3 ms·

> “There are Western fantasies about every martial art,” explains Sánchez-García. “Karate is laden with mysticism and stories about secret cults, which are part

by roca 5y ago

> “There are Western fantasies about every martial art,” explains Sánchez-García. “Karate is laden with mysticism and stories about secret cults, which are part of the stereotypical vision of ‘the Oriental.’ Films, in particular, spin fantasies of superhuman heroes, an 80-year-old man who can defeat ten assailants with his bare hands.” This "expert" seems to think that Westerners invented wuxia.

99_00 5y ago
How so? "There are Western fantasies about every martial art" doesn't mean "There are only Western fantasies about every martial art".
- roca 5y ago
  Is it a "Western stereotype of the Oriental" if it's also been part of Chinese culture since time immemorial?
  - 99_00 5y ago
    It's a Western stereotype of the Orient if one aspect of Chinese culture is exaggerated and blown out of proportion to the point of caricature.
    - roca 5y ago
      "exaggerated to the point of caricature" is de rigeur for wuxia.
      - 99_00 5y ago
        "exaggerated to the point of caricature" maybe the de rigeur for wuxia, but it is still just "one aspect of Chinese culture" and just one aspect of Chinese martial arts culture.