Walking through someone else shoes

The movie Avatar in my opinion is a very good that has a very common story plot that has been used throughout Hollywood for numerous of years in such movies as Tarzan, Pocahontas, and other movies where another man from another culture comes and saves the day. While seeing the movie I realized a lot of different elements and themes. Imperialism, Militarism, Social and Cultural themes. No where in the movie did I see any thing dealing with race in the movie. Yes ok in the movie Jake Sully does come in learn the secrets of the people but in doing so he learns the ways of the people and learns that all things are scared. In the beginning Jake is presented with the opportunity to gain back something he lost if he betrayed the Na’vi tribe. The only thing I see in this movie is the main character transforming from a villain into a hero.

In the Movie Jake comes in and swoops the whole culture off their feet but it is because he is different, because the Na’vi never met a warrior avatar before. This is the case in society period we as a people are intrigued by something new; I like to call it the new kid comes to town complex. Meaning when the new kid move to town we get intrigued by him and wants to learn more about them and this movie is no different. Okay so Jake came in and stole Neytiri from Tsu'tey the reason behind that was that she made a connection with Jake and was not forced to be with him they way she was with Tsu'tey .In the article Ezili addresses when Jake rides Toruk and he becomes a mystical hero.

Ezili sees this as emasculating black men but is it really that or is it that Jake had to prove to the Na’vi that he changed and now wants to help save them. So is this really the white savior thing? When indigenous populations who are at a bow and arrow level are met with technological superior forces, if somebody doesn't help them, they lose. So we are not talking about a racial group within an existing population fighting for their rights". I think the purpose of the movie was to show someone else walking in the shoes of others in a way to try and get along with out all the violence, and hate. That what the purpose of the Avatar program was to have the humans walk in the shoes of the Na’vi to see and learn more about them to find a way to help each other.

The only reason that it did not work was because as usual man got greedy and wanted everything in the end and wanted to flex their muscles which led to the destruction of the “Tree of Voices” in the article “The same old white savior complex” Ezili comments about Sigourney Weaver character Grace saying “ She is the scientist who is wiring the human brains in the avatars to try and win their trust” When in fact she wasn’t trying to win their trust she was trying to understand them and help them so she could resolve things peacefully. Grace loved the Na’vi to the point she wanted to become one she never once denied her love for the Na’vi even at the beginning when she was upset the Jake was another soldier and not a scientist.

So in conclusion I feel the Ezili is seeing the movie as being black and white and not for what it really is a movie about learning different cultures. Finding a way for people to come together without the use of violence, but by the power of understanding each other and compromising. Avatar is trying to put in to action a way of changing our own world, by just listening to each other. We as a society have always felt that the world is black and white when in fact not in all cases is it this way. There are many different shades and cultures that we can learn from if we only just sit back and just listen. We have a black man in office now so time to get the chip off the shoulder and take responsibility for ourselves