Aims: This research investigates Hollywood’s representation of Chinese cultural symbols and its implications for China’s soft power, with reference to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that advocate for reducing inequalities and fostering cultural diversity. It aims to identify dominant representational patterns in these portrayals and assess their influence on cultural perception and soft power dynamics. Method: Guided by Nye’s soft power theory and Barthes’ semiotics, the analysis integrates concepts of cultural representation and global media power to examine how transnational cinema can both perpetuate and challenge cultural inequalities. A qualitative approach combines semiotic analysis of two representative Hollywood films—Mulan (2020) and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008)—with thematic analysis of interviews with five experienced Chinese filmmakers. Findings: The findings reveal four dominant representational patterns: symbolic hybridity, cultural misinterpretation, ideological dilution, and aesthetic formalization. While these patterns enhance the global visibility of Chinese symbols, they also risk reframing them through Western-centric market and ideological lenses, thereby reproducing cultural inequalities. Incorporating industry perspectives further highlights the tension between authenticity and commercial imperatives in cross-border film production. Conclusion: Overall, the research underscores the need for greater narrative sovereignty and culturally balanced partnerships in global cinema to advance the goals of equitable representation in line with the SDGs. By bridging textual analysis and practitioner insights, it offers a holistic framework for understanding the interplay between soft power competition and cultural inequalities, contributing practical strategies for fostering cultural authenticity while leveraging global media platforms to enhance national image.
Liu et al. (Tue,) studied this question.