The Clashing Cultures of Avatar

Avatar is known as the most lucrative film world-wide. However, it is no surprise that many find its plot both controversial and repetitive. In this sci-fi, action film, we see the timeless conflict of clashing cultures and question the methods by which humans try to establish peace. In other words, the avatar itself.

A Quick Review of Events:

Avatar follows the journey of a disabled former marine named Jake Sully. He finds himself in the midst of a long lasting conflict between the profit-hungry humans and the nature-loving natives (known as the Na'vi). While working with scientists who are seeking a diplomatic solution between the two races, Sully develops a love for the Na'vi and all of Pandora. In the end, he must choose between obeying the commands of his own race or betraying them to become a part of the Na'vi tribe.

So What is It?

This film is applicable to many genres. IMDb categorizes it as action, adventure and fantasy. However, given the location and central conflict of the story, it best belongs in the sci-fi genre. Avatar takes place in a futuristic setting on the distant planet Pandora. In addition, human technology has grown to the extent that they have armored suits and avatar drivers.

At first glance, Avatar does not come off as a typical sci-fi due to all the nature settings (which is different from the usual mechanized, space settings). Even so, Pandora's flora and fauna are so otherworldly that we do not loose sight of that alien-like aesthetic.

Spectacle Galore

In fact, the entire world of Pandora is extremely captivating. If you ask anyone who has seen Avatar, many will claim that it is visually impressive. And it is. When we first arrive on Pandora, we are immersed in other planet that appears so realistic, we can almost touch it. 

Zoe Saldana as Neytiri before and after special effects.

Avatar was a huge leap in CGI technology. JJ Feinauer goes as far to include it in his list of the 20 most influential and innovative movies of Hollywood. Feinauer mentions that several other studios attempted to emulate this style of special effects shortly after Avatar was released in 2009. However, many of these studios failed and were left in the shadow of the incredibly created Pandora. 

Tale as Old as Time

Honestly, the stunning visuals is probably how James Cameron (the director) made so much money on an overused story. In it's most basic concept, Avatar is the story of a white man learning the ways of an unknown culture in an unknown land. He comes to terms with the terrible acts of his own race and ends up fighting against them with the help of his new native friends. This sounds a lot like Dances with Wolves mixed with Pocahontas.  

James Cameron's Real Sin

It's Always "Us" and "Them"

This issue with Cameron rehashing this over told story is the means by which he tells it. He exploits the old "us verses them" dynamic that can arise when two cultures clash. And when cultures clash, the result is usually a violent one. In nearly all cases, the "us" culture will attempt to mold the "other" culture in order to make them fit into the "us" standard of living. We see this in Avatar through Grace's attempt to educate the Na'vi children. And if the "other" cannot fit into the "us" mold, then the "other" must be eradicated. 

The air battle between the humans and the Na'vi.

The end result is always a mix of imperialism and orientalism. In Avatar, neither culture views the other as an equal until the final battle. Up til then, the Na'vi were looked down upon by the human military or viewed as a noble savage by the human scientists. Likewise, the Na'vi have just as much distaste for the humans. Neytiri outright scolds Jake when she first meets him, calling him "an ignorant child."

Too Far?

While the avatars used by the scientists are crucial to the plot of the movie (it's called Avatar after all), I find them controversial. CinemaSins, a YouTube channel dedicated to tearing movies apart, brought something to my attention. Amidst the crude commentary, they questioned if the use of the avatars would be the equivalent of missionaries using black face when addressing African tribes. 

The scientists probably used avatars more for convenience purposes, like being able to breathe easily. Although, I cannot help but feel the Na'vi were at least somewhat offended by the humans creating people that look like them. The scientists meant well by using the avatars to establish positive relations with the Na'vi. But at a time in the film, the Na'vi hated the use of the avatars and slandered the "sky people" for walking around in fake bodies.

A Final Thought

Whether James Cameron put much thought into the significance of the avatars is still up for debate. This might also just be people (like myself) looking too deeply into a film that was probably made for pure entertainment purposes. Avatar is exceptional for its use of technology, but remains a repetitive and somewhat racist tale nonetheless.