Week 9 : 'Asianization'

Klein (2004: 361) suggests, “Hollywood is becoming Asianized in diverse ways, while Asian film industries are in turn becoming Hollywoodized.” Over the decade since this article was published this concept of Asianzation has been sustained and even further developed. Originally the Asian film industries were dominant with Asian cartoon movie/shows and martial art movies. 

                                   Jackie Chan being a huge contributor.

These martial arts and fight scenes although developed are still evident in movies that are made in the current day. Huge blockbuster movies like Kill Bill and Kill Bill 2 are filled with the developed concept of martial arts fighting scenes, which came about because of Asianisation of Hollywood. Quentin Tarantino, the director of Kill Bill brought this concept into these two movies deliberately to get the large audiences and high ratings.

The Chinese animation style that is evident in blockbuster movies like Mulan (1998) is still evident in children’s movies being produced today. Disney, one of the largest entertainment corporation’s in the world embraced these styles and further developed them in more and more movies. There is no doubt that the concept of ‘Asianization’ of Hollywood is still evident and vice versa with the Asian film industry being ‘Hollywoodized’.

Hollywood has influenced how Asian cinema has developed in order to appeal to more people rather then just those interested in Asian film, and similarly these Asian films and styles have and will continue to influence the way Hollywood interprets and produces movies. The two industries  or separate techniques and styles influencing one another is a classic example of globalization within the film industry.

References:

Klein, C 2004, 'Martial arts and the globalization of US and Asian film industries', Comparative American Studies: An International Journal, vol. 2, pp. 360-383.