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Progressive in Theory, Regressive in Practice: A Critical Race Review of Avatar

2011; SAGE Publishing; Volume: 35; Issue: 1-2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1177/016059761103500110

2372-9708

Paul R. Ketchum, David G. Embrick, Ben Peck,

Innovative Teaching Methodologies in Social Sciences

Avatar ( 2009) is an epic science fiction film that, tackles broad social issues such as military occupation, corporatism, imperialism, racism and ethnocentrism, ethics, and environmentalism.The 162 minute film, written and directed by James Cameron (who also directed such major Hollywood hits as Titanic, The Terminator and Aliens) surpassed Titanic to become the number 1 all-time domestic box-office hit, 1 earning well over 600 million domestically and 2 billion worldwide.Avatar takes place on a fictional world named Pandora, a land rich in natural resources, the most important of which is a fictional mineral aptly named unobtanium.The setting of the movie takes place years after failed corporate attempts to subtly coerce the local indigenous population, called the Na'vi, into relocating to less desirable locations on the planet.Corporate greed eventually leads to the head of a major corporate enterprise turning to the military for help in relocating the Na'vi who occupy locations rich with desirable resources.The protagonist, Jake, a paraplegic marine who dreams of one day being able to walk again, is recruited by the corporation to replace his brother who was a scientist