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The Ethics of “Avatar”
By Lauren | January 20, 2010
Recently, I had the pleasure of seeing James Cameron’s new blockbuster, “Avatar.” Cameron has given us the mythical planet Pandora, a confection of a world, sparkling with a million gorgeous colors and lit with magic from within. Of course, it’s also a source of a valuable mineral that covetous corporate executives and military madmen from the Earth just can’t wait to rape and pillage. Luckily for the exquisitely blue, indigenous people of Pandora, however, the invading Earthlings have also brought with them a former Marine, disabled in battle. The hero experiences an epic change of consciousness and turns on his corrupt keepers, helping the locals defend themselves from the combined marauding forces of violence and corporate greed.
But did he really have to do it by leading the generally peaceable native people in mortal combat? And from the back of the biggest dragon on the block, no less?
I sat through the seemingly endless battle sequences in “Avatar” cringing as the ethereal landscape of Pandora was blown to bits and wishing that, just once, the hero in one of these stories could find a way to protect innocence and beauty without presiding over a bloodbath. Courage, determination and endurance are all invaluable character traits, but they don’t have to be backed up with bullets. What if the hero had gotten word home about the damage Earthlings were inflicting on Pandora, and actually got help from a principled legislator, a watchdog reporter or a crusading attorney? (Oh, don’t be so cynical - it could happen.) What if the people of the Earth themselves had rallied against the harm being done to Pandora? Wouldn’t that have been more interesting and inspiring than another Hollywood gore fest?
So, why talk about a movie on a business ethics blog? Because Hollywood movies are big business and, more important, because I believe that artists of Cameron’s stature have a real responsibility to teach audiences, and especially children, about the consequences of hatred and greed. “Avatar” does that, but it fails to go the next step of teaching that meeting violence with violence is not a good way to solve problems. Cameron was creative enough to delight us with his vision of Pandora - surely, he could have found an entertaining and ethical way for his hero to prevail. Maybe next time, Cameron will take that critical step … or maybe we’ll just have to wait for Steven Spielberg to do it.
Topics: Business Ethics, Personal Ethics, Social Ethics, corporate responsibility, ethics |
January 21st, 2010 at 10:45 pm
I have noticed many comparisons being made between the plots of Avatar and Disney’s Pocahontas. I don’t know if everyone forgot the plot of the latter film, but there is a major difference: Avatar’s climax is a battle, while Pocahontas’s is the stopping of a battle. Many historical figures have led their people into war, but the truly extraordinary ones are those who lead them into peace. Thank you for bringing this point up; I admit I had not thought about it before.
February 8th, 2010 at 9:11 pm
Hi Jennifer,
Thank you for your wonderful comment. As always, you’re thoughtful as can be.
Lauren
December 19th, 2010 at 4:35 am
I enjoyed reading your comments. I am writing a paper on ethical issues and leadership perspectives on Avatar as we speak. Though I agree with your ideology that peace needs to be advocated instead of war, I find it hard to understand how Jake and Na’vi people could fight war and militaristic aggression with peace. Yes, Jake defends his ethics with fighting for the Na’vi, but this seems to be the last resort for him.