Go west : Bruce lee representations in contemporary Hong Kong and China

Bruce Lee is the epitome of internationalization. In the seventies when his movies broke into the global cinema, a kung fu wave swept across countries, and overnight Bruce Lee became a household name. Leaving behind only four major works and an iconic status, Bruce Lee's sudden death left a vacuum for open interpretation, allowing the martial artist to be remolded according to ever-changing contemporary desires. Through an examination of texts, images and social interaction concerning the repackaging of Bruce Lee as a diplomatic ambassador, this study sheds light first on the general image that China and Hong Kong separately intend to convey to the outside world. In addition, the collective identities and social values imagined and maintained by the mainland Chinese and Hong Kong people are further exposed in the process of making their very own Bruce Lee.