38th Annual Student Research Conference
From Tribute to Subversion: A Comparative Study of Musical Symbolism in Giacomo Puccini’s opera Madame Butterfly and David Cronenberg’s film M. Butterfly
Yiwen Tan
Dr. Peng Liu, Faculty Mentor
While existing research on David Cronenberg’s 1993 film M. Butterfly, based on David Henry Hwang’s 1988 play of the same title, has primarily addressed its subversive narrative compared to Puccini’s opera Madame Butterfly (1904), little attention has been given to the musical relationship between these two works. This paper compares the distinct use of musical symbolism in both works through the lenses of Orientalism, gender, and cultural appropriation. I argue that, on the one hand, M. Butterfly pays tribute to Madame Butterfly by incorporating stylized Japanese melodies and references to the iconic aria “Un bel dì.” On the other hand, the film, set in modern China, subverts the opera’s exoticized portrayals of Japanese culture and women by employing authentic Chinese musical traditions (e.g., Peking opera and songs from the Cultural Revolution). This study highlights how the film’s intentional critique dismantles operatic stereotypes and fosters nuanced cross-cultural representation.
Keywords: M. Butterfly, Madame Butterfly, Musical Symbolism, Orientalism, Gender, Cultural Appropriation
Topic(s):Music
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Session: 203-3
Location: SUB Alumni
Time: 10:45