We've seen it before on the big screen. Many times in fact. White settlers invade a new territory, determined to take out any noble savage who stands in the way.
An hour in, however, the Caucasian protagonist has a change of heart after living among the people and learning to respect their ways.
Cue 'Avatar.'
When marine Jake Sully is sent on a mission to infiltrate the Na'vi, a tribe of 10-feet-tall blue-skinned individuals who live on top of the precious ore the humans desire, he begins to identify with the indigenous people and is reluctant to obey government orders that will surely result in their demise.
Moviegoers don't have look back too far to realize the story is simply a rehash of the past. 'Pocahontas,' 'The Last Samurai,' 'Dances With Wolves' and countless others films explore similar white-man-saves-the-natives story lines.
Most of the news surrounding the movie has been in praise of its special effects and the box-office records it continues to smash a month after being released. But should we be talking about the movie's racial insensitivity? It is interesting that director James Cameron chose to cast Latinos, African Americans and Native Americans to voice the Na'Vi. There's not one white voice among them.
And the color coding of the nature-respecting natives and the technologically advanced whites does the opposite of what Cameron intended. By the end of the movie, it seems as if he's managed to devote hours reinforcing long-held stereotypes about "natural" people of color unencumbered by the trappings of the civilized world, which is, of course, represented by whites.
Apparently, Cameron sees things differently. In an e-mail to the Associated Press, he stated that his film "asks us to open our eyes and truly see others, respecting them even though they are different, in the hope that we may find a way to prevent conflict and live more harmoniously on this world. I hardly think that is a racist message."
Comments: (43)
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By: Brown Sugah Baby on 1/12/2010 4:22PM
Absolutely not. In fact, this is one of the most fantastic films I've ever seen to date.
Inspite of the fact that Mr. Cameron is white himself, he knew as well as anyone, that history has shown us the superior attitude that his race has had for centuries. The fact that the Na'vi people seemed anything but caucasian made mad sense to me.
The story does not glorify racism but instead exposes its ignorance. To suggest that its somehow a 'racist' film is just plain stupid.
I was overwhelmed more than a few times and found it difficult to maintain my composure. It stirred a number of emotions and coupled with the visual feast provided by the special effects, I found myself looking forward to going to the theater to see it again, even before I could finish reading the credits.
I understand that controversy is interesting and tends to encourage conversation. Just keep it true and don't conjure up negatives just for the sake of being negative.
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By: Greg R on 1/12/2010 8:11PM
I agree with most comments I seen on this. The question of the film being racist never entered my mind. And lots of arguments can be made to support the fact it isn't, I'm sure.
But I think we are all being played for fools to engage in the debate. I mean, I get real paranoid when this sort of thing makes the front page of newspapers in my grocery store. Don't you ?? Is Avatar racist ?? I mean, FRONT PAGE in the mass media and elsewhere ?? Sounds to me like the powerful elites or their minions that run our weak democracies have their noses bent out of shape big time. Usually they just quietly ignore challenges to the(ir) established order. But maybe this time the splash was just too big for them to quietly ignore, and they felt compelled to take a swipe at it (weaken the message in weak minds). (Ya, I know. I'm clearly delusional.)
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By: Henery H on 1/13/2010 11:47AM
I respect your opinion but I think people need to look at this picture in the larger context. As the author stated this is the continuation of the same old story of the White man coming to save the natives because they did not have intelligence or cunning to do it themselves. Films influences opinions and beliefs, this film is no different.
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By: paulette grayson on 1/13/2010 6:41PM
I agree-this was a great movie.
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By: km on 1/13/2010 3:04AM
what I got from the film was this was a portrayal of the United States of Amerikka, going to another country, getting all the things of value at any cost. Bombing, looting, pillaging etc. Did they ever find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq? They didnt have to look far to get the OIL....
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By: dreeves318 on 1/21/2010 4:18PM
I couldn't care less about the story to be fair. That part of it had me falling asleep. I went (and took my kids, neice, and nephew) to see the movie solely for the special effects, which were visually stunning. It was like an animated film to me: the message is fluff, but I go to see the movie for the art of it.
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By: patti777 on 1/13/2010 12:20PM
Not only is Avatar not racist, it goes to great lengths to show that the Navi culture, though seemingly less advanced than the invaders', is in fact spiritually leaps and bounds ahead of the greedy, would-be conquerers. They value each other, and other living things. They are spiritual and recognize a power higher than their own, which they submit themselves to in prayer. They don't kill for sport, but for food, and they respect the life given for their nutrition. I believe those calling it racist are truly missing the point.
I respect Cameron for providing jobs to actors of all colors. We need to stop looking under rocks for racism and face it where it is in our faces. Our education, health care, and our welfare systems are racist, many of our workplaces are racist, police profiling in our inner cities is often racist, most gangs are racist. Television shows like Meet the Browns are racist (I hate the way we are portrayed in that show as stereotypical English slaughtering, overeating, loud dressing, simple minded buffoons.)
Avatar is not a racist film!
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By: rob on 1/14/2010 8:18AM
I'm glad you said that. I wonder how all that rubs tyler perry. I'm still on the fence about the cleveland show.
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By: drweaks1 on 1/13/2010 12:38PM
ITS JUST A MOVIE!!!WHY SHOULD WE TAKE ANYTHING TO HEART THAT HOLLWOOD PUTS OUT UNLESS ITS DONE BY US???WE AS PEOPLE SHOULD PAY LITTLE ATTENTION TO HOLLWOOD AND STAY OUT OF THE BOX OFFICE AND BUY THOSE BOOTLEGS,,,SEE HOW THEY LIKE THAT!!!
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By: paulette grayson on 1/13/2010 6:26PM
WHAT?? Don't we steal enough!!! You reap what you sowe-don't believe this-keep living.
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