War? Reality? Functions?

1) Choose one SCENE or MOMENT in Avatar that we HAVEN'T (yet) discussed in class.

2) Analyze the RHETORIC and POLITICS of its visual and aural representations. What did it (try to) make you feel? How did it (try to) do that? In doing this analysis, you'll want to read the SIGNIFIERS (the 'things' in the film) as closely as you can, and then move to the SIGNIFIEDS (what they 'mean'), and finally to their EFFECTS (what they 'do' to the viewer). Be as specific and detailed as you can.

3) Based on evidence from your analysis, make an ARGUMENT about the 'message' the scene or moment conveys. Make you can DEFEND every point you make with specific, detailed evidence from your analysis. Our ideas about how 'fantasy' works, publically and privately, to fill the gaps between images and us may help. Also the politics of 'myth,' hiding our historical / material realities. Also 'post Avatar depression.' And lots more.

* 300 words or more -- you'll need some space for this.
* No keywords required -- but you're welcome to use them if they'll help you make your points. (And whether or not you end up using words like 'intertextuality,' 'archetype,' 'psychodynamics,' and 'structures of feeling' in your post, you'll want to be thinking in those terms anyway. )
* No text-references required -- but again, you're welcome to use them if they'll help you make your points. (Anyone care to continue the debate on the 'White Messiah' archetype?)
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This has got to be my tenth time watching Avatar since its release. Now for the first nine times that I watched the film, prior to the course I have never noticed anything rhetorical or analytical about the film. The film was like any other riveting film with great graphics, an impeccable story line, and great acting (well, technology that can generate great actors in this case). It wasn't until actually last week, when we first began talking about Avatar, that I noticed maybe Cameron really had something rhetorical happening here. Maybe he's trying to persuade his audience to see something that wasn't seen before in society. As I continued to research more, I started to see what all the big fuss was about the film.

The image I chose has a time frame of about 1 hour and 39 minutes into the film. This scene is one of the first initial fighting scene where the fighting is from both sides. This time the Indians--ahem...sorry, the Naiv'e-- are fighting the white people--*ahem... sorry again-- Earthlings. Simply, we see the leader of the Naive commanding his warriors to fight back, telling them to fire their arrows to the big, steel machines, that seem to be disengage from their weaponry.

How did it make me feel? Well, I can still remember my initial reaction to this scene when it first came out in theaters in late 2009. The scene makes you sad but happy at the same time, almost bittersweet. You are happy that they are finally having the courage to fight back and not be victims. But it's sad because we know that history repeats itself. As a history savvy myself, I learn from history and was already able to predict the conclusion of the war. That technologically, the humans were far surpassed the Naives and that the eradication of this distinct humanoid species will be extinct. History has shown that through western colonialism, lots of harsh decisions were made to gain what we have. Western colonialism has gone through desperate measures to obtain what's necessary to their own survival.

I find it rather interesting that Cameron decided to use these kinds of characters that are so close to related to what we have seen through history holistically. Not only do the Naive resemble Native Americans, but the name NAIVE resembles Native Americans very much. It almost seems like a mix between both words. Also, the weapon of choice in the scene are so similar to what Native Americans, prior western colonialism in the Americas, used in defense and in survival. Arrows, bows, knives made of animal bones, shaman, religious leaders, clan leader, and the commander and chief of the army. The social hierarchy of the natives in Pandora resemble so much with the Native Americans. I don't think these are coincidences. James Cameron himself has said that the movie is more than just blue natives and guns.

Once again, this scene including so many scenes in the film that I wish could've done as well resembles this western misinterpretation and misunderstanding of so many sentimental objects that can be valuable to others. While people like the natives see sentimental as important, "white" people see MONEY and CASH as important. This film teaches us so many great things about colonialism and the great consequences of colonialism, revolutionary, and the decisions made irrationally based on monetary reasons. The film also teaches us about RACE, technology, life, nature, origin, happiness, peace and prosperity.