In the essay, “A Comparative Study on Heroism in Shooter and Water Margin,” by Xiahong Wei and Jian Xu, published by Theory and Practice in Language Studies, Wei and Xu compare how cultural background can affect the two types of heroism shown in the films Shooter and Water Margin. Wei introduces the paper by explaining how movies are so strongly rooted to each respectful culture and that they are more of a representation of a culture instead of a mode of entertainment. Wei and Xu address viewing films that reflect one’s country can help people comprehend contrasting cultures and advance intercultural communication.
Wei compares the two cultures by first describing the American film Shooter. It is about a man that is an expert sniper and protects the president of the United States but is hunted down after being framed of killing the Ethiopian archbishop. Bob Lee then then is hunted down by the FBI and tries to find the truth of what really happened. Wei and Xu addresses that Shooter is a typical American hero movie because it contains a soldier who is strong and does not associate himself with any groups; which is common in individual heroism.
Wei indicates that individual heroism shown in American films is not only there for entertainment but also a representation of American culture. Heroes such as in Shooter are strong, brave, courageous, and wise. Through these characteristics is Bob successful in achieving the impossible. Wei analyzes the individual heroism by explaining that it has a big effect on how Americans dress, educate, and behave on an everyday basis. He indicates that American people believe to be a special group of people blessed by God and that they have the right to do anything they want to do because human rights and freedom are crucial.
The people of America are all based on a individualistic mindset and even in their jobs they try to increase their network for selfish individual purposes. They display a life of independence in daily life that they don’t think about other (Wei and Xu 2). In the Chinese film, Water Margin, Wei explains that the famous film contained one hundred and eight people all with distinct cultures and classes. Though the people living along the water margin had different personalities, they were all living as one society under a cruel leadership.
Even though they were all from different level of social class, they came together as one and rebelled against the cruel authority. Wei asserts that this movement by the people in the water margin is collective heroism. Unlike American heroes who have supernatural powers and fight the bad by themselves, Chinese heroes are ordinary people and come together as a group to fight the unjust. Wei describes that the definition of a true hero used to be a man who sacrifices himself for the people, but after the film Water Margin, heroes can be a collective group of people that don’t fight alone.
Wei points out that collective heroism is present in Chinese culture and the society is ruled by it. The loyalty shown in Water Margin is also ever present in the Chinese society (Wei and Xu 5) Wei and Xu conclude by mentioning that in America, the movies such as shooter provides encouragement for personal improvement and individualism. While in China, collectivism still thrives in society. These kinds of movies allow people from different culture to portray an image of themselves and it allows countries to share their culture thus improving international communication.
