"This is Our Land"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAlmXkxR5k0&feature=related

“The sky people have sent us a message - that they can take whatever they want - and no one can stop them - but we will send them a message - you ride out as fast as the wind can carry you - you tell the other clans to come - tell them Toruk Makto calls to them - and you fly now - with me - my brothers, sisters - and we will show the sky people – that they cannot take whatever they want - and that this - this is our land.“

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This scene is trying to make you feel anger towards the “sky people” (humans) and have you align emotionally with the Navi. Jake clearly states multiple times “US” versus “THEM”. Since the viewer has been watching Jake develop over the entire film, one feels connected to him and becomes an “US” (Navi) as well. A majority of the scene is from the perspective of the gathering of Navi sitting looking up to Jake for leadership. This perspective during his speech further solidifies the feelings of being a part of the Navi and wanting to follow Jake. As Jake’s speech develops, he gets louder and angrier, the Navi people start to cry out their approval, and the music in the background starts to swell. All of these sound cues culminate to the final, most important line “This is our land”. At this point, the viewer wants to join the fight too.

The first seconds of the clip show Jake in a prayer-like position. The viewers with prior knowledge of Christianity can automatically compare Jake to Jesus. They both pray to their respective Mother and Father before having the strength to speak in front of and lead their followers. This adds to viewer’s willingness to believe what Jake says and to follow his commands. A key action from Neytiri in this scene is how she holds his hand before the speech. She is his support, and also brings additional authority to whatever Jake is to say. Since Neytiri, the daughter of their beloved chief, approves of and believes in Jake, the Navi (including the viewer) feel even more trust in Jake.

Though the viewer is human, watching this movie causes one to relate and identify with the Navi. During the movie, the viewer is able to forget his or her reality and for the time, be a part of the Navi, who are a people of community and nature. It is trying to send a message to the viewer about how selfish actions now could have grave consequences. In this scene, when Jake says that the sky people think that “they can take whatever they want, and no one will stop them” the viewer does not want to be like the greedy, self-concerned sky people that do not care about their home planet. These sky people, who destroyed their earth and are causing the turmoil and destruction of Pandora are human, and though the viewer is also human, the movie lets the viewer move into a fantasy world, where they are detached from reality. The viewer does not want to like the humans, which is proof that the argument of the movie, AVATAR works. The viewer leaves wanting to be more like the Navi, and less like the humans. In reality, our planet earth (environment and animals) does not have a voice, and humans are able to “take whatever they want, and no one will stop them”. The Navi are the voice and advocates of the planet, which the movie is arguing for the viewer to become an advocate for our planet earth.