AI Empowers Chinese Shaolin Kung Fu Movies: The Transformation Path from “Visual Spectacle” to “Cultural Creation

Abstract

Introduction:In the dual context of globalization and digitalization, Shaolin kung fu films are facing unprecedented opportunities for transformation and challenges. As one of the most culturally distinctive film genres representing China's excellent traditional culture, Shaolin kung fu films have embodied the essence of Eastern philosophy—the unity of Zen and martial arts—since the release of *Shaolin Temple* (1982). However, existing research has largely remained at the level of typological analysis or qualitative interpretation of cultural symbols, failing to adequately address the paradigm shift in film narrative in the digital age. With breakthrough developments in generative AI, computer vision, and other technologies, film studies urgently need to establish new theoretical frameworks to explain how technology is reshaping cultural expression. This study adopts an interdisciplinary perspective at the intersection of film semiotics and technology philosophy. As an important carrier of national culture, Chinese Shaolin kung fu films urgently need to break free from the traditional narrative constraints of “visual spectacles” and achieve a paradigm shift from technology-driven to culture-driven innovation.
Methods:1) Text and symbol mining: Conduct semantic network analysis on the scripts and dialogues of classic films such as Shaolin Temple;2) Multimodal collaborative analysis: Reconstruct narrative units using generative AI (such as the GPT-4 multimodal model);3) Cross-cultural comparative research: Interpret differences in symbolic meanings and propose AI adaptation and cultural generation strategies.
Results:1) The “Zen and martial arts unity” symbol exhibits centrality in the semantic network, with a significant association between slow motion and Zen-like imagery; 2) In multimodal analysis, the overlapping effects of action and soundtrack significantly enhance emotional resonance; 3) Semantic network analysis and symbolic metaphor interpretation of the film script, dialogue, and action design are conducted, with generative AI used to reconstruct narrative units.
Conclusions:1) The study validated the feasibility of quantitative analysis of cultural symbols and AI adaptation strategies; 2) A localized technology ecosystem was constructed to balance technology dominance and cultural authenticity; 3) In the future, further attention should be paid to balancing technological ethics and cultural sovereignty to ensure that AI truly serves the in-depth dissemination of cultural values.