In 2004, Christina Klein wrote that the Hollywood and Asian film industries were becoming "closely integrated" therefore "leading to the denationalisation of individual films and film industries on both sides of the Pacific". I believe that Klein's views are valid as this past decade has produced a number of successful films combining Hollywood and Asian styles of cinema.
For example, in Slumdog Millionaire a teenager who grew up in the slums goes on the Indian version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire". After he wins the money he is arrested under the suspicion that he cheated, which then takes us on the journey on how he knows the answers to the questions and his quest to find the love of his life. Slumdog Millionaire integrated Western culture by using the well known television show "Who wants to be a Millionaire" with the Asian setting of the Indian slums. The cast of Slumdog Millionaire were all of an Asian descent however the lead actor Dev Patel had already left his mark on Western television by having a role in the well known British series "Skins". Overall the film won 114 awards including 8 Oscars showing how it appealed to an international audience.
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| Source: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1010048/. |
Another example of Bollywood and Hollywood infusion would be the 2004 remake of the classic Jane Austen novel "Pride and Prejudice". This novel has been adapted for the screen several times however this particular remake was set in India and had a strong Bollywood influence. with the tagline of the film being "Bollywood meets Hollywood, and its a perfect match". Director Gurinda Chadha, who has directed other films such as "Bend it like Beckham" which also integrated Western and Asian film industries, used major Bollywood stars in the film such as Aishwarya Rai and Naveen Andrews from "Lost", with very few "Western" actors. But because the story was so familiar to the Western Culture it was incredibly successful regardless of whether the actors were well known or not.
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| Source: en.wikipedia.org |
So what could explain this integration of cultures on film? Critics of Globalisation use the Cultural Imperialism Model, which states that America has a desire for dominance and to "homogenise the worlds film culture" (Klein, 2004). Or simply, the fascination with other cultures and the need to project it to a wider audience. Either way, Klein's observation on the integration of Asian and Western film industries has sustained a decade later, and these industries will continue to integrate in the future.
References:
Slumdog Millionaire (2008) - IMDb. 2013. Author Unknown. Available at: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1010048/.
Hi Emma,
ReplyDeleteyour post was very informative and i believe your structure and evidence used from Klein was perfect for your argument. I personally think that the integration of Bollywood and asian cinema with hollywood or western cinema has allowed us to see other cultures and how they live their lives. We are able to see their country, lifestyle and cultural differences. you stated that the critics of Globalisation use the Cultural Imperialism Model which i can understand in some way, however I believe exactly what you have said, " the fascination with other cultures and the need to project it to a wider audience" is exactly why this collaboration continues to occur. I love bride and predjudice and i think the balance between bollywood and hollywood cinema was successful!
Great use of pictures to support what you are talking about
Well done
Hi Emma,
ReplyDeleteI particularly enjoyed the lay-out of this post as it was slightly different from others I have read during this semester. Generally most posts have begun by outlining the theory followed by a discussion. However this post took the opposite approach which was refreshing. The 'Slumdog Millionaire' example outlined a well-known case of Western culture being mixed with Asian culture in a big time Hollywood film. A well known example such as this allowed the reader to easily relate to the theories being discussed. Well done on a fantastic post.
Hi Emma, great take on this week’s blog topic. I really enjoyed how you went about the topic. You set up the post very well and your explanations followed on very smoothly. I also think it was good that you gave a rather specific time period by saying “past decade” rather than leaving it open-ended with something like ‘previously’. The examples you used were, I think, chosen well because it demonstrates 2 sides of the Asian film industry. My only criticism is that you didn’t reference fully, leaving out page numbers and the year after the movie titles. Overall, well done!
ReplyDeleteHello Emma，you did very well in this week's topic. Your use of the citation highlight your point that Hollywood and Asian film industries were becoming closely integrated. The case of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" illustrates well that Asian film blends in western culture is fascinated by the wide audiences. I agree with the point that Asian and Western film industries has sustained a decade later, and will continue to integrate in the future. Because of the globalization and multiculture of the media. Anyway, I like your use of the examples and your contents. Good job!
ReplyDeleteHi Emma,
ReplyDeleteI agree that it is evident that Hollywood is highly connected to the rise of Asian films. Slumdog millionaire was a good example to use to complement Klein's observation "homogenise the worlds film culture". Film and television have always mirrored what is happening in society. You don't have to look far to see Americanization. I agree that America has a strong influence on Asian film and will continue to do so. Your blog was easy to understand and the material you used was relevant to this weeks topic.
Cheers Karina
Hi Emma,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your post!
The way you structured it allowed a clear and informative discussion on the way in which the non-western film industry is becoming "hollywoodised." Slumdog millionaire was a great example of this as it demonstrated the way in which a different culture can integrate with a western one through simple things such as an American created television game show. Your discussion was very easy to understand and follow as you validated all the points made with examples.You may need to add in some hyperlinks to further support this post, but other than that, well done!
I've enjoyed raeding your blog posts Emma, and good choice of well known film industry examples of cultural integration. It would have been good to have a date or link to one (via IMDB, Wikipedia maybe?) for Slum Dog Millionaire to back up your claim of successful films in the “past decade” and definition of Hollywoodisation, as it applies to both films, would have been useful. Cultural imperialism does not only apply to dissemination of American-made cultural products (that would be Americanisation). If that were the case, such a claim wouldn’t work in regards to Bride & Prejudice – it is a truth universally acknowledged (!) that it is based on a well-known English classic.
ReplyDeleteHi Emma,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your argument on how the western film industry or Hollywood has greatly affected the rise of the Asian film industry. Slumdog Millionaire was a great example to back up your argument as both the cultures were integrated to come up with an amazing film. Nowadays most Hollywood films have somehow incorporated the Asian culture and I believe this has made them successful. Films like 'The Wolverine', 'Fast and Furious' etc have used an Asian setting as part of the movie. I tend to wonder as to whether 'America' is doing this as a way of 'dominating' the world through film.
Great Post.
Hi Emma,
ReplyDeleteYour entry on Hollywood movies blending with Bollywood (Asian) elements is certainly a good-read. The two examples you have introduced are excellent examples of how Hollywood movies are Asianized through narrating Asianized storylines and featuring Asian cast. It would be better if you have used more scholarly resources to illustrate the possible reasons for such Asianzation (i.e. Cultural imperialism imposing the American culture on films or simply to attract Asian box office success) and its impacts. Also, it would be good if you could insert a short video clip of the two films you are referencing with. Moreover, it would be good if you could explain why you think the integration will continue to take place. Overall, good effort!
Hi Emma,
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting to note the influences of western culture on Asian cinema, somehow I get the feeling that you are right in suggesting that the use of iconic game shows were used as a backdrop to gain our attention through the familiar and then show us the very confronting snapshots of some aspects of Asian life. The role of women as second class citizens is one example, and certainly backed up by a host of media stories lately on how badly women are treated in daily life. You point out that the contrast between western and Asian cinema is a way to gain acceptance of different cultures? It is an interesting comparison that through the familiar we get to see that which is new in other cultures, but is it because the cinematographers are trying to make us aware of deeper issues?
Hi Emma,
ReplyDeleteGreat post with a great choice of film examples. Each film mentioned strengthened you point. I also very much agree with your view. I believe that America, although seemingly adopting other cultures, may actually just be trying to, for lack of a better term, "rule the world", or how you aptly put it- homogenize.
From reading your blog, I realised just how many films adopt an Asian and Hollywood influence and are still catergorised as 'blockbusters'. This is the real strength of your post, drawing attention to just how many movies, that most of us would have seen, possess a cross-culture influence.
Great work!
Hi Emma,
ReplyDeleteGreat use of examples to show how Klein's article is still relevant a decade later from when it was originally written. Both the films that you used as an example are a true representation of how Hollywood films have been strongly influenced by Asian films. I particularly like the quote you used at the beginning "closely integrated". I fully agree that both film industries are integrated as it is hard not to in such a globalised world. The fact that globalisation is only increasing as years progress, I don't actually think its possible for Hollywood not to be influenced by Asian films as they can no longer represent everyone and appeal to peoples needs when watching a film. In my opinion, you really did grasp the concept well in this topic. However, I would have liked to see a video in your blog to truly represent what you are saying and it would have made your blog more credible. Thanks for the read!