The Representation of Chinese Cultural Identity in Turning Red

Abstract

This thesis is a study about cultural identity. It focuses on how Chinese cultural identity is shown in the animated film Turning Red (2022) by Disney Pixar. The aim of this research is to find out how the film shows Chinese culture through words (verbal) and pictures (visual), and how identity is built based on Stuart Hall’s theory of representation. This study uses a qualitative content analysis method and looks at both cultural and social aspects. The data comes from character dialogues and scenes in the film that show Chinese cultural elements. Books, journals, and other sources were also used to support the analysis. The result shows that Chinese culture is represented through traditional values like respecting parents, family traditions, spiritual practices, and cultural symbols such as the red panda, temple, and Chinese food. These things are shown in the story of Meilin, the main character, who struggles between her family’s culture and her own personal growth. The film shows that cultural identity is not something we are simply born with, but something we build through experience, choices, and social relationships. In the end, Turning Red shows how Chinese identity can be passed down, changed, and celebrated by younger generations, especially those living outside of China

Keywords: Cultural Identity, Representation, Chinese Culture, Animated Film, Turning Red