Opinion

Self-Mastery…with a Panda

Something unique about the Kung Fu Panda series of movies sets it apart from other animated films in recent years.

I won’t deny that it’s rather refreshing to see a Hollywood series of movies that uses elements of Chinese culture as significant plot elements. In the most recent installment of the existing trilogy, Po undergoes the quest of mastering chi (in simplest terms, “the energy found within all living beings”) while seeking a greater understanding of himself.

Perhaps that is what has captivated the trilogy’s followers: People like you and me who see remnants of themselves in the fictional, black-and-white delightful character of Po.

In the first movie, Po started off as the son of a restauranteur and, through thick and thin, ended up becoming the Dragon Warrior to defend the Valley of Peace. In his quest of earning this title, he endured physical and psychological duress. Most of us can agree that we come from humble beginnings but are on a journey to achieve a greater version of ourselves. It isn’t necessarily so much that we are dissatisfied with what we currently have that compels us to achieve personal greatness; it’s the uncertainty of whether or not we have more potential than we think we have that propels us to be better than we were yesterday.

A similar theme reoccurs throughout the sequel: Po can only master a certain element of kung fu if he further masters himself. In the second installment of the franchise, he must come to terms with his past. Despite the early tragedy that he experienced as an infant, Po remembers that he has otherwise lived a happy and fulfilling life and is thus able to attain inner peace—the key to mastering another handy skill in kung fu.

It’s safe to say that we all have memories that we would rather forget than remember. However, the misfortunes of our past can no longer hurt us—unless we focus on all their negative effects rather than treating them as lessons to use towards dealing with our future. It goes without saying that none of us enjoy suffering, but sometimes, it is only through suffering that we can achieve a greater version of ourselves. For those of you that are not as familiar with Chinese culture, that is symbolized through yin and yang (re: the supposed symbol for the Engineering Class of 2020’s aerial photo). It is only by the coexistence of opposites that nature achieves balance—whether it’s light and dark, good and evil, man and woman, stress and relaxation.  The struggle to find and maintain this balance is an everlasting struggle for all of us.

Finally, in the latest installment, Po’s quest to master chi opens his eyes to the various roles that he plays in life—a son, a friend, a student, a teacher, the Dragon Warrior. It’s another aspect of life that we can all identify with because we’re all sons or daughters, brothers or sisters, friends, peers, students, employees…I’m positive you see the picture.

That’s why the Kung Fu Panda movies are a success: They drive home a couple of recurring themes that everyone experiences at various stages of life as an essential part of growing up. The final nail in the coffin is that they incorporate bits and pieces of Chinese culture, which can clash with North American values at times. Yet, both people in the East and West face similar—if not identical—opportunities for growth and for learning. Different though everyone may be, in a sense, we’re also almost nearly identical.

To me, that’s the beauty of a great movie—great art in general. Great art is unbounded by social constraints, such as ethnicity, race, gender, and spiritual beliefs. Rather, it is meant to bridge the gaps between those of us that are supposedly “different”—as classified by society—and allow us come to a mutual understanding of one another.

I’m not saying that movies and other forms of art will solve worldly conflicts. However, at the very least, ordinary people like us would be more open-minded and accepting of other “different” ordinary people.

In the meantime, however, I will be looking forward to discovering which aspect of self-actualization Po must conquer next!

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