A Brief Analysis on the Film King of Masks

The moving-picture show King of secretes deals with and ch all toldenges the feudal idea that custody are superior to wo hands this ideology, as the scene portrays, results in alienation, tragedy and sourness for girls in Chinese society and particularly the champion doggie. In contrast, come on of loathsomeness, fuck upion, and poverty, the morality of homophileity and the hu creation delight sprung up from the master-apprentice relationship mingled with Wang and pooch will ultimately reign over narrow and indisposed traditional notions.Evidence that every ane desires a boy can be found throughout the film. In fact, preference for boys over girls is not just a fad but rather deep-rooted in Chinese society. Feudal ideas that men superior to women is embedded and prevails in Chinese culture as early as the end of the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 B. C. ) during which Confucian teachings advocates and fosters sexual activity disagreement (Jiang 229). Under influ ence of Confucianism, women are given low situation and anticipate to be obedient to husband.This produces a sequence of expectations for men and women men are expected to work outside and support family living turn women totally stays home and take care of family and household. This is as well the earthly concern in King of Masks, in which almost every man has a job Wang is a street performer pro Liang is an opera performer Wangs friend is a strong drink dealer. However, the occupation of women is not clear revealed. Notable examples are the crowds of women joining the parade and women from TianCis family whose main economic consumption is taking care of the youngster.It is worth noting that Master Liang plays as a distaff impersonator. Despite its name, a female impersonator is played by a male in traditional Chinese opera because women are believed to corrupt men on stage and thus banned from playing (Johnson 380). The plot line of the film is triggered by Wangs que st for a male heritor to pass on his secret ancestral art of BianLian or its literally meaning of changing faces. In Wangs conversation with Master Liang, he firmly states, only a son whitethorn inherit the skills. It is an ancient rule. In fact, only son has the right inherit property including all Chinese secret skills and medical prescription. Also, in Chinese tradition, boys are expected to carry on the family line and occupation whereas girls leave and separate from the family later marriage. It is then not surprising that Wang worries that his secret skill may outflow out and insist on passing it to a boy. The gender inequality that feudal and Confucian ideas bring about and gender biased Chinese traditions underlies the cruelty and unfair treatment from which girls and particularly doggy suffer.In the rise scene, the telescope music immediately creates a strong sense of melancholy and sadness. As Master Liang boldly admits that no one values girls, the society undeniabl y treats girls harshly. In the back alley black market, desperate parents beg to move their daughters for very little value and yet still no one wants them. The fact that Wang paid ten dollars for doggy is because he craves for a boy. When Doggie confesses that she was abused and sold seven times by different owners because they get intot ilk girls, earreach can feel the bitterness and empathize with her.Indeed, girls like Doggie experience alienation and estrangement from society and its people, including the protagonist Wang. To further illuminate, we observe a sharp change in Wangs attitude towards Doggie after he finds out that she doesnt waste a little tea spout Since their encounter, Wang enjoys being called grandpa however, he asks Doggie to call him Boss when he feels betrayed by her. The intimacy amongst them dissolves instead, emotional alienation and detachment begin to emerge. Doggies emplacement changes from a beloved grandson to whom Wang determines to inheri t his skill to a servant who only does housekeeping.Also, the pitiless gender inequality contrasts strongly with the colorful and joyful settings like opera, firework, festival, and pipe-smoking ceremony. Aside from the pain that Chinese girls bear, King of Masks likewise reveals poverty, hardship, corruption, and darkness that Wang and Doggie experience in the realism that they live in. The mist in opening scene and overall color tone of grey suggests that Wang is paddling into a world of dullness. With his houseboat- his only sanctuary- Wang travels around to make a living by performing Bianlian in return of donation from people who appreciate his art on the street.Desperation and poverty are not only accompanying people in the slave market but also Wang his wife left him after the shoemakers last of his son his only companion is not a human but a monkey. Master Liangs confession that we all live with our own sorrows reflects the folk artists fate of twists and turns and bitt erness. During one performance, Wang is intimidated and oppressed by soldiers, but he can only chant woefully The potassium hydrogen tartrate in the shallows is toyed with by the shrimp. Many proverbs like this in the film convey to audiences his hardship and helplessness.Government corruption is also disclosed in the movie when Wang is falsely charged of all kidnap cases and imprisoned. In his quest for an heir, Wang visits Buddhist temple to pray and buys a Buddha to worship in the hope that it may gift him a son. All Wangs spiritual sustenance is on the Buddha body. This showed Wangs inner weakness and helplessness towards his own destiny. Nevertheless, out of the darkness in this world, we witness the goodness of human nature. When Master Liang invites Wang into his theater troupe, Wang excuses himself from joining. This shows that Wang is man of independence and principle.Besides, Wang scolds Doggie for stealing a bottle of wine, also demo his integrity. In the film, Master Liang is a popular opera star cherish by his followers nevertheless, he upholds humbleness, and just like his stage name, Master Liang is indeed a Living Buddha with kindness and sympathy to Wang and Doggie throughout. It is also him who offers help and plays a key role in rescuing Wang out of prison. plain some insignificant character shows the goodness of human nature the liquor dealer offers alcohol when Wang wounds the prison guard allows Doggie to visit Wang.King of Mask also portrays the sentimental love surrounded by an unrelated grandpa and unwanted child. In their early encounter, Wang treats Doggie as a treasure by buying new clothes, performing BianLian to entertain her, and telling her that this is all yours during a meal. We can also feel the sorrow and anguish in Wangs heart when he knows that Doggie is abused by her previous owners. along with the soothing music, when Doggie first attempts to scratch Grandpas back, the goodness of relationship immediately manifest ed.At the same time, Wang shows his commitment to love as he throws his scratcher into water. In fact, their relationship develops not without some complications of the storyline. This initial intimacy surrounded by grandpa and grandson almost breaks when he feels betrayed by Doggies assembly as a boy. Despite this, he jumps into the freezing water without hesitancy to save Doggie and allows her to stay. While he trains Doggie of aerobics and Doggie does the housekeeping, he gradually learns that Doggie- without a teapot spout- is as competent as boys.However, as one film reviewer describes, throughout, sadness permeates Doggies every move, a reminder that acrobatic flexibility means nothing to a child throughout, sadness permeates. Indeed, what Doggie longs for is love and recognition. Throughout, Doggie wholeheartedly tries to please Wang. stock-still though there is some misunderstanding in place, she appreciates Wangs love and caring by bringing the boy TianCi for him. As f or Wang, he also cannot hide his missing of Doggie. He runs out immediately searching for Doggie.When Wang is go under into jail, Doggie is panicked and desperate, she begs for help by kneeling down in front of Master Liangs house all night long. The film reaches its climax when Doggie ventures to sacrifice herself by performing an acrobatic doing that finally touched the heart of the military official. When Wang is condemned to death, Doggie comes to visit him in prison. In that scene, Wang and Doggie are physically separated by proscribe between them, but the camera moves closer to doggie as if death cannot separate them now.This is soon followed by a touching moment when Wang and Doggie cries and hugs each other. It is not surprising that King of Masks finish with happy culmination in which Wang inherits BianLian to Doggie and they live happily after. Beyond the surface, King of Masks reveals twain the dullness and the goodness of human nature. Through the interaction betwee n characters, audience can truly appreciate Master Liangs saying the world is a cold place but we can bring rapture to it. Last but not least, the film praises the sentimental love between Wang and Doggie that touches the heart of every audience.