Professional Content Creation: Why Avatar 2 and Cultural Appropriation is a Problematic Mix
Avatar, the science-fiction blockbuster directed by James Cameron, is about to get a sequel after more than a decade of waiting. Avatar 2 was initially slated for release in December 2021, but delays induced by the COVID-19 pandemic mean that fans are now looking forward to a release date in 2022. While the sequel promises to be a visual extravaganza, the original Avatar received criticism for its problematic theme of cultural appropriation. With the possibility of Avatar 2 continuing the same story, it is essential to identify why Avatar 2 and cultural appropriation is a problematic mix.
What is Cultural Appropriation?
Before delving into how Avatar might be appropriating different cultures, it is crucial to understand what cultural appropriation means. Cultural appropriation refers to the act of a dominant group taking specific elements of another culture, mainly a minority one, and using them for their own purposes without permission or giving credit. The result is often a shallow representation of the culture, devoid of any context or cultural value.
Cultural Appropriation in Avatar: The First Installment
Avatar is set in a lush planet called Pandora, inhabited by blue-skinned creatures known as the Na’vi. Throughout the film, the Na’vi’s culture is appropriated, from their language and physical appearance to their mythology and cultural practices.
The most significant form of cultural appropriation in Avatar is the Na’vi’s concept of the “Avatar Program.” The term “avatar” is taken from Hinduism, where it represents a deity’s manifestation on earth. In the movie, an Avatar is a biologically engineered hybrid of a human and the Na’vi. This gives the human scientists and military an advantage in understanding and exploiting Pandora’s resources, famously known as “unobtainium.”
Additionally, the use of Native American and African tribal motifs in the Na’vi’s cultural depiction is a form of cultural appropriation. The Na’vi practices of worship, communal living, and spiritualism have been modeled after these cultures, with little respect for the culture’s significance.
The Problem with Cultural Appropriation in Avatar 2
With Avatar 2 in production, there are concerns that the sequel may continue the trend of cultural appropriation. James Cameron had indicated before the release of the original Avatar he would expand the universe with the otherworldly colonies of Pandora.
However, the possibility of introducing new cultures into the Avatar world raises several questions about representation and respect. If the new cultures’ representation is shallow and misinformed, it will be considered cultural appropriation.
Considering the cast of the original Avatar was predominantly white, it raises the question of who tells these stories. If the creative team consists of people who are ill-equipped to navigate the nuances of the cultures they are portraying, it can lead to problematic representation.
The Solution: Hiring Cultural Consultants
Cultural consultants are professionals trained and well-versed in specific cultures and can offer guidance and insights into a creative project.
Hiring cultural consultants can help ensure that cultures are represented appropriately, with respect and sensitivity. It can prevent the presentation of culture in the movie to become superficial and without any real value.
Cultural consultants can also help avoid stereotypes and tropes commonly associated with minority cultures, offering an opportunity to add depth to the narrative.
Conclusion
Avatar is a film that has a complicated legacy regarding cultural appropriation. The use of another culture’s elements for financial gain without permission marginalizes the culture and reduces it to mere aesthetics.
Avatar 2 has the potential to be a source of entertainment while striking a balance between inspiration and appropriation. Hiring cultural consultants can open the doors to more accurate representation and provide the narrative with a more nuanced and respectful perspective. Hopefully, Avatar 2 will acknowledge the criticisms leveled at its predecessor and learn from them.
