After seeming Avatar when it was in theaters I was blown away, the plot, music and technology used to create it was amazing. Knowing it was such an epic movie, the reviews of the film could get a little harsh; before reading them I didn’t even make the connection to Dances with Wolves or any of the other similar plot lines within our culture. As I learned we would be viewing clips of the movie I started to think critically of every scene that I watched. The clip I chose to analyze was “Making the Bond” in this scene Jake goes with the Na’vi young men to catch and bond with their own Mountain Banshee. Here Neytiri tells Jake has one chance to make the bond or the Mountain Banshee will try to kill you. A signifier is when Jake makes his attempt the Na’vi men make fun of him, giving him no encouragement and believe he is going to fail and die. When watching this I made the connection ( or signified) to the real world and the struggle every person has to go through in life, which is ‘live or die trying’, connecting this to my life I felt very small in the world and kept thinking to myself, What is the Mountain Banshee in my life?
Jake continues to fight with the flying beast and eventually over takes the animal and ‘makes the bond’ as he does this the animal calms, Jake says to the creature “That’s right, you’re mine,” (signifier). Seeing this made me feel almost uncomfortable from an analytical point of view; yes we are humans, but just because of our ability does that give us the right to overpower other creatures (signified)? It made me think of Manifest Destiny, we are the gifted so that gives us the right to whatever we want and no matter what means of getting it (effect). Obviously this is a stretch because here on Earth we have house pets and other animals that we call our own as well.
This last week in class we talked about ‘ post Avatar depression’ which is where people who have seen the movie become depressed with their lives and attempt to kill themselves; putting this into perspective with my life I can see how this could happen. Avatar in my opinion was created to show what harm the human race can cause; we do not think about the consequences or the effects it will have on others. Breaking apart Avatar allows you to see the hidden messages, now viewing the movie I feel guilty for the small affects I have on Earth.
I think boding in a fantasy world might not be easy for everyone but the way the characters trying was very interesting in this scene. That is what makes this movie very entertaining as well as great getaway from harsh reality.
ReplyDeleteI like how many links you found between this scene and other things, such as "live or die trying," Manifest Destiny, and pets. Also, it was good how you included "post Avatar depression" and your reflections on it; you see to get the point of the movie without letting the idea behind it consume your life.
ReplyDeleteI love the fact you used the word manifest destiny. The entire movie with Jake's adventure is just that. How every trial and tribulation is just a step towards his ultimate fate.
ReplyDeleteI like how you use this scene to describe how people grapple with life choices, and the way we often face them. People are not always encouraging and even go as far as to be tormented by others.
We all have been a victim to this, and it relates very well.