Message from kfenimore

I recently watched Disney’s movie, Mulan. The movie portrays aspects of Chinese culture seen through a Western view. This movie portrays a young Chinese girl growing up in a traditional Chinese society. There is a focus on young women to have proper manners and act graceful around others. There is an emphasis on upholding family honor. It also portrays a society that women are judged on by their appearance, their ability to recite rules and traditions of culture. Women are expected to pour tea to future in-laws in a manner that portrays a sense of poise and silence. The women are not supposed to speak unless permission is granted to them. These traditions and customs are apparent at the beginning of the movie. Mulan becomes frustrated with her role in society. She feels inadequate to meets the needs of society. She is struggling with the ideas of becoming a Chinese woman who would be worthy of marriage. She feels that she needs to her find her own way. As Mulan struggles to adjust to this, her father tells her the most important lesson. He tells Mulan a story about a flower having difficulty blooming but, says when it blooms it will be the most beautiful of all.
In second grade we focus on family and people who make a difference. The students are able to explore family history over time throughout the year. Students have to compare and contrast their daily lives with those of their parents and grandparents. It would be interesting for the students to additionally explore differences between the American girl verse a Chinese girl growing up in today’s society.
It would also be interesting to explore the importance of individual action and character with students. Mulan was portrayed as a hero in the movie. It would be interesting to research additional heroes that have influenced the history of China. Students could compare and contrast traits from American and Chinese heroes