Fists of Zen and A Touch of Fury: Identity Struggles in Hong Kong Martial Arts Cinema
Keywords:
Hong Kong cinema, martial arts, kung fu cinema, wuxia pian, film genresAbstract
Hong Kong’s martial arts cinema has developed historically along two subgenres: wuxia and kung fu films. Though similar subgenres with coincidental origins and dialectical evolutions, both show specific semantic and syntactic elements. In this sense, the present work suggests their characterization, revealing their tangible differences as well as their internal coherence. In order to do so, the text examines the etymology of the words usually identified with these subgenres. The aim is clarifying some terminological misunderstandings and exposing the singularities that these expressions allude to. Then, I refer to the cultural traditions to which each genre is linked, demonstrating that the differences between the two reproduce superior geohistorical divisions fundamental to Chinese culture. Finally, I compare some of the thematic, narrative and aesthetic features of each textual category considering their internal coherence as well as their particular link to the cultural traditions above discusse.
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