Many critics have discussed Avatar as being racist following the themes of racial paternalism. Films like Pocahontas, Dances with Wolves, The Last Samurai and many other movies feature a White Male protagonist coming to the rescue of helpless indigenous people. In fact, Avatar's story is not very origional on its surface and would seem to follow in the footsteps of these movies but once taken from a broader perspective we may begin to see something different. I wanted to offer up a perspective held by many Afrocentric people.
Interestingly, despite Avatar's criticisms of Racism, many afrocentric viewers wildly embrace the film. For many within the community, it is limiting to look at the movie through the lens of race alone as it speaks additionally and more profoundly to spirituality. This is different from how preceding movies that have a similar story line approach the story of oppression. Many in the community feel the film speaks to a colonized indigenous spirituality.
Perhaps the most controversial aspect of the movie lies in who is the Hero of this movie? Where as one most often discussed reading of the film would say the white male saved indigenous cultures or the 'world' (again), many in this group would feel that mother earth saved herself or Feminine Energy was the Hero or simply, God (Ewa) prevailed. Within Kemetic (Ancient Egyptian) Philosophy (the dominant philosophy of Afrocentric communities) this would be considered the 'Maat Principle'. It can also be viewed through the African concept of Ubuntu.
Maat is the personification of the concept of harmony, justice, truth, and order. In Avatar, Maat would be the disembodied 'Ewa'. Within Ancient African spiritual systems, women's roles are seen as essential and powerful unlike how many Western religions conceptualize feminine spiritual roles. In the film, it is the feminine spiritual energy by way of Ewa (as well as Gayle, Nytiri and Nytiri's mother) that save Jake Sully and brings the planet back to balance. Ewa uses Jake as a batteling arm of her defense. If there are any heroes in the movie then it would either be Nytri for her spiritual obedience or the collective of women. In this way it speaks more to indigenous epistemology (ways of knowing) and spirituality which holds women in equal standing (or higher) to men. The film is seen as a presentation of an imbalance of spiritual energy represented as masculine and white though it is not always the case. Jake the white male is redeemed by converting his spiritual energy into being more in line with the Universe (ewa/maat) and indigenous epistemology. It speaks then to a certain transcendence of race where it is less a race war than a philosophical or spiritual journey/battle. Even a battle of 'Truths'. (Those who objectify and have an ocular centric epistemology, who operate in divisive binaries and are control/ego driven, violent vs those who embrace the unseen spiritual realm as valid guiding 'truths', see a connectedness to all things, respect for all life etc).
One need only look at Jake's battle scene with the Colonel to know that had Ewa not stepped in, the Na'vi would have lost their battle against the soldiers. It is ewa that saves the Na'vi with the help of spiritually obedient women and later, a spiritually obedient Jake Sully.
Because of the communitarian vs. Individualistic themes it can be looked at through the lens of Ubuntu philosophy and is rooted in Ethics and Spirituality. Dr. Clifford Christians at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign's article "Ubuntu and communitarianism in media ethics" is helpful in understanding this concept from a media perspective. For those in the Afrocentric Ubuntu philisophical paradigmn, it is believed "I am, because we are." This reflects a belief in the connectedness and balance of all things (people, environment, spirit etc). This philosophy would trump race as the connectedness extends beyond skin color. Jake Sully is only able to be triumphant because he aligned himself with Ubuntu/Maat/Ewa --not the other way around.
Afrocentric scholars use the film to spread spiritual teaching, and community organization. Additionally, many African American scholars use Avatars as their online avatars or wallpapers to signify their alignment with the Navi. There have been some that advocate for playing the video game (despite the terrible reviews the game faces in the industry). See Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBaJtaIV0cA
For spiritual teachers of the Afrocentric community the the Xbox version of the Avatar game is preferred then to the Wii version not only because of a more sophisticated game play and aesthetics but because the Xbox version allows the player to choose to be Navi or a Soldier. The wii forces you to play as a Navi. It is seen as a far more powerful indication spiritually to CHOOSE to defend communitarianism than to be automatically preset to play within it. By necessarily having to play as a Navi one loses a potential spiritual lesson and value in the journey. This is the same criticism of 'inherited' religion which many turn on people who simply follow the religion they are 'born into' without critically reflecting on the path. Here it is believed that the game's rules supports a particular ideology and mastering the game really signifies that a particular ideology has mastered you. Winning as a Soldier then is a victory of the game's liberalism and individualistic ideological half of the game. Winning as a Navi is a victory of the game's ability to enforce communitarianism.
Even if taken on its surface, many African Americans are not burdened by the fact that Jake Sully is white because of his disability. Because he is symbolically marginalized some of his privileged is eclipsed. In Pandora, his whiteness offers him no advantages and he is very dependent on the native culture. He is 'like a baby' a spiritual baby, in the beginning of the movie but he grows in his maturity.
Tony Browder, an egyptologist and historian has looked at Avatar through an Afrocentric lens and can offer additional insight on this topic. He sits on the shoulders of scholars like Asa Hilliard.Various communities have embraced Avatar for its various socio-cultural interpretations. I offer you this new perspective to consider, critique or embrace.
This article made me watch the movie again in a different light. I think that this movie represent our own search for truth in life. Jake was brought up in the sky peoples culture, however due to his disabilities, he was out of place and awkward. By embracing the Navi culture he was made whole, though it he had to learn an entirely new way of life. Both cultures, in the end, have the goal of retaining the planets rescores. Let’s say that metaphorically, the two cultures represent two religions. We often grow up with one religion; however only remain faithful to that religion because it is all we know. Just like Jake, who was pressured by his commanding officers and peers to remain loyal; we follow, while our spirit pulls us in other directions. But if you think about it, every religion is the same. Beneath the paper thin differences which religious leaders tend to play up, all religions seek some form of salvation, just as the Navi and the Sky people wanted the same planet. What if all major religions represent different paths the same salvation. At the core of every religion, are the same basic principals such as kindness, faith in times of adversity, humility, and good deeds. Only the names in the stories change from religion to religion. Jake simply found his path to his salvation along a different path then the sky people. . Jake realized that his culture/religion had become destructive, though based on the suggested background plot of the movie hadn’t always been that way. Remember, Jakes unit was acting as liaison, though they were massively overshadowed by the aggressive military. If you think about it, the Jakes of the world, who are actively seeking their path, are rarely responsible for the chaos done in the name of religion. It is more often than not, the religious leaders, who have become preoccupied with the power and control that their post affords them, that commit monstrous acts in the name of righteousness, while abandoning the principals that they themselves teach. I believe that the collective consciousness of all beings is hardwired to know that the path to salvation is that of goodness, kindness, and charity, however, I believe that this wiring becomes corroded when tainted with power, and control. I believe that it becomes enhanced when place in situations of humility, such as Jakes disability. When activated, it is simply a matter of finding the path that works for you. Your path may be different than mine, however we will converge at the same destination.
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