Martial Arts Ecology: Aesthetics, Philosophy and Cinematic Mediation

(Hardback)

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What is martial arts cinema While known for its dazzling action and emotional intensity, this book argues that martial arts cinema aspires to a deeper goal: cultivating tranquility amid conflict-a concept termed "martial ideation." Moving beyond traditional analyses that emphasize authenticity or expressivity, the book reveals how martial arts movements embody profound intellectual meaning. By treating kung fu practices as embodied knowledge, it uncovers their tranquil philosophical essence-rooted in Confucian stability, Daoist fluidity and Buddhist sensitivity-and examines how these principles transcend physical combat to shape narratives, characters and visual storytelling.

From Bruce Lee's iconic fight scenes to modern interpretations such as The Grandmaster, Kung Fu Panda and Everything Everywhere All at Once, the book bridges philosophy and aesthetics across cinema, animation and gaming. Accessible to scholars and fans alike, this groundbreaking study positions martial arts cinema as a global, multi-media phenomenon that transcends traditional genre and cultural boundaries.

Author Bio

Wayne Wong is lecturer in East Asian Studies at the University of Sheffield. His research focuses on the politics, aesthetics, and philosophy of global martial arts and action cinema. He has published in peer-reviewed journals, such as Asian Cinema, Global Media and China, Journal of Contemporary Chinese Art, Archiv Orientalni, and Martial Arts Studies. He has also contributed chapters in edited volumes such as Fighting Stars: Stardom and Reception in Hong Kong Martial Arts Cinema, The Cinema of Stephen Chow, Afro-Futurism in Black Panther, and The Worlds of John Wick. He is an editor of the Martial Arts Studies journal.