Sunzi's War Rhetoric Meets Hollywood: Educating Teenagers about Bullying through Movies

Background: Teenagers experience wars not only in the actual war zones but also in the home, school, and street fronts. Sometimes they are the innocent victims of bullying. Often confused, they do not know how to survive in bullying situations. Adults such as movie makers and educators have taken on the responsibility of helping teenagers. The 2008 Hollywood movie "The Forbidden Kingdom," presents a modern war between an American teenage boy and street bullies. With the help of Chinese Kungfu (martial arts) masters, the boy overcomes his fear and becomes a powerful protector in real life. Study: This article examines three aspects of Sunzi's rhetorical war strategies that are prominent in the movie: becoming a benevolent leader, cultivating crafty wisdom, and mastering Kungfu. Furthermore, I critique Chinese cultural authenticity in this movie. Through exploring Sunzi's rhetoric and Chinese cultural representation, educators can take the opportunity to discuss survival strategies in a bullying situation with teens and help them deal with their daily struggles. In addition, educators can help cultivate youngsters' critical views towards cultural authenticity while watching this cross-cultural movie.