★

There is no doubt that Avatar have brought in many elements such as Spirituality, Nature vs. Machines, Capitalism, Greed, Love, Courage, Dreams vs. Reality, and many others which I may not have identified. But one that is overarching is always nature vs. machine. Right? And that is the one which we should focus on isn't it? It is how we should love our natural environment and not seek to destroy it for the sake of capitalist gain driven often by greed. I believe James Cameron featured Americans because Americans are the "Big Brother" and the leader of technological development in the 20th to 21st century. They are shown as a representation for every nation out there, and not to be taken literally that this show is ABOUT Americans, FOR the Americans. Nope, I disagree with what a Straits Times reporter wrote in one of the columns I read a week ago. Forest destruction and environmental doesn't just exist in America, but in many 1st world nations. Though of course America is the largest pollution emitting country for the past decades.

Secondly, I don't think James Cameron is trying to say that we should go back to stone age and give up on technology and machines altogether in order to be able to coexist with Nature. Rather, he is painting a picture for us that it is possible for Nature and Machines to coexist, that everything must have a balance. Often, this balance is tipped due to greed and fear. Remember how the scientist were welcomed by the natives because they were not there to harm the natives, but to get to understand them better? Remember how Jake Sully was supported by machines in order to become an Avatar and befriend the natives? These cannot happen if not for technology.

The only thing was the motive of using technology....technology has been abused for the Capitalist's hidden agenda. That was the reason the balance between Nature and Machine was upsetted. But the fact that in this movie, eventually machines lost to nature despite its technological intelligence and prowess, is (in my humble opinion) James Cameron's way of saying that this earth is stronger than anyone of us may think it to be. While we can harm and damage it all we want, the earth will stand. But that is NOT the reason for us to keep on exploiting Earth and use it as an excuse to damage it immaturely.

Of course, James Cameron did so by entwining it with the spiritual element, i.e. the goddess helping the natives to protect the balance of nature. Honestly, without her divine help, the machines are going to be the winner in Avatar the movie. So PERHAPS, James Cameron believe in a god that has created this universe, whoever that god may be. Some Christians may disapprove this movie for promoting animism. But I beg to differ. I think James Cameron is just borrowing a tribal culture thingy that most of us are familiar with and using it in his film so that what is shown in his film can connect easily with his audience. Like tribe = natives = no clothes = wild = coconuts = coconut with a face = a god = tribal dance.

So is James Cameron promoting animism through Avatar? Well, I believe that is not his overarching intention. It is just something that associates with tribes and natives kinda stuff. But I think the fact that he has chosen to show a spiritual side of things in this film shows he has a certain kind of supernatural outlook in life. That to me is enouraging enough. In fact, there are a few instances when the lines of the characters are actually taken from the Bible.

Thirdly, some people think that Avatar is showing an exaggerated destruction that will never take place on planet Earth. Well, I believe that through this show, James Cameron offers us space for a possibility of earthly destruction the way we have seen it in Avatar's Pandora which is NOT on earth, by the way. Just like how computer games simluate an alternate universe, James Cameron's attempt of doing so allows us to imagine and fantasize in it. And while doing this, messages that would NEVER have been delivered to his intended audience because of the way reality limits us, or how certain groups of people saying it is impossible that something like that would occur on earth, would be delivered. Of course, it is nevertheless up to the individual himself to accept James Cameron's course of argument. What we do know is that this movie has siginifcantly contributed to the library of social commentary. And I think James Cameron and his creation of Avatar deserve every applause, award, and dollar. This is why, I'm glad I watched Avatar not once but twice to capture its full meaning. And I'm glad this movie is doing very well in profits almost everywhere. =)