Cultural Difference Analysis Through Two Video Productions Of Eastern And Western Fantasy Literature
Abstract: Among the many video productions, those edited from the great literary masterpieces are often enjoyed. Since computer technology has developed, video productions edited from fantasy literature have become a branch of the video industry. Audiences have chances to enjoy fine presentations combining famous actors and modern technology with complex plots of literary works. Examining eastern and western video productions of fantasy literature is a good way to analyze cultural differences of East and West. In this thesis, two famous works, Lord of the Rings and Journey to the West, are discussed and compared in order to research cultural differences from analyzing aspects like themes, motifs, background, world views and specific elements through presentations of eastern and western video productions.
Keywords: Lord of the Rings, Journey to the West, fantasy literature, quest, duality, immortality
Contents
Abstract 1
摘 要 1
Introduction 3
1.1 Video productions edited from literary masterpieces 3
1.2 Representative works of video productions of eastern and western fantasy literature 4
1.2.1 Overview of Lord of the Rings 4
1.2.2 Overview of Journey to the West 5
2 Difference analysis through purposes and presentations of the two video productions 6
2.1 Difference comparison of abstract themes and topics 6
2.1.1 Power 7
2.1.2 Heroic Quest 8
2.2 Differences comparison through conceptual presentation 13
2.2.1 Good and Evil 13
2.2.2 Mortality and Immortality 16
3 Cultural disparities analysis influencing the elements of the video productions 18
3.1 Dissimilar world view through weapons used in the two videos 19
3.1.1 Weapons assisting hero to fight in LOTR 19
3.1.2 Weapons work as trumps in JTTW 20
3.2 Different positions towards man 20
3.2.1 Egalitarianism in the Western world 20
3.2.2 Feudalism and hierarchical system in the Eastern world 21
3.3 Religious beliefs of author and presentation in video productions 21
3.3.1 Christian virtue influenced LOTR 21
3.3.2 Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism combined in JTTW 23
4 Conclusions 25
Notes 26
Work Cited 27
Acknowledgements 28
