4-2 Milestone Two: Cultural Norms and Values in Film 1
4-2 Milestone Two: Cultural Norms and Values in Film
Brynne Nicholas
Southern New Hampshire University
ATH 111: Intro to Cultural Anthropology
Professor Amanda Busby
March 26, 2023
4-2 Milestone Two: Cultural Norms and Values in Film 2
Represented Cultures
Although Mulan became one of China's most folk heroine warriors, her voyage to get
there did not begin that way. Chinese culture at the time forbade women from serving in the
army. This was due to the gender roles of women of the Chinese culture and the expectation of
women to marry, be submissive to their husbands, have and raise children, and maintain the
households while men on the other hand are expected to lead and provide for their families as
well as fight war; all of which bring honor to their respected families (Bancroft, T., & Cook, B.,
1998). As part of Chinese culture, women were sent to the matchmaker in order for her to match
them with a husband as this marriage was what would bring honor to their families. Culture as
well as sub-culture is represented in the film, . The culture represented in the film, , Mulan Mulan
is that of Chinese culture. The sub-culture of the film, , is that of Shan Yu and his Hun Mulan
army. Shan Yu attempts to take over the Imperial Army while creating his own sort of sub-
culture. By rebelling against the emperor and attempting to take over Imperial China, Shan Yu
forms a sub-culture, which is still Chinese in nature (Bancroft, T., & Cook, B., 1998).
Cultural Norms and Values
The cultural norm depicted in the film, , was that men were expected to lead and Mulan
care for their families as well as wage wars to uphold their respected families' honor. Women, on
