Hang Wu, Qiang Fu

Qiang Fu

March 31, 2026

Kant's Critique of Judgment, Gestalt Psychology Aesthetics, Semiotic aesthetics, Cross-cultural communication, Nezha 2.

This paper examines the global box office phenomenon of Nezha 2, exploring its deep-seated logic of cultural boundary-breaking and symbiosis through the lens of mutual aesthetic appreciation between China and the West. Through the modern adaptation of classical Chinese aesthetics' “vitality and spirit” and mythic narratives, combined with Kant's “Critique of Judgment” on sublime experiences, Gestalt psychology's empathy mechanisms, semiotic aesthetics' cross-cultural coding, and social aesthetics' collective identity construction, it reveals how the film achieves the fusion of “Eastern magic” and “global storytelling”. First, the film reconstructs mythic symbols through the Chinese painting theory of “capturing both form and spirit”, resonating with Kant's aesthetic paradigm of “purposeless purposiveness” to create a universal aesthetic experience transcending cultural divides. Second, through the narrative motif of “l am the master of my own fate!”, it intertwines the Daoist philosophy of “unity of heaven and humanity” with the Western existentialist spirit of resistance, sparking collective reflection on individual destiny. Third, on the symbolic aesthetic level, the fusion of traditional patterns with cyberpunk visuals anchors cultural identity while lowering cross-cultural acceptance barriers through “defamiliarization” strategies. Through audiovisual “synesthetic design” and “gestalt-driven” emotional resonance, the film enables viewers to achieve aesthetic fulfillment via sensory stimulation and psychological projection without requiring full textual comprehension. This phenomenon demonstrates the potential for dialogue between Eastern and Western aesthetics across the triad of “form-emotion-meaning”, offering a paradigmatic reference for cultural transmission in the era of globalization.

© 2026, the Authors. Published by ISCCAC

This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license