Indigenous Issues with AVATAR | RANT

What fascinates me about Schindler's List is that Spielberg chose not to recieve any money from it as he felt it would be blood money

I think what might have been interesting is if Scully had been indigenous-American and having an internal conflict about his ancestors had gone through and survived, what his relationship with that is and how it has shaped him, and paralleling that more directly with what the Na’vi are going through and seeing how that could change his character or better understand his ancestors and current experiences, and that might have sold me more on Scully and netiri’s relationship because they would have found some common ground I think even if his character still had work past being complicit in the current occupation. Just a thought experiment.

I'm not indigenous. However, I grew up during the '70s and '80s. I've seen the progress so many tribes have made since those years. I'm sorry far too many people keep insisting that Native Americans are a defeated people- that's simply not true.

You mentioned that having more indigenous people in the writer's room and as producers would be complicated and involved. This is part of what gets me; it's been 13 years! There was plenty of time to reconsider their approach. They put so much effort into breathing life into their world through VFX and other artists, who did an incredible job don't get me wrong. Still, they didn't seem to give 1% of that effort into giving life to indigenous stories and experiences that the films are supposed to revolve around.

I think Cameron has good intentions, but he's going about it in a really flawed way. I don't know if it's ignorance, arrogance, or even latent paternalistic racism, but I hope he involves more indigenous consultants and writers as the franchise continues

Really nice, thorough video. I like that you pointed out the issue with the indigenous input in the films. Studi, Curtis, and Evans are actors first and foremost- they shouldn't have to suddenly pull double duty as language and cultural consultants in this multi billion dollar blockbuster series, just because Cameron was too lazy to hire additional indigenous writers and producers. Especially considering these native actors probably weren't paid additional compensation for their informal second jobs, and most certainly weren't given writing credits for them. Another point I feel doesnt get touched on enough in discussions about this franchise is the need to caveat any criticism with "But the graphics tho!". Everybody's gotta spend time praising the visuals before they can say anything negative about the bits that actually matter- the story and context of the film. Maybe I'm just an indie-film practical-effects curmudgeon, but I just don't care about how fantastical and realistic the CGI is in the latest Disney moneymaker. Like, no shit, if I poured half a billion dollars into a Weta Sweatshop of minimum wage animators I'd probably get something fancy-looking too, even if my initial idea sucked. Gushing about the vfx in the top-grossing blockbuster of the week might as well be complimenting the film's budget more than anything else.

interesting that he sees indigenous people in brazil fighting over a dam as fighting for their rights as if indigenous north americans dont literally do the exact same thing. the way i see this movie is why should i trust someone to make a movie about colonialism if they have shown to not understand colonialism. great video btw:)

I agree with you on the fact that is seems James Cameron wants to represent and stand with all indigenous people who are fighting and have fought but that ultimately he's off base and out of touch. I feel like it's a matter of him being bourgeois and also not having any real life experience with indigenous people. It seems his experience is more akin to him going to the zoo instead of actually going to see and talk with people. Maybe a little bit of him not wanting to step out of his comfort zone, like how he kept rejecting music that sounded too foreign.

Always appreciate your videos. Definitely need more indigenous leaders in media.

As an indigenous Maori, they did extremely well representing our people. Many of the words, stories, actions, beliefs and looks were largely accurate, as a country in the south pacific who doesn't get a lot of representation on the world stage and isn't acknowledged often by the pakeha (non maori new zealanders) populace, I was so happy to see my culture respected in a blockbuster. I can't speak for maori in general but i know a lot of us who are happy with our portrayal. I think we might be getting more justice to our people because avatar is filmed here so there is most likely going to be more influence from our people on our portrayal. ps jermaine clement, the whaler scientist guy is maori too lol

I'm a big fan of the Avatar movies, but I really agree with the points you're making. I think the movies were great, but could have been so much better, if they only only had to be good movies. It's sad but James Cameron isn't just a filmmaker - he's a moneymaker first. He's making blockbusters and those just need to reach the audience that will make money, so many things like an original score had to be sterilized to sound more Hollywood like, to sound like what the western audience already knows and what appeals to it. Cameron raises important topics in his movies and his stand often is against the status quo, but they just don't cross the line of making people uncomfortable. I'm a white person living in a pretty much all white country, so I watched Avatar 2 in a full packed all white theatre. During the scene when the reef people are doing a pukana, some people literally laughed aloud. It's just the sad reality of people feeling uncomfortable with even little things that aren't what they're used to. If those movies weren't so whitewashed, they would be better, more interesting. But would they reach the financial success they did? Probably not. Would they resonate with as many people, would more people listen? Also, probably not. There's so much more to come in the future and people are getting more informed, I for sure did since the first movie. Still a long way to go though. Thanks for the video, enjoyed and appreciated your thoughts.

When I heard of the movie for the first time, I actually wondered whether the Navi would become a spacefaring people - especially since some of them had a seafaring tradition and the humans had the archival knowledge and abandoned equipment to work with... There would have to be a major incentive toward that effort - e.g. some sort of cataclysm in the solar system, observed and analyzed by the humans or just the understanding that Earth would take revenge - but it would have been an opportunity to explore indigenous thought and culture, adapting to circumstances in a unique way - instead of merely becoming 'Starfleet cadets'. Obviously such stories will have to be told by someone who had experiences beyond Kipling's British Empire.

As much as I like the Avatar series, I feel like Cameron’s approach felt overly simplistic. Even Disney’s Pocahontas, despite its historical inaccuracy, added some nuance to the topic. There’s an interesting video by pilgrim pass that compares the film to Miyazaki’s princess Mononoke, which, in the channel’s opinion, approached the topic in a more nuanced way. I’d highly recommend it. On a different note, I’m writing an urban fantasy series about Druids and the main character happens to be Native American (Choctaw to be specific). I want to avoid some of the mistakes that Cameron did writing and avoid stereotypes about indigenous peoples. (Such as the Noble savage) Do you have any advice regarding how to approach it?

I actually just did a video on the “white savior complex” in the avatar franchise from a perspective of a black person. And also how it’s plot is almost exactly like Atlantis: The lost empire and also similar to Pocahontas. I didn’t go too in-depth because because I don’t come from an indigenous background so there’s obviously that cultural block there that I’m not going to speak on. I’ve been dying to get the perspective of someone from a native/indigenous background on this topic. And I must say u went above and beyond, I honestly think this type of dialog is sooo very important. I think avatar would have been so much better with indigenous people being involved in the writing. How are u going to use their stories and culture in a movie like this and not include them in the movies making. I feel like if he really cared as much as he claimed that’s something he should have done. Instead he chose to create his own narrative out of it. Its kind of frustrating seeing white people continually trying to tell nonwhite people stories and then put their own prospective spin on it. I wish things had been done differently because avatar could have been so much more powerful. U were able to speak on exactly what I had in my heart to say but didn’t feel like it was my place to, and even speak on points I wanted to make but couldn’t quite put into words. This has inspired me to speak on more pressing issues in media etc that need to be addressed. Ik this is long but this has been a very passionate topic for me lol So thank u for giving your perspective in such an informative way.

Avatar reminds me of the coffee table books of the 1950's, in particular the gorgeous photo books of Indians, over staged black and whites with eurocentric descriptions of these primitive people. Stuyvesant is the author of the book my mom still adores. It's a Dutch Colonialist trophy book.

Ponca/Oklahoma When the 1st film came out my brother asked me doesn't it make you proud to be native and I didn't say this to him all at the time but I thought "No it makes me feel like they rip us off and then pay no mind to actual history" They rather make movies about blue space aliens then movies on history about the real red man What do we got as Natives, Last of the Mohicans and Dances with Wolves? Those aren't too accurate, although beautiful, I Love Last of the Mohicans even though they're still alive ha I'm just saying I think we deserve better representation than blue space aliens P.S. Shout out for Wes Studi best native actor alive [Native Cry!!]

Thanks Native Media Theory! Always love your representation! For your input, it's incredibly important, as an Asian American Artist who studies photography and film and as a person who love Avatar; this is an awesome perspective. I totally understand this, definitely gave me more insight on this unseen issue. GOING FOWARD, I think: - James and his crew need to watch what they say. Though we can understand the purpose and intent, there can be misunderstandings and misinformation. So they need to be clear - Seriously need to involve more Indigenous/Native Representation Behind/On the screens; especially if the foundation of the Na'vi is what is is based or inspired from. Agree with you on how it doesn't go full circle with where James is coming from. All of that would really help and reinforce the intent and representation of this film. If they took or could take the approach of Prey, that would be definitely the way to go!

Excellent analysis! I always enjoy your take on Indigenous culture in movies and television. I saw the first Avatar and enjoyed it. I haven't seen this one, but might eventually. The Indigenous metaphor was obvious to me in the first film, but I suppose that due to my White bias I completely missed the "White Savior" trope. Thank you for enlightening me! In fact, not only is it obvious to me now in Avatar, but I see it in the Tarzan stories, which I absolutely loved as a kid. Anyhow, please keep up the excellent work and I'm looking forward to your next video.

hi, Malcolm P.L. brought me here

I admire Cameron for what he is trying to do for the enviorment, and the dedication he has to filmmaking. Both Avatar movies are beautiful (to look at), but it left a sour taste in my mouth when Jake is the "savior". I also think he sees himself somewhat of a "savior" instead of a supporter. It's such a shame that he doesn't include indigenous people in the writer's room, and that they aren't very well represented in the production. I hope, like you said, that he learns from this and takes the critisim to heart and actually tries to do better for the making of the fourth movie. I really like the way you break these things down and analyze it. I watched your review on the first season of Reservation Dogs, I thought it was great! It got me wondering if you've watched Trickster and if you'd consider doing a video on it and the controversy?