Representation of Moral and Cultural Values in the Film Elemental (2023)

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the representation of moral and cultural values in the film Elemental (2023), which depicts the relationships between natural elements as a metaphor for life in a multicultural society. It examines the interplay between moral and cultural values an aspect not previously addressed in conjunction within studies of animated films. Employing a qualitative descriptive method, the study utilizes Stuart Hall’s (1997) theory of representation as its analytical framework. Data were gathered from scenes, dialogue, and visual symbols representing the film's moral and cultural values. The results indicate that moral values are represented through responsibility, courage, and honesty, while cultural values are conveyed through family traditions, cultural identity in immigrant. These findings demonstrate that moral and cultural values are interconnected in shaping how the characters perceive themselves, their families, and their social environments. Thus, Elemental does not merely represent moral and cultural values in isolation but illustrates their interrelationship within the social life portrayed through the element characters.