Political Physics: Is Avatar the 21st Century Re-embodiment of Birth of a Nation?
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a blogumn by Monique King-Viehland
In the interest of full disclosure I should start by saying that I absolutely adored Avatar. And when I say adored, I mean just that. From the “loving couple,” to the beautiful cinematography, to the special effects and the story. I love the movie.
So of course I did what most of us do nowadays, I professed my love on Facebook and then I did not think much of it.
Spoiler Alert for anyone who has not seen the movie:
A few days later I was checking my News Feed on Facebook and I came across this quote from a friend of mine, “[she] thinks Avatar is crap: white guy “goes Native” to destroy indigenous people; has change of heart about selling out natives; falls in love with tribal female leader and disrupts standing social order; becomes more native than the natives; saves the natives and earns the badge of a race traitor. It was a CGI Dances With Wolves …”
After reading her quote, I must admit that I felt like shit, but for all intents and purposes, her recap was absolutely spot on.
Since the film premiered, there has been a lot of debate, particularly in cyberspace, about whether or not Avatar is racist. And James Cameron is being criticized for creating just another “white savior” movie.
In an article entitled, “Is Avatar Racist,” Jesse Washington of the Associated Press notes that “a small but vocal group of people who allege it contains racist themes — the white hero once again saving the primitive natives. Since the film opened to widespread critical acclaim three weeks ago, hundreds of blog posts, newspaper articles, tweets and YouTube videos have said things such as the film is ‘a fantasy about race told from the point of view of white people’ and that it reinforces ‘the white Messiah fable.’” Washington further states that “Adding to the racial dynamic is that the main Na’vi characters are played by actors of color, led by a Dominican, Zoe Saldana, as the princess [and] the film is an obvious metaphor for how European settlers in America wiped out the Indians.”
Moreover, on the io9 Blog, Annalee Newitz contends that the film is clearly racist as “it transposes the cultural politics of Westerns (in which the Native Americans are animists who belong to a more primitive race) onto an interplanetary conflict and then assuages the white guilt that accompanies acts of racial and cultural genocide by having a white man save the noble savages (who are also racists).”
And in a response to the question, is Avatar Racist? on Essense.Com, one person compared Avatar to Walt Disney’s Birth of a Nation, “I feel Avatar is the 21st century’s “Birth of a Nation” because it will shape, badly, our culture’s next 25 to 50 years’ attitudes toward not only American but also global people of color as “exotic” non-humans who whites really can’t relate to unless they desert their race and become something else. Avatar is once again a demonstration that Hollywood just can’t depict non-whites as humans with the same dignity as whites.”
Wow, Birth of a Nation, really?
According to several polls, many moviegoers disagree. BlackVoices.Com is conducting on ongoing poll on their website where they asked if Avatar was racist. So far, 2,604 people have responded and of those, 1,575 respondents or 60% said no the movie was not racist, 543 respondents or 21% said yes and 486 respondents or 19% said they were not sure. And Moviephone.Com also has an ongoing poll on their website. To date, 43,261 have responded to the poll and of those, 18,681 respondents or 43.2% said the movie was not racist. In fact, only 3,202 respondents or 7.4% believed that Avatar was indeed racist. However, 9,599 respondents or 22.2% did say that the movie had “plenty of lazy stereotyping and patronizing attitudes, but [that it] stop[ped] short of malicious racism.”
I find myself in alignment with that 22.2%
Avatar is being praised as having revolutionized 3D cinematography. According to MSNBC, the film “takes 3D cinematography to an unrivaled level, using a more nimble 3-D camera and it also raises the bar on ‘performance capture’ technology, which creates computerized images from real human action.” Avatar is now the second highest grossing film in box office history with more than $550 million in receipts and overseas Avatar is number one, officially surpassing Titanic as the highest grossing film in overseas markets by pulling in $1.28 billion at the box office, $46 million more than Titanic.
You know what other film was also hailed as a technological marvel and was the highest grossing film the year it was released? Birth of a Nation.
According to Wiki, “Birth of a Nation was the highest-grossing film of its day, and was noted for its innovative camera techniques and narrative achievements.” The film “pioneered such camera techniques as deep focus, jump-cut, and facial close-up, which are now considered integral to the industry. It also contains many new cinematic innovations, special effects, and artistic techniques.”
At the time the film was released, it shattered both box office records but also provoked controversy for promoting white supremacy and portraying the KKK as heroes.
Now, I do not agree that Avatar is the 21st Century equivalent to Birth of a Nation. However, shrouding racial subtext with cutting edge cinematography and high gross earning reports does not mean that the racial subtext does not exist.
Is Avatar racist? I would argue no. For me racist is a very active word. I think Ronald Blak said it best on his blog, “People could say that the way Avatar handles race is a heavy-handed, unrealistic, incompetent, derivative, wish-fulfilling, colonialist guilt fantasy of The White Man’s Burden in 3D, and people are welcome to these opinions, but that doesn’t make it racist.” I do not believe that whites are portrayed as superior to the Na’vi and I do not think the Na’vi are depicted as inferior.
Does Avatar have a racial subtext? Yes. But not all of the racial subtext is negative. The interracial relationship between Neytiri and Jake was heartwarming for me (even though it did disrupt the standing social order).
Is the film a “white savior film” reminiscent of Dancing with Wolves? Perhaps, although I find films like The Blind Side to be more annoying from that perspective than Avatar (rich white family saves poor little black kid…and yes I know it is based on a true story) and yet Sandra Bullock just won a Golden Globe for that performance.
But hey, that is me. What do you think? Is Avatar racist? Is the film the equivalent of the 21st Century Birth of a Nation? Let me know what you think in the comments.
I don't see it as racist. The story of a outsider learning what's really important from the locals is very common. If Avatar is racist so is Pixar's Cars.
CH, while I agree the film is not racist I think the comparison to Pixar's Cars is a bit simplistic in that it ignores the obvious racial subtext. Avatar deals with issues like colonization, supremacy, interracial dating, social structure, etc. which are all much more complicated than the typical outside story-line.
I don't see it as racist. The story of a outsider learning what's really important from the locals is very common. If Avatar is racist so is Pixar's Cars.
CH, while I agree the film is not racist I think the comparison to Pixar's Cars is a bit simplistic in that it ignores the obvious racial subtext. Avatar deals with issues like colonization, supremacy, interracial dating, social structure, etc. which are all much more complicated than the typical outside story-line.
To some extent, I think every movie is someone's fantasy. And while I, too, had problems with the White Messiah saving the natives, I do give Cameron points for at least making the love interest a true native — unlike DANCING WITH WOLVES. So often in these stories the woman has to be either white-washed (Dancing) or ridiculously gentle (Pocahantas). I think this fuels the stereotype that those who engage in interracial relationships are somehow less [insert race or species here] than their counterparts. I like that the love interest was a bad-ass and Na'vi to the core. I also liked that they really got to know and respect each other and that their relationship was tested on so many levels. I thought it was a great love story and that eclipsed the white messiah problem for me.
I'm curious that this theme keeps coming up though, the idea that one white person can save the natives from the rest of his race. It obviously doesn't come up in black film or literature and instead of calling it racist, I might want to explore the guilt that fuels it. OR it could just be that modern movie structure demands that the hero goes through a transformation of some kind and this is one of the oldest transformations known to man. For the same reasons we voted for Obama, we as a nation might believe that a civilization can only be saved by an outsider.
Very interesting Ernessa. I agree with your assessment of the love story between Jake and Neytiri. She was no Pocahantas….she had rage and anger at a "race" that she perceived as hurting and disrespecting her own culture and way of life. Yet she can still fall in love with someone from that "other race." To me that is a more true version of interracial love. I love my husband, who happens to be white. But that does not mean I am not frustrated by institutional racism in this country. On the contrary that is part of who I am, regardless of who I am in love with and it makes for very interesting dinner conversation.
And your point about guilt is fascinating. Whether people want to admit it or not, I think there is a strong sense of white guilt permeating discussions of race, civil rights, etc. in this country. Particularly among white liberals. I wonder how many votes for President Obama could be attributed to white guilt.
To some extent, I think every movie is someone's fantasy. And while I, too, had problems with the White Messiah saving the natives, I do give Cameron points for at least making the love interest a true native — unlike DANCING WITH WOLVES. So often in these stories the woman has to be either white-washed (Dancing) or ridiculously gentle (Pocahantas). I think this fuels the stereotype that those who engage in interracial relationships are somehow less [insert race or species here] than their counterparts. I like that the love interest was a bad-ass and Na'vi to the core. I also liked that they really got to know and respect each other and that their relationship was tested on so many levels. I thought it was a great love story and that eclipsed the white messiah problem for me.
I'm curious that this theme keeps coming up though, the idea that one white person can save the natives from the rest of his race. It obviously doesn't come up in black film or literature and instead of calling it racist, I might want to explore the guilt that fuels it. OR it could just be that modern movie structure demands that the hero goes through a transformation of some kind and this is one of the oldest transformations known to man. For the same reasons we voted for Obama, we as a nation might believe that a civilization can only be saved by an outsider.
Very interesting Ernessa. I agree with your assessment of the love story between Jake and Neytiri. She was no Pocahantas….she had rage and anger at a "race" that she perceived as hurting and disrespecting her own culture and way of life. Yet she can still fall in love with someone from that "other race." To me that is a more true version of interracial love. I love my husband, who happens to be white. But that does not mean I am not frustrated by institutional racism in this country. On the contrary that is part of who I am, regardless of who I am in love with and it makes for very interesting dinner conversation.
And your point about guilt is fascinating. Whether people want to admit it or not, I think there is a strong sense of white guilt permeating discussions of race, civil rights, etc. in this country. Particularly among white liberals. I wonder how many votes for President Obama could be attributed to white guilt.
I agree with Ernessa in that there were so many other things about the movie that helped eclipse the white messiah. I had heard about the whole Avatar is yet another white messiah, racist, etc,. flick before I went to see it. I wanted to judge it for myself. I agree with Ernessa in that there were so many other things about the movie that helped eclipse the white messiah. Are there some stereotypes rampant in there? Yes. Did I still think it was a good movie? Yes. Here is why (beyond the technological innovation):
1. Yeah yeah yeah white man gets to save the day by learning and becoming one with the people and actually one OF the people. As an educator I am all about the teachable moment. There were plenty of young white folks in that audience watching the film and I think what they got from it is hey I need to learn how to be more appreciative of people who do not look like me.
2. It told a very old story. Native Americans, Mayans, Indians, Africans (and the list goes on) can identify with white people coming into their community and taking their sh*t. This is where I had an emotional reaction to watching the film. I was pissed and I thought here we go again. I wasn't mad that James Cameron made a white savior movie. I was mad that this crap has really happened to people–MY people. I just had to face it again because it is happening to mythical gigantic blue people on another planet. However, at least the Na'vi sent their oppressors' behinds back to where they came from. It is not often you get to see that happen. Another teachable and shall we also add a redeeming moment.
3. There were some really interesting spiritual overtones in the movie and it ain't people appreciating nature that really has the Vatican coming down on the movie: http://movies.yahoo.com/news/movies.ap.org/vatica… Here we go again with religious oppression of native people. God forbid if people decide Christianity is not for them and they want to explore other spiritual options as a result of watching the movie.
Kim, thanks so much for sharing your insights. I was surprised more people aren't discussing the spiritual subtext in the film (guess race clouds everything else). For me one of the best parts of the movie was that focus on nature, the "circle of life" if you will and the interconnection of all living beings. I think that is a lesson we could all stand to learn regardless of what religious affiliation, if any, you identify with. And I think the Vatican was off-base in its assertion that the movie was neopagan and tried to turn loving nature into a religion. If that is the case they need to start worrying about this huge green phenomenon sweeping across the globe. I am a self-professed Christian, but I spend way more time on recycling than I do reading the bible and I am sure I am not alone. Or what about the religion of consumerism. Really, doesn't the Vatican have better things to do?
Did you read the link I included about the Vatican? They are actually worried about the world going green and people turning to nature worshiping religions–or rather their collection plates.
Yes I did and I think it is funny that the Vatican decides to focus their attention on Avatar and their perception that it is "pagan."
I agree with Ernessa in that there were so many other things about the movie that helped eclipse the white messiah. I had heard about the whole Avatar is yet another white messiah, racist, etc,. flick before I went to see it. I wanted to judge it for myself. I agree with Ernessa in that there were so many other things about the movie that helped eclipse the white messiah. Are there some stereotypes rampant in there? Yes. Did I still think it was a good movie? Yes. Here is why (beyond the technological innovation):
1. Yeah yeah yeah white man gets to save the day by learning and becoming one with the people and actually one OF the people. As an educator I am all about the teachable moment. There were plenty of young white folks in that audience watching the film and I think what they got from it is hey I need to learn how to be more appreciative of people who do not look like me.
2. It told a very old story. Native Americans, Mayans, Indians, Africans (and the list goes on) can identify with white people coming into their community and taking their sh*t. This is where I had an emotional reaction to watching the film. I was pissed and I thought here we go again. I wasn't mad that James Cameron made a white savior movie. I was mad that this crap has really happened to people–MY people. I just had to face it again because it is happening to mythical gigantic blue people on another planet. However, at least the Na'vi sent their oppressors' behinds back to where they came from. It is not often you get to see that happen. Another teachable and shall we also add a redeeming moment.
3. There were some really interesting spiritual overtones in the movie and it ain't people appreciating nature that really has the Vatican coming down on the movie: http://movies.yahoo.com/news/movies.ap.org/vatica… Here we go again with religious oppression of native people. God forbid if people decide Christianity is not for them and they want to explore other spiritual options as a result of watching the movie.
Kim, thanks so much for sharing your insights. I was surprised more people aren't discussing the spiritual subtext in the film (guess race clouds everything else). For me one of the best parts of the movie was that focus on nature, the "circle of life" if you will and the interconnection of all living beings. I think that is a lesson we could all stand to learn regardless of what religious affiliation, if any, you identify with. And I think the Vatican was off-base in its assertion that the movie was neopagan and tried to turn loving nature into a religion. If that is the case they need to start worrying about this huge green phenomenon sweeping across the globe. I am a self-professed Christian, but I spend way more time on recycling than I do reading the bible and I am sure I am not alone. Or what about the religion of consumerism. Really, doesn't the Vatican have better things to do?
Did you read the link I included about the Vatican? They are actually worried about the world going green and people turning to nature worshiping religions–or rather their collection plates.
Yes I did and I think it is funny that the Vatican decides to focus their attention on Avatar and their perception that it is "pagan."
Ok, from this white guy's perspective, yes, "Avatar" borrows heavily from "Dances with Wolves". And, yes, "Dances" is definitely part of the "white guilt" genre of films wherein the primarily white American target audience is manipulated into a sort of emotional catharsis where they can feel better about all of the horrible things our race has done to another class of people because, "Hey, look at the great things we did for them in this movie! We're not all bad, right?"
But the problem I have with the "Dances" comparison is that the "white guilt" genre relies upon a generally understood history of white wrongdoing upon the "others" depicted in the film. We have no history with the Pandoran people. And no matter how transparently Cameron has based the Pandorans on the history, traditions, and archetypes of Native American peoples (and other aboriginal cultures), it doesn't change the fact that when we see 10-foot tall blue people on screen, it fails to trigger that part of the brain that says, "Man I hope they make out good this time since we screwed them in real life."
No, the real reason this movie has been so successful across age, race, gender, culture, and language barriers around the globe is because it is a textbook-perfect example of a "hero's journey" film. This is Luke joining the Rebel Alliance, Frodo joining the Fellowship of the Ring. The elation the audience feels is not the result of "white guilt". Rather it is the triumph of David over Goliath, of the outmatched forces for good defeating a seemingly unstoppable evil.
Brent, I definitely think that the Na'vi's history and their interaction with the Earth folks is analogous to the Native American experience. However, I agree that part of what makes this movie appealing is that "hero's journey" aspect of the film.
Ok, from this white guy's perspective, yes, "Avatar" borrows heavily from "Dances with Wolves". And, yes, "Dances" is definitely part of the "white guilt" genre of films wherein the primarily white American target audience is manipulated into a sort of emotional catharsis where they can feel better about all of the horrible things our race has done to another class of people because, "Hey, look at the great things we did for them in this movie! We're not all bad, right?"
But the problem I have with the "Dances" comparison is that the "white guilt" genre relies upon a generally understood history of white wrongdoing upon the "others" depicted in the film. We have no history with the Pandoran people. And no matter how transparently Cameron has based the Pandorans on the history, traditions, and archetypes of Native American peoples (and other aboriginal cultures), it doesn't change the fact that when we see 10-foot tall blue people on screen, it fails to trigger that part of the brain that says, "Man I hope they make out good this time since we screwed them in real life."
No, the real reason this movie has been so successful across age, race, gender, culture, and language barriers around the globe is because it is a textbook-perfect example of a "hero's journey" film. This is Luke joining the Rebel Alliance, Frodo joining the Fellowship of the Ring. The elation the audience feels is not the result of "white guilt". Rather it is the triumph of David over Goliath, of the outmatched forces for good defeating a seemingly unstoppable evil.
Brent, I definitely think that the Na'vi's history and their interaction with the Earth folks is analogous to the Native American experience. However, I agree that part of what makes this movie appealing is that "hero's journey" aspect of the film.
In the end it is just a movie, and sorry to my daughter, not a very good one.
You haven't even seen it! Geez!
In the end it is just a movie, and sorry to my daughter, not a very good one.
You haven't even seen it! Geez!