Avatar (2009) Analysis of it's depiction of American society and politics
Science Fiction films have been known to reference various historical situations of American society and politics. A film well known for such a depiction would be Avatar by James Cameron, this film highlights the struggles of an indigenous people and the greed associated with the humans who are attempting to gain control of the natural resources available on the planet (Taylor, 2010). The themes in the film that can be linked to American society and politics are imperialism, suppression of indigenous people, capitalistic power and the use of a strong military to take over and gain control of whatever they want.
This film begins in conflict, the tensions between the indigenous humanoids and the invading human colony places the two sides on the brink of war. The humans are connected to a major corporation that is attempting to gain control of the planet Pandora, so that it can gain access to the natural resources that are not available on Earth. This corporation much like the colonists who took over America, has little regard for the natural inhabitants. While the inhabitants of this planet are forced to deal with these invaders who forcefully attempt to steal their land and resources. The main goal of the humans is to take over control of the planet and if they have to wipe out an entire indigenous population to do so they are prepared to go to that level.
Throughout history the country with the most money has the most powerful army, this is because they have the resources for training and technology. In the case of the film Avatar the humans have the money which was provided by the major corporation, and although the indigenous population has a natural resource that is worth more than what the humans', they do not have a military power that can take on the technologically advanced human forces. But throughout the film the indigenous people learned to channel the power of their natural resources and in the end they won the war with the humans which ultimately helped them regain power over their planet.
Works Cited:
Taylor, B., & Ivakhiv, A. (2010). Opening Pandora's Film. Journal For The Study Of Religion, Nature & Culture, 4(4), 384-393. doi:10.1558/jsrnc.v4i4.384
- Jason Alexander
Avatar (2009) Analysis Part two
James Cameron’s film Avatar, starts out by introducing a new world to the audience called “Pandora”. This enchanted land is filled with a species that us humans are being introduced to as the “Na’vi” people. There is a certain chemical amongst the Na’vis land called “Unobtainium” that is extremely expensive, but can profit five times its worth here on planet earth. Greedy corporate figurehead Parker Selfridge’s intentions are to retrieve the chemical with no limitations; even if it includes moving an entire tribe from their home, destroying everything they worship and even killing hundreds and thousands along the way.
Like my partner states above, this film portrays so much of what settlers did to Native Americans in the late fifteen-hundreds. However, this film also signifies what is happening in today’s society in America. Families and small businesses are being moved from their homes and work place on a daily basis in order to construct commercial buildings and highways to benefit the government.
Highways have been continuously expanding, removing families from the homes they have lived in for decades. Unfortunately there are laws that make it impossible for the residents to fight back. Yes, they are given a place to live that is suitable for their family, but it is against their will and is never really what the family wants. Many of the families have strong ties to the houses they’ve lived in for most of their lives and the thought of moving is a heavy thought that does not settle easily. It’s like saying, “excuse me, we can make more money with your land than you can offer by paying your mortgage or rent so please leave willingly or we will force you to leave.”
In the film Avatar, the protagonist Jake Sully tries to reason with both the humans and the Na’vi people in order to get them to relocate without firepower and death. Although firepower and death play no role in American society when it comes to relocation, it is essentially the same concept. The government sees an opportunity to generate more income and profit for the small inconvenience of moving a family into another “house”—they’re being kicked out of their “home”.
-Natalie Zeenni
Work Cited:
"Michigan Compiled Laws Complete Through PA 180 of 2013." (online forum message). RELOCATION OF PERSONS DISPLACED BY HIGHWAY PROJECTS Act 347 of 1966. July 7, 1966 July 7, 1966. http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(1nmjj32fkp4ictz5utz43uuz))/documents/mcl/pdf/mcl-Act-347-of-1966.pdf (accessed December 16, 2013).
Avatar (2009) Trailer analysis
The Trailer for the 2009 science fiction film Avatar, begins by showing the beautiful planet of the indigenous humans and the human’s mining corporations which are being protected by hired guns from the military. The scientists among the humans have designed a way to link a human with an indigenous, Na’Vi’ body by combining their DNA. As the scientists work on a non-violent attempt to move the natives, while the military uses any means necessary to obtain the resources they desire. The science unit will team up with the indigenous to put a stop to the military’s control.
- Machinima, . YouTube, "Avatar Movie Trailer [HD]." Last modified August 22, 2009. Accessed December 16, 2013. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1_JBMrrYw8.
- Jason Alexander