Did You Like Avatar? Did You Think it Was Racist?

Marisa Demarco [ Thu Jan 21 2010 1:10 PM ]

I went mostly because my mom's never seen a 3D movie. (That blew my mind, but it's probably not so uncommon.)

I didn't even know the aliens were going to be blue. I’m not sure how I managed to avoid the hype. I do not yet live in an earthship powered by homemade windmills.

The writing was decent—for Hollywood, anyway. (There’s one terrible line that goes “Sometimes your whole life boils down to one crazy move” said with that raspy, intense, man inflection everyone uses.) I liked the sound of the lead female character's voice. It's always good to see Sigourney Weaver on a spaceship.

We left the theater thinking it was pretty good. Moms was way into it. I'm always pleasantly surprised when a major blockbuster carries a message I can get behind. In this case, it's pro-environment and anti-colonialism—I thought. Plus, the movie makes the pope angry with its brand of "God is in everything" religiosity.

Then I find this blog that suggests Avatar is simply liberal guilt made flesh.

Avatar is a fantasy in which the history of colonization is rewritten, but it a fantasy specifically for white people living with a heavy dose of liberal guilt. And it is one that, ultimately, marginalizes indigenous peoples and affirms white supremacy.
If it were a fantasy for, say, the American Indian population in the U.S., the story might go a little differently. In that fantasy there would be no Sully character. It’s that simple.

Sully, in the movie, is a disabled marine who saves the indigenous population of an alien planet humans are mining for "unobtainium."

I’m going to speculate that, if this were a fantasy written for a colonized population, the hero would come from their own ranks and, at the end of the movie, they would continue life on their land, with their culture intact, under Na’vi leadership, without a human in sight.
But that would be a movie that alienated the colonizer. And since history is written, and rewritten, by the victor, Avatar is what we get.

Other's have called it flat-out racist. Now that you mention it, the indigenous population is childish and bestial, and the outfits are generically "tribal."

And some have objected to the portrayal of disability:

So, Jake has to save the world and in order to do it he simply cannot be disabled.

I’m there. I see you, social criticism. In recalling the movie, I know what the the above writers are talking about.

But at the same time, what's the alternative? More movies about cars and tits? How about talking Mexican Chihuahuas?

Perhaps I’m just settling. Hollywood trades in clichés and stereotypes, misogyny and racism. “Hey, at least it’s not as overt as usual” is not the strongest argument. But maybe Avatar says something to average Americans, present day’s ultimate, unknowing colonists. Maybe?

Did you see it? Did you like it?

Public Comments (11)

- FoxMcCloud
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You've got to be kidding me [ Thu Jan 21 2010 1:38 PM ]

what an absolute reach. Jesus Christ.
You could ultimately bend any Hollywood release and dissect it under a fucking microscope to find out what "it's really trying to say."
The only argument I hear about this movie is that it carries a very heavy pro-environment message. Which is most likely further strengthened by the fact the alien race is BLUE, i.e. they intentionally tried to steer away from the race issue so as to not alert the P.C. police like the yahoos above, so they made a race that does not exist (see: science-fiction)
I saw it as nothing more than a sci-fi movie with a worldy message. That's it. Would you like to dissect the entire Star Wars trilogy next? You could technically substitute the blue aliens of Pandora for the Ewoks. A tribal race whose planet is colonized by the Imperials (Humans), who are thereby saved not by their own efforts but by the Rebels (Sully).
This seems to be a bit too much, I mean, wow. I read a similar criticism for The Blind Side and I just don't buy it, personally.
Last edited [1/21/10 1:40 PM]
- marisa
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You and my mom [ Thu Jan 21 2010 2:03 PM ]

should go bowling.
- ray51212
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Sci-fi Movie [ Thu Jan 21 2010 2:48 PM ]

What has happened to going to a movIe to watch a MOVIE for the sake of it being a MOVIE?!! Why does it always have to be about racism, politicl crap, religion, history, etc. OMG people why can't you go see Avitar just to get away from our crazy world for a few hours?!! I really enjoyed the movie! Took me through all kinds of emotions, I love movies that can do that!
- Nick Brown
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my observations about Avatar [ Thu Jan 21 2010 3:19 PM ]

Everyone talked like Miss Cleo.
The music sounded like Enya with the Peruvian band from the state fair. I agree it's silly that it had to be the white guy leading them to victory. It was ok, but the best thing about it is you can see how it will be possible now for a good movie to be made like that.
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- jdogg
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nice assessment [ Thu Jan 21 2010 3:38 PM ]

I agree with you and I liked the movie for what it is. Also, the movie was written and directed by a white guy, who else was going to be the protagonist? It is a blockbuster too with tons of money behind it, so you have to market to the largest possible population, white people.
The arguments about the film being unoriginal are pretty lame. Apparently these people have not watched a movie. Hollywood creates in formula because that whats audiences want. People who are arguing about the story being rehashed have clearly not thought about the films they watch. They ALL adhere to the same structure. It's just how creative can you be within that structure.
- marisa
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Best [ Thu Jan 21 2010 3:40 PM ]

Everyone talked like Miss Cleo.
hahahaha
What has happened to going to a movIe to watch a MOVIE for the sake of it being a MOVIE?!!
I'm pretty sure the director James Cameron had a message.
- jerry
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I laughed [ Thu Jan 21 2010 5:12 PM ]

out loud several times at the corny dialogue, but the middle "Tarzan" part of the movie where he's learning to be a member of the tribe was cool and pretty much stood on its own.
As for white guilt or whatever, it pretty much *was* Dances with Wolves, except with aliens. Sure, the indigenous population is childish/bestial, but that's portrayed as positive.
This film borrows from SO many sources that it fits like an old shoe. Everything that happens is telegraphed and followed up like clockwork, which means no surprises but does mean a story that delivers. Compare that with the incoherent narrative tangle of The Phantom Menace or the second Matrix film. Avatar gets props from me for telling its overlong, corny and obvious story very well.
- novalis
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Pocahontas on Ayahuasca [ Mon Jan 25 2010 10:06 AM ]

Movie had lots of problems... but as a spectacle, the biggest grossing moving EVER has global cultural relevance regardless of the big DORKiNESS. I admire the attempt to discuss some planetary issues despite the stoopid colonialist romanticization of the NATIVES.
I love the 3d day-glo, blacklight jellyfish floral & fauna. Nothing wrong with a half second of alien sex either.
Mostly I agree with Erik Davis: [link]
- BooLeigh
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Yes! [ Wed Jan 27 2010 10:06 AM ]

As for white guilt or whatever, it pretty much *was* Dances with Wolves, except with aliens. Sure, the indigenous population is childish/bestial, but that's portrayed as positive.
Agreed Jerry ... Dances with Wolves mashed with Fern Gully. Almost shot for shot.
- be1st2
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Big Money & "The Feelies" (ref. '1984') [ Sat Jan 30 2010 3:02 PM ]

I think the "money people' are running out of minorities to exploited, and starting to tap into their own population base, in a self-destructive inbred feeding frenzy, similar to what happens when the locusts overpopulate an area.
We just do it with a publicized parade of the latest color to worship (Emerald City ref.) and tell all the appropriate computers to list the ticket sales to go maximum so the 'powers that be' (whatever political machinery they use) can move their particular money into areas of influence that will cover their current particular political asset.
The "Star Retch" movie had more story content and message than this 'epic'.
- jerry
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Whoa [ Mon Feb 1 2010 1:30 PM ]

That almost made sense.
The Feelies are from Brave New World, though.