Abstract：This thesis takes Yip Man and The Dark Knight for example, and makes a comparative analysis of heroism. Chinese heroism is collective. Chinese heroes are usually dedicated national heroes. On the contrary, American heroism is individualistic. American heroes are usually ambitious. There’re similarities and differences in heroism between China and America. The similarities are: all heroes have superior physical strength, wisdom and firm belief, and they punish the evils and pursue justice. This is mainly because heroism as a positive part of culture inspires people to contribute to the country and the people. The differences are: Chinese heroism is often associated with age, race, nation and war, and it emphasizes collective interests. Chinese heroes have to compromise and accommodate to the fate, and sometimes even have a tragic end with self-sacrifice. In contrast, American heroism highlights the human nature. American heroes always challenge the fate and remain unyielding, and they think it’s their duty to change, create and save the world, and lead the justice over evil, thus to go beyond themselves and complete the great cause. This mainly results from the different history, geography and cultural background reflected on the value system of the two nations. Traditional Chinese culture has the concept “cultivate themselves, put family in order, administer a country and make the world peace”, and it requires people to take the overall situation into account, while the America culture advocates freedom, equality and personality. This study not only helps us get a deeper understanding of culture and social life of the two countries, but also makes a profound influence on the intercultural communication.
Key words: heroism Yip Man The Dark Knight comparison
摘要：本文以电影《叶问》和《蝙蝠侠》为例，对比分析了中美两国的英雄主义文化。总体来讲，中国的英雄主义是集体英雄主义，英雄通常都是奉献式的民族英雄；美国的英雄主义是个人英雄主义，英雄通常都是雄心式的人类英雄。两国英雄主义既有相似也有不同，其相似之处在于：英雄都有着超强的体能、过人的智慧和坚定的信念，他们惩恶扬善，追求正义。这主要是因为英雄主义展示了文化积极的部分，它鼓舞着人们为国家和人民作出贡献；其不同之处在于：中式英雄主义往往与时代、民族、国家和战争等因素联系起来，具有“超我”的大义，英雄常常赋予命运一种妥协和变通，最后有着强烈牺牲精神和悲剧色彩；而美式个人英雄主义着重强调“人”中与生俱来的本性，英雄的宿命包含着对命运的挑战和不屈，他们把改变、创造和拯救世界为己任，最终能带领正义一方战胜邪恶，从而超越自我得到升华。这主要是由于历史、地域、文化背景的不同对两国的价值体系的影响导致的，中国传统文化的理念是修身、齐家、治国、平天下，要求舍小我顾大局，而美国的文化追崇自由和平等，讲求弘扬个性。本文的研究有助于深入了解两国的文化和社会生活，从而促进两国跨文化交流。
关键词: 英雄主义；《叶问》；《蝙蝠侠》；对比
