K POP DEMON HUNTERS VERSUS DISNEY: AN INTERCULTURAL OUTLOOK ON STORYTELLING AND INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCE

Abstract

The filmmaking industry is key to an audience’s perspective of different cultures. Depending on the writing and messaging of the film, the audience can misinterpret the dramatic licensing of the film to the culture and its people outside of the screen. This, unfortunately, can lead to distrust, misunderstanding, and even conflict between two cultures. This study aims to analyze two case studies in the medium of films, that being the 1992 Disney film Aladdin and the 2025 Sony film K Pop Demon Hunters. I chose these films specifically because they both hold similar themes, genre, and mediums that makes identifying with its culture easier. In each case study, I will examine the six cultural dimensions by social psychologist Geert Hofstede – that being Power Distance, Uncertainty Avoidance, Individualism-Collectivism, Masculinity - Femininity, Long - Short term Orientation, and Indulgence -Restraint. Analyzing each film’s character arcs, worldbuilding, dialogue, and themes, this paper will analyze which film portrays more accurately to realistic cultural values in their fictional storytelling. These findings suggest that mismatching different cultural values leads to a confusion and misunderstanding in the audience’s outlook on the real people and culture it attempts to represent.

Date of Award	2026
Original language	American English
Awarding Institution	HBKU College of Humanities and Social Science