I beat him is to respect you.Its to give you face” This is incredible for the boss, while Datong view that this is a performance of loving the son and respecting for the boss. According Chinese tradition, parents view children as their lives continue, hoping that children will amount to anything and achieve their wishes or be successful. Thus, in the views of the Chinese parents, some blame or beating on the children is one of love for their children, which are full of the expectation of their children to become useful. So we have thousands of years old maxim: “The lack of childrens education is the fault of father”, “Children who dont suffer pains and curses will be not capable” and other ideas and concepts. In Westerns eyes, this kind of behavior is very strange. West countries emphasize democracy and freedom, which are not only performance of national, racial, but also present in many families. In a West family, each member including male and female, regardless of age, is equal and each member is entitled to full democracy and freedom.2.4 View of faceAt the court, as a witness Quinlin said the fact that Dennis used to be beaten by Datong, which makes Datong feel very disappointed and angry, and even broke off with Quinlin who is both of his boss and best friend. In the nest period of dialogue, reasons for fighting his son are pointed Quinlin (boss): “I just told the truth! You should not hit Dennis!”Datong: “Why I hit him? Why? My own son! I hit him for showing respect for you! To give you face! Do you know?”Quinlin: “What a mess Chinas logic, how can you hit the child to show face for me!”Datong: “incomprehensible!”Language is the representation of culture. The “mess” logic that Quinlin said can be quite understandable by Chinese people. So whats the reason of that mistake? Here has to talk about the concept of the Chinese peoples face. One Chinese writer Lin Yutang said in his articleface and the rule of law, “ Chinese peoples face, not only for wash, it also can be scratched, and can be lose, and can be toured, and can be fighting for, and sometimes it seems to the be first meaning to struggle for face in life.”3 Whether a person is rich or poor, superior or inferior people, face are wanted for everyone. Chines