Avatar’s Racist Undertone Still A Hot Topic
By Krystal Clark
Avatar just came off its fourth week on top of the box office, and a sore subject continues to overshadow its success. Ever since its release back in December the only thing that people can talk about are the racist undertones the story puts on display. A story that most of us see as a blatant rip-off of several war films from the past.
According to an article from The Herald, the problem most people have with the film is the concept of a white male entering into a world of ethnic people, with the sole intent of using them for his own personal gain. Anyone with eyes can see that this premise wreaks of too many movies to count, Dances With Wolves being the most evident, but Avatar‘s draw isn’t its story. The film’s marketing campaign emphasizes the visuals, and how director James Cameron‘s vision is history in the making.
Speaking of Cameron, all of the casting done in the film had his seal of approval, so he’s come under attack for using actors of color to portray the Na’vi people, while white Australian Sam Worthington stars as the cultural infiltrator. Annalee Newitz, editor-in-chief of the sci-fi Web site io9.com said,
“Main white characters realize that they are complicit in a system which is destroying aliens, AKA people of color … (then) go beyond assimilation and become leaders of the people they once oppressed,” she wrote. When will whites stop making these movies and start thinking about race in a new way?” wrote Newitz, who is white.
Cameron has said on more than one occasion that Avatar is meant to encourage people to respect each others cultures and differences, and while that may be the case, he still fell into a familiar trap. Regardless if it was intentional or not there are some obvious racial undertones in the film, and you can’t ignore them no matter how pretty you paint the picture. The reason people are getting so upset is because they know this story all too well, and are sick of seeing it onscreen.
Do you think Avatar is racist? Take our poll and let us know how you feel about the subject.
Monday, January 11, 2010 8:13AM
The only racist undertones is the ones you make up in your mind.
Monday, January 11, 2010 4:30PM
A lot of people seem to think this is MY argument about the film, but its not. Its the argument that others have pulled from it, and I'm just stating why they feel the way they do.
Monday, January 11, 2010 10:20AM
You know what? I can ignore the racial undertones. You know why? It’s a MOVIE!! It’s for entertainment. It’s not real life. People need to find something better to worry about. And by the way, Avatar is just Pocahontas set on another planet. Was Pocahontas a racist story? We should protest history next.
Monday, January 11, 2010 10:23AM
[...] today, we posted an article discussing the topic of racism in Avatar. Many of our readers had a pretty strong reaction to the argument at hand. Some felt [...]
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 12:26AM
What about the negative message to people with disabilities????? A man who is paralyzed from the waist down is living such a pathetic life that he is willing to transfer his consciousness into a totally alien body on a terribly hostile planet and betray his own race to get out of his wheelchair.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 2:19AM
Yep extremely racist, just like I am legend, I am robot. I would like to see peoples reactions if the next time a movie with a black star that saved the human race or at least helped to save the human race became talked about as being racist by white people or whoever.
I think when the book of Eli hits the theaters everyone should start a big blog commotion. (I think Denzel is great and the movie looks awesome) calling it racist that a black man is the savior,or hold the key whatever the movie ends up being about.
I wonder how people would react to that, probably that the people calling the movie racial would be ostericized (spelled incorrect but oh well).
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 4:14AM
in before you are racist, white lover, conformist and so on.
Seriously though. How come people get all work up over a film where the majority of the cast is white but no one gives a damn when there is a majority black cast. The hell is going on with this society? You guys need to lighten the eff up and cry more. Just cuz they killed a dog in a movie to move the audience emotionally doesn't mean that the entire cast, creators, or crew believe in killing off animals.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 4:58AM
Tell me I have anger issues, say what you may, but it is difficult to put into words just how angry this whole "issue" makes me. Seriously? Can people not just watch movies anymore? Do people sit around at home for hours after watching a movie and try to dream up retarded racist, sexist, fascist, etc. scandals for said movie? Honestly, it makes me sick to think that people are wasting time protesting against a MOVIE when there are so many more important issues they could be devoting their time to.
There is no way this movie could be racist because A: THE FOREIGN "RACE" IN THE MOVIE WAS NOT REAL. And no, they weren't symbolism or a hidden reference to any minority, either. Some things are meant to have a hidden meaning, yes, but more often than not it is what it is and goes no deeper than that. Besides, the whole point of the war between the Na'vi and the humans was that the humans wouldn't accept and appreciate another race's culture, but in the end the Na'vi, the supposed minority, won. This actually sends an empowering message, if anything.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 5:02AM
Uh.. yes, he did. He spent 8 years working on the story. You're thinking of Avatar the Airbender.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 2:15PM
It was an insult to Reagonomics and Rush Limbaugh. VP Cheney and Haliburton should sue for the portrayal on the industrial military complex. Liberal environmentalists must not get encouraged by the defense of nature, by nature. In the real world, military and technological might always win, except in '2012' of course.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 2:19PM
Has anyone seen the DVD intimate scene yet.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010 1:50AM
How can anyone miss the latent racism in this?
Most humans in this movie are white, while the noble savages are portrayed by coloured people.
If the movie were about HUMAN flaws, why is it that most coloured actors participating in this movie are reduced to playing idealized savages? Was there no part in this movie an african-american actor could have played showing his face? Wait, I can remember ONE now.
Still: It's almost as if all non-white faces had been hidden froom this movie, although roughly half the cast is coloured.
The basic message racism-wise in this is so plain and simple nobody seems to realise: "Human faces that are not white should not be seen on-screen!"
That is the simple reality of racism in this movie. Any alien seeing this movie would miss the plain reality that 5 billion people on Earth are not white.
So is this movie about HUMAN flaws? From a white American perspective – yes.
But this in itself is racist.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010 1:50AM
Racism is an emotional response to fear of the alien.
Racism is not to be argued about, because it is irrational.
But it can easily be witnessed in this movie's CREATION, which has so far apparently been missed.
This movie is racist in excluding roughly 5 sixths of Earth's population from its face, and hiding from sight the performance of great actors like CCH Pounder or Wes Studi.
Here in Europe, the movie has been dubbed over, so nothing remains of their performance at all. And don't nobody tell me that Cameron was not aware of the global marketing of his precious movie!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 6:13PM
I’ve read like 100+ articles on Avatar, and even the Vatican didn’t mention racist undertones, this is the first and only site out of 100+ I’ve viewed which has mentioned racism.
So what if the lead is an ‘Anglo’, there are several strong non-anglo characters in the movie, the Indian guy and the sth American looking woman who flew the heliplane…
This was a classic story line of ‘good guy – bad guy’ and ‘Romeo and Juliet’, very standard formulas.
The movie itself is awesome, and 99% of people will leave the cinema feeling better to have had the opportunity for some kid-friendly escapism.
This movie doesn’t need over analysis, its shear entertainment with beautiful visuals and a transparent music score.
Really a great piece of entertainment which can take you away from the realities of this world and the rat-race, even if its only for 2 and a half hours.
anyhow……
Re: Uh.. yes, he did. He spent 8 years working on the story…
<<<
he didnt spend 8 years working on the story, he spent 10 weeks writing the screen play and 8 years on the technology to produce the screenplay.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010 2:32AM
racist?!?!?!? come on ppl is that all we think about anymore, oh this person is racist because of this? come on its a bloody movie. it has good story line and graphics. people just need to stop thinking how everything is racist and grow the hell up.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 6:47PM
What is racism? its personal prejudice. The color of your skin may not be the primary prejudice, it can be name, age, sex, religion, where you live, who your friends are etc.
WRT Movies, it comes down to the number of actors available to do a role, noone should be forced to do positive descrimination, it devalues the people being positivly discriminated against.
If there are 900 anglo and 100 non-anglo, and you give all a fair-go (eg exclude any prejudice), and the anglo wins, thats not racism, thats merit. if an actor is good, he/she will land the role.
The problem is in society generally that Anglos hold most of the power (through old money) and nepotism goes a lot farther than merit, and that applies to anglos and non-anglos.
It take a strong will’d person to achieve anything in the real world, some people have to work harder to overcome prejudice against them.
Recognise prejudice and try to make a difference, but dont be a marter at the expense of your own future.
And most of the time, the reality is, its nothing to do with race or prejudice, its about money/econiomics.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010 8:50AM
If the movie is a rip off of anything then it Pocohontas. To call the movie racist though is to be looking for something that isn't really there. No offene to the majority of Americans, but it seems that certain high profile people from there just want to see racism everywhere. Looking for it in a place that is just meant for fun. When will they see that in their own way they are being racist by being overy sensitive to this issue. If you want to stop racism then stop seeing colour, start seeing people.
Wish I could put it more eloquently.
Saturday, January 23, 2010 1:38PM
God… you really hit the nail on the head. I saw the movie and never thought of it as being racists. Its all too true, what you are in your head is what influences the way you perceive things
Saturday, January 23, 2010 5:59PM
Typically I avoid blogs like this because they present no resolution to the problem at hand. It seems to me that most of the bloggers suggesting that racism is a figment of people's imagination have never been subjected to extensive discrimination or racism. I can admit that hundreds of years of oppression and discrimination based on race have made some people overly sensitive to current cultural events. I can also say that the majority of racism that occurs today is not done intentionally or consciously. However, racism does exist and Avatar had some very serious racial overtones despite its brilliant special effects. In my opinion this is a Tarzan movie circa 2010.
Racism does not have to be an intentional act carried out by mean spirited individuals. Racism is not exclusive to Whites only. Virtually everyone in America treats people differently based skin color whether done consciously or unconsciously. There are plenty of "good" people who treat everyone with respect but would disapprove of their child marrying outside of their "Race". Unfortunately that is a racist attitude. This will only be solved when people realize that Race is a man made concept and not a fact of biology.
Saturday, January 23, 2010 5:59PM
Melanin is the pigment in human skin and hair and nearly everyone has it. People of color just have more of it. We are the same. That’s why people can mate and have “mixed” raced children. Humans can not mate with other species. In Avatar, the humans mixed the DNA of humans with the Navi DNA. Perhaps I am just ignorant but I am unaware of any example, naturally or artificially with today’s technology, where humans can mix with another species. Humans can not mate with dogs, sheep, or monkeys. There is only one Race and that is Human. The only difference is the way we look and act; and that can be independent of skin color.
Avatar used the concept of Race and Species as if they are synonymous. The characteristics of the Navi were loosely based on African tribal people. An old time stereo type was that Blacks had tails. Is it really that hard to see how some people could walk away from this film offended? However well intentioned and brilliantly produced this film was, it still has strong racial undertones. Some people can just see that more clearly than others.
Sunday, January 24, 2010 12:10AM
I would just like to take time too thank the active members for doing what you do and making the community what it is im a long time reader and first time poster so i just wanted to say thanks.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010 11:45PM
"because a racist would be paranoid about racism everywhere"
This statement is absolutely invalid, since it is not based on any argument.
I might just as well say:
"Only spaghetti would notice racism, because they are made of wood."
What you are saying also implies that YOU are racist, since you sense racism in my comment, and only a racist would notice, since, yadda yadda – what you said, whatever.
And I consider your senseless rant, smiley or no, insulting.
Which, since I am not white, would make you a racist, since you seem to have fun insulting others for their race? You see, this game works both ways.
Sunday, February 28, 2010 7:27AM
This movie is not racist in the slightest you Hollywood corporate bimbo. This movie runs on parallel with the situation of the United States occupying the middle east for oil. Now if only the third world had a white man to ride a big bird and save them from the terrorism of the United States.
Saturday, March 13, 2010 5:12AM
maybe simply cuz you guys werent smart enough to see the racial undertones…i saw a ABC debate between university history professors on the deep racial undertones in this movie and undoubtedly there are many.
and no, when your smart you see racial problems.
i personally dont think it was intentional, simple a tradition of hollywood, i mean, what other actors are there in hollywood other than the macho white men and will smith?
Saturday, March 13, 2010 6:17AM
there are plenty of other actors in hollywood, why dont you google some? this movie wasn't racist at all. I'm black, irish, and native american and i didn't see anything racist in this movie at all. its about treating everyone as an equal because karma's gonna come right back at you. dont take it so seriously, this movie was a great lesson for people on how race doesn't matter and you shouldn't try to oppress other races!
Saturday, March 13, 2010 6:21AM
a lot of your points were right and some people couldn't survive in a world with no technology but people have done it before and people do it now. I'm not saying i prefer a world with no technology but let's face it, all of the things we are doing to the world are causing it to die.
Friday, April 23, 2010 6:35PM
racist??? to who??? the only undertone we should speak of is the battle againt the american indians! its about compassion! whites/blacks….look a little past yourselves, really.
Sunday, July 11, 2010 9:44PM
its about race. because race is science….learn about melanin and you will understand. knowledge is the key and melanin. dont be made because u lack of it
Tuesday, July 20, 2010 12:04PM
Are you and most of your friends white? If so…that's probably why it never occured to you…it's your mainstream superiority complex…which is not entirely your fault but you should open you eyes to other opinions and points of view.
Monday, September 6, 2010 4:50AM
i’m not sure that cameron intentionally made a racist film. but i think the racial themes in it (white savior, paternalism, exotic primitive people) is a theme that should be critiqued. here is a video that looks at that pattern in avatar and 17 other hollywood films.
Saturday, May 28, 2011 3:12AM
You made various fine points there. I did a search on the subject and found mainly folks will go along with with your blog.