I love Kung Fu, Kung Fu movies, and communism. So how come these things aren't generally combined? I feel like the themes of Kung Fu movies are ripe for communist adaptation.

There are lots of common tropes and archetypes in these movies that often overlap. I'll list some here and then explain how each of them easily relate to communism.

  1. Stories of national identity. In these stories, China asserts its national character and strength to repel a foreign threat.
  2. Stories of the common people. Stories where poor communities come under threat by an oppressive force and fight as underdogs for their liberation.
  3. Stories of discipline. The hero heals a spiritual wound through personal discipline and often a devotion to selflessness.
  4. Wuxia. Stories of mythical figures and folk heroes.

So how could these be used to tell communist stories?

  1. Well, the CPC liberated the country from the hands of imperialists, so it seems obvious that this kind of story could be told. It's interesting to me that the most obvious national propaganda are the Ip Man films which aren't really political at all.
  2. This should really be obvious.
  3. One of the tenets of being part of an organization is discipline. It's a no brained that a movie could cover the themes of selflessness and healing the self through discipline and public service.
  4. Stories like this were actually popular from the fifties to the seventies. Small comic books were circulated widely that features socialist supermen traveling the countryside and fighting against injustice.

So where are they? Kung Fu seems like THE perfect genre to express communist ideas in a fun and accessible way.

If I missed any, please let me know!

  • Eldungeon [none/use name]
    ·
    edit-2
    2 years ago

    The PLA's and Mao's revolution kinda synthesized both the radical lagacy of the Tiapang Rebellion, landless Hakka people who sought a Christian communal heavenly kingdom and the anti imperial anti Christian (somewhat reactionary) proto nationalism of the Boxer rebellion (Boxers actually did kung fu) this was 1850 to 1900 roughly. 30 years later the Mukden incident would trigger Japan to invade Manchuria and create the rump state Manchukuo which really started the Japanese occupation going through WW2 and the Chinese Civil War and revolution. Through all of this are deep viens of tearing down entrenched corrupt empire, radical emancipatory horizons, anti imperialism, political violence and repression, civil war, AND KUNG FU! Penty of sources for good kung-fu movies.