Ethnocentrism in Avatar

Our day to day lives can typically involve umpteen interactions with individuals from across the life span whose identity comprises multiple layers. Culture can often be a significant element of identity; thus practicing cultural safety, which can be viewed as an environment where individuals’ cultural identities, rights, and experiences are not challenged or denied, rather they are respected and understood (Williams, 1999), within interactions is essential. Cultural awareness, sensitivity, and competence are intertwined in cultural safety, and a principle step in developing and understanding these concepts is examining our own cultural identities and how they shape our worldviews and attitudes. In this paper, I will reflect on my own cultural

The reason for the oppression of both the Na’vi and the Native Americans is due to ignorance and dislike of anyone with dissimilar beliefs; as is any oppression or persecution or war in the history of mankind, but I digress. The Na’vi are a truly peaceful and civilized culture. They get along very well with everyone, and they all seem happy and content with their standing in life. The Na’vi strongly believe in the spiritual world and everything about it. They have the aforementioned God figure, but to the Americans and any foreigners who don’t share these beliefs, this seems appalling and ridiculous. This is just like the Native Americans and their very differing spiritual religious beliefs. The Europeans saw the Native American ritual and traditions and immediately labeled them as uncivilized savages and a heathen people, all based on an ignorance for other cultures and beliefs. So one could only imagine the amount of vitriol and hate aimed at a ten foot tall, blue humanoid society with a strange language, that rides on bird like creatures and connects themselves with nature. The Americans see this and immediately envision a population that can easily be dominated and moved for their own selfish gain. They have no respect for this culture and everything that it brings to the table. As we see in the film, once some of the avatars, such as Jake Sully, find their way into Na’vi society they begin to acquire a deep appreciation and respect for the people of Pandora.

It goes without saying that The Hero's Journey is an intriguing path for a story to follow. The Hero's Journey is a narrative pattern created by Joseph Campbell. James Cameron’s Avatar is a story about Jake Sully. Jake's brother was killed and because the two share the same DNA, Jake must take his place as an Avatar. Throughout this movie, friendships are formed, enemies are made and many lives are lost. In this essay, the path of The Hero's Journey will be looked at. Specifically, the Ordinary World, Meeting the Mentor, Tests, Allies and Enemies and the Ordeal. Avatar perfectly captures The Hero's Journey throughout the movie. From the Ordinary World to the Returning with the

In the year 2009, James Cameron wrote and directed one of the most remarkable films I have ever seen ‘Avatar’. This science-fiction saga has a story line that is engaging and captivating for its audience. Avatar took place on a moon called Pandora. Humans discovered very valuable natural resources on Pandora and did whatever it took to obtain what they needed from Pandora. The people of Pandora are Na’vi’s, a 10 foot tall, blue-skinned humanoid alien group that lived in the rainforest or Pandora. The Humans found a way to interact with the Na’vi’s by artificial yet organic avatars that were controlled with a human mind and conscience. Jake Sully, a paraplegic marine who was given the task to manipulate the Na’vi’s into leaving their home. Sully entered

The movie Avatar is about how the human race invades a planet called Pandora to mine a certain kind of resource and fights with the Na’vi, the race of creatures that live on Pandora. The main character Jake Sulley decides to take his brothers

Avatar uses a variety of film genres and styles. One of the styles is the Cowboys versus Indians theme. It is clear that Avatar is a product of post-colonialism: it shows the Na'vi as the relatively harmless yet environmentally respectful and spiritually in tuned indigenous population, while the humans are a corporate military whose only goal is mine the resources of Pandora. The film presents an anti-military narrative. The soldiers are portrayed as cruel, violent, and brainless brutes, with only mercenary intentions. They are the stereotype of the ultimate warrior. They perpetuate the “might is right” myth. All of them are males, except for a female helicopter pilot, who ultimately defects to the

The 2009 film Avatar directed by James Cameron is a stunning visual masterpiece that required state of the art animation technology. Avatar was officially budgeted at $237 million and became the highest grossing film of all time bringing in more than two billion at the box office. The film used a new form of stereoscopic filmmaking that was touted as a breakthrough in cinematic technology. Avatar was nominated for nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, and won three, for Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography and Best Visual Effects. Avatar can be analyzed from various new historicist perspectives and effectively makes provocative statements about social issues such as race relations, imperialism, environmentalism, and the tactics of the military industrial complex.

PBS has made Dr. Diamond’s book into a 3-part television series. The first film, “Out of Eden” explores

It is common to view natives as primitive or inferior majority of the time; however, it is not always safe to conclude that they are easily intimidated. For example, the films Avatar and Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi showed species who were not technologically advanced; they can seem primitive or inferior. However, due to the use of resources by the Na’vi, the unification of the Ewoks, and the view of natives by William J. Astore, the view of these native species as primitive are falsely assumed.

The United States of America was founded on July 4, 1776. Seeking a life free of the British Government, a host of immigrants founded a new nation. Because the United States was created by the migration of people from various parts of the world, it is sometimes described as a “melting pot.” Along with their personal possessions, these immigrants brought their respective cultures and traditions as they meshed together into a new society. Despite being categorized together as citizens of the same country, the independent traditions and lifestyles of humankind have created challenges throughout history. It is important for Americans to share a sense of pride, patriotism and loyalty. Equally important, however, is the need for respect regarding differences and individualism. Ethnocentrism is a barrier between understanding culture and diversity.

1. Avatars are creatures grown from human DNA mixed with the DNA of the natives from the Pandora planet. 2. Humans are colonizing Pandora because of the mineral Unobtanium. It pays 20 million a kilo.

This was no fight for racial supremacy - though some of that was going on, or political power. This was a belligerent fight for conceivably the oldest and most common reason why wars are fought, “You have something I want and I'm going to take it from you.” I place great credence and certainty that corporate greed was the most pertinent message sent out by the director primarily because the film’s entire plot and climax was centered around the topic of procuring unobtanium for the money. Not only that but moreover because of corporate greed is what fundamentally drove the two races to war. Albeit the humans could have taken a non-invasive approach the colonel in the movie seemed to pay no attention whatsoever to the lives he would harm since he considered the human race to be far more higher ranked than the Na’Vi population. The colonel was so blinded by corporate greed he was willing to go to the lengths of causing such havoc and devastation that the Na’Vi in the movie had their health and lives at risk. Substantially ravaging/devastating their lives by corporations such as the Resources Development Administration invading

To explore on Pandora, whose atmosphere is very poisonous to people, scientists invented Avatars, who look like the Na’vi and are operated by genetically matched humans. By lying in the machine box, people can operate avatars as if they were living outside like other Na’vi. Jake Sully, a paraplegic veteran, is chosen as part of Avatar program to replace his deceased identical twin brother who worked for the program. Colonel Quaritch promises Jake that he helps them to collect information about the Na’vi and a giant tree called Hometree, the company will

The humans look at themselves as being superior to the Na’vi in all ways. And when the humans who understand the Na’vi’s faith try to dissuade the other humans from destroying the Na’vi’s home, the CEO of the attacking company retorts, “What the hell have you people been smoking out there? They’re just goddamn trees!” (Cameron). After this exchange the militant humans attack and completely obliterate the Na’vi’s home tree. The humans do not believe in the Eywa and the balance she protects; therefore, they believe the Na’vi are just primitive natives who don't have a right to anything. In an article by professor Eric Brahm on the website Beyond Intractability, he states, “...group identities are even more for lay shaped in relation to the other group, thereby reinforcing the message of extremists that one’s religion is that end by another faith that is diametrically opposed” (Brahm). Meaning that the humans feel threatened. Their “religion” is their ambition to make money, which requires that they upend Na’vi sacred lands, so obviously the Na’vi are opposed to this idea. This conflict of interests creates an us and them attitude, in other words, you are either with us or against us. This does eventually escalate into full scale war. Before the final battle between the humans and the Na’vi, Jake Sully, a human whose has become part of the Na'vi, prays to Eywa for help. Later during the battle, when it seems as though all hope for the Na’vi cause is lost, all of the animals in the jungle start to fight the humans as well, effectively turning the tide and winning the battle. Neytiri then exclaims, “Eywa has heard you… Eywa has heard you!” (Cameron). Without religion in this instance, the outcome would have been drastically different. For one thing, it starts the conflict. The unwavering Na’vi refuse to give up their faith, while the humans see this

In James Cameron’s film, Avatar, the plot begins by introducing the protagonist Jake Sully. Jake, a paraplegic marine, is sought out to join the Avatar Program, a scientific journey through space to discover an unknown world and its people. Because its atmosphere is poisonous to humans, the scientists who are a part of the project have created genetically engineered human-Na’vi bodies, called Avatars, that they use to explore the planet of Pandora. Jake Sully and his team end up overstepping the bounds and using the information gained from the Na’vi against them in an attempt to destroy their home and take the precious materials that lay beneath the surface (IMDB). Avatar by James Cameron symbolizes European’s exploitation of Native American lands by portraying the aggressive exploration of a new world. Cameron emphasizes the symbolism by comparing the new planet of Pandora to the new world of North America and by depicting a native culture extremely similar to Native American Indians. He even goes as far as creating a modern-day Pocahontas inspired plot to further suggest a connection to European’s conquest.