The function of the critic is twofold: Identify what the author/artist/filmmaker is trying to say, then evaluate how well they say it. Many critiques have identified the anti-technology, anti-Western feel of Avatar, but to understand it, and why it influences so many people, you need to understand its philosophical roots.
The theme of Avatar is that technology corrupts and that only by being in harmony with nature can true happiness be found. Sub-themes include "Corporations are Evil" and "The Military is Evil." These themes seem strange coming from the most technologically advanced movie of all time, being produced, distributed, shown, and merchandised by mega-corporations whose freedom is protected by the military. How do we explain these apparent contradictions?
Is the message insincere? Not at all. It has been ingrained into certain intellectual elements of the culture for 300 years. The liberal/artist community really believes all this stuff. So where did it come from?
French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) popularized the concept of the "noble savage," perhaps better translated as the "natural man." Rousseau held that in a natural state man was compassionate and moral. He postulated that man reached his highest state when he came together in small related groups and learned love for the family, but before he became technologically sophisticated. This is the state of the inhabitants of Pandora, the Na'vi.
What happens when technology begins to intervene between man and the world? Corruption! Rousseau writes in his Discourse on Inequality:
The first man who, having fenced in a piece of land, said "This is mine,"...was the true founder of civil society. From how many crimes, wars, and murders, from how many horrors and misfortunes might not any one have saved mankind, by pulling up the stakes, or filling up the ditch, and crying to his fellows: Beware of listening to this impostor; you are undone if you once forget that the fruits of the earth belong to us all, and the earth itself to nobody.
Again, Avatar illustrates this philosophy be showing a society where nobody owns the land and where the true evil is produced by a corporation which wants to seize land and dig a ditch to exploit it for technology.
Article comments
1 - Harlan Delzer
It is truly unfortunate that life in modern America is so very complex. That said, having an opportunity to review the roots of some of the "core beliefs" of the movie provides much needed depth. When I saw the movie, I was struck by how many "connections" were inserted to reflect prior Disney films; the talking sage embodied in the talking Willow Tree (from Pocahantas), the "almost kiss" (from the Little Mermaid) as two examples. Leo provides a valuable backdrop. As long as Earth-dwellers continue to value electricity, gizmos, gadgets, adolescent connectedness, and worship profit - Leo's reminders will be needed. There is a middle path, and just maybe Americans can lead the world back to that path as we come to understand the root causes of global climate change, the roots of global terrorism, and the actions that result from a peaceful global world-view. But until then, each of us needs to understand that the same liberals that contrive ever-more-interesting entertainment are also the same folks seek to tell everyone else what to think, what not to believe, how to act, and what to value. Enjoy the movie, resist most of the silly stereotypes, and think critically ... always.
2 - Adrian Gardner
So where is the review of this movie again? I did read an opinion piece which I really enjoyed however.
3 - LeoOfMars
Point well taken, Adrian. My thinking was that this movie didn't need any more straight forward reviews. I tried to dig a little deeper into the psyche of its creators.
4 - Jonny
The muse of Ted Kaczynski is naive. Don't blame the hammer, blame the carpenter who holds the hammer. I have not only thought it silly to characterize technology as inherently evil but also deeply irresponsible showing not only a lack of appreciation for what is possible but also a lack of understanding on how to use it.
I work in a software company that produces software for making map technology more efficient than it already is. We work with some of the most cutting edge technologies that border on rocket science. Many of my colleagues here are not only extremely industrious engineers but spend their leisure time exploring the world... by bicycle, by day-pack, by ice-pick... several days at a time. You will never find anyone more in-touch with nature than these folks and yet ironically they are also among the most in-touch with technology as well.
In my mind the "technology is evil" argument was dealt a death-blow long ago.
5 - LeoOfMars
I agree that the "technology is evil" myth should have disappeared, but it keeps showing up in the media. (I also work in an IT shop and we too have our share of hikers and one tri-athlete.)