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James Cameron, 2009

Maire MaïwenVuillet Elsa

general presentation

A James Cameron movie

• - A movie released in 2009,
• - In the image of our current society and the problems we are facing

Synopsis:

2154. Earth is currently facing an ecological crisis. A human colony was sent to the Pandora satellite, protected by the Na'vi. Jake Sully, is taken with affection by the Na'vi Neytiri changing his perception of his mission.

01.

Social context

development of Internet and technological advancement

After the subprime mortgage crisis of 2008

After the Internet Bubble crisis

After Iraq Wars (1990, 2003)

Environment concerns (climate change)

racism still too present

02.

Analysis

Humanity in question

What is progress?

Is it automatically good?

What is humanity?

Real-life concerns towards technolocial progress: we are sure of the benefit earn from it

Capitalism VS Ecology

An ecological approach

Cohabitation?

• Pro-ecology movie, capitalism criticism
• Nav'is = the good guys living harmoniously with nature
• Humans = the bad guys who want to capitalize nature

• Eco-capitalism: natural resources are considered as "natural capital", and environment damages as "negative externalities"
• Oxymoron
• Greenwashing is the perfect example...

Ecological consciousness

Anthropocentrism: To consider the human as the center of the world, and thus superior to other froms of life.

Oneness: The feeling to be in unity with every living-being: whether animals, humans, or nature.

Ethnocentrism

The tendency to privilege the customs and values of our society to analyze the other societies.

Jake Sully = embodiement of cultural relativism. Cultural relativism: beliefs and customs should be understood in correlation with one's culture.

• Imperialism: Political process of domination and control by an entity upon other territories.

Antimilitarism AND IMPERIALISM

• Criticism of militarism: the bad guys are the military which use coercive ways to submit others.

• Imperialism is heavily condemned and characterized by humans' colonization of Pandora

03.

But...

Does it really denounce capitalism ?

• Cost $237 million
• Generated $2.923 billion

= Capitalistic results ?

And what about white saviorism ?

• A white man protecting a minority and feels better about himself
• The protected ones never have the chance to evolve

= Real awarness ?

04.

CONCLUSION

To conclude...

• Protest movie: antimilitarist, pro-ecological and cultural relativsm

• But... Still capitalistic and some prejudices (white savior trope)

THANKS FOR LISTENING

SOURCES

Avatar (2009 film) - Wikipedia Quel est le message spirituel du film Avatar (meditationfrance.com) Quelle est la morale du film Avatar? – ConseilsRapides "Avatar" : un film "vide" et "sans scénario" ? (cultea.fr)