Final Essay

-->

Social 10-1 Position Paper

Bailey Steinhoff

In our lifetime we learn about how our history has effected our every day lives. We now survive on social networking, and constant interaction through our work, school, friends etc… Our ability to contact and connect with people started through our ancestors, which has an affect on modern life and the way we live, in a large way. There has been many representations of our history, and Avatar is a great example. The movie connects with many parts of globalization. Avatar gives many examples and relates to our past such as cultural contact, colonization, ethnocentrism, and marginalization.

Throughout the movie we are constantly experiencing examples of cultural contact. Jake Sully is sent to a plant-like moon named Pandora on a quest to connect with the people who maintain and make a living on Pandora, known as the Na’vi. Scientist on earth realized that earth is in need of new natural resources, and Pandora has what they want. Sully has a job, to connect and become one of the Na’vi. “Sky People” need to be trusted in order to get the resources they desperately need. Though, as we are lead to think everything is well, we find out there is two sides the “Sky People”. The scientists are slowly being trusted and let into the Na’vi’s lives and ways, but when time gets ticking the other side comes to the surface.

Na’vi and “Sky People” start to mesh, and become a team. They work with each other to become better as one. Na’vi peoples show Jake the way of the land, and their culture. "Everything is backwards now, its like out there is the true world, and in here is the dream", says Jake Sully while making a video blog. Jake becomes one of them himself, liking the Pandora way of life more than what was raised to know. Grace, a scientist from earth, shows them the knowledge and schooling we know, and what is common to us. Soon there is a connection, and the scientist get closer. They make a way of life, and a way to live on Pandora with the Na’vi peoples.

As the movie progresses we learn that, other than the scientist, the Sky People begin to think that the Na’vi peoples need to learn their ways. They need to begin to live in a certain way. The Sky People feel the need to take what they want, and not let the Na’vi in their way. Jake Sully takes it upon himself to warn the Na’vi of their ways, and what they plan on doing. "With your permission, I will speak now. You would honor me by translating", quote from Jake Sully, said to Tsu'tey, trying to prepare the Na'vi people to fight back. Though, with his attempt, the Na'vi peoples weapons weren't any competition facing the Sky Peoples'.

         In the attempt of the Sky People taking over the Na’vi, they go above and beyond what is needed. They target one of the most sacred part of the Na’vi culture, Hometree. The Na’vi peoples make a living and a lifestyle off of Hometree. With many simularities to the First Nations, the Na’vi peoples are pushed aside. Their thoughts, feeling, and beliefs are ignored. The Sky People have not only destroyed that generation of Na'vi peoples, but have probably ended any generations to come. The Na'vi peoples lives are destroyed, they no longer have the only thing they were raised on. Without that, they can not keep a populated culture.

         Comparing the First Nation peoples, and the Na’vi peoples, they are treated the same in many ways. Both cultures experience the harsh reality of colonization, marginalization, assimilation, ethnocentrism. Our past has such a impact on the way we live today, and on for many generations. We are constantly reminded of what happened during those times, and how the First Nations were affected. To this day, the First Nation peoples are still feeling the affects of their culture being assimilated. To think, all of this started with cultural contact. In our everyday lives, we constantly hear about current representations of cultural contact. We can only wonder if another culture will, one day, be treated like the First Nations, and Na’vi peoples were.