To some people, Avatar may seem like just another science fiction action-adventure flick designed to show off some new special effects while giving audiences some feel-good messages in the process. However, there are much deeper messages to be found in the movie. The events in Avatar between the humans and Na’vi closely align to the motives, actions, and outcomes that occurred during historical imperialism.
One of the most noticeable parallels between the motion picture and historical imperialism is the invaders’ motives for colonizing the land. Both the British and the humans in Avatar had similar intentions; the desire for natural resources and cultural superiority. Great Britain was interested in India for its immense potential for profit. …show more content…
Both the British and the humans in Avatar had similar actions; the use of weapons and advanced technology. In 1857 to 1858 Indian troops (sepoys) lead a widespread, but unsuccessful rebellion against British rule. While the people of the rebellion shot some British officers, what the British did outweighed the original attacks. Hundreds of sepoys were bayoneted or fired from cannons in a frenzy of British vengeance. The Sepoys had no defense against their weaponry and the British took complete control over India. Also, when China wanted to end opium trade because a large percentage of the population was addicted to opium, Great Britain refused and declared war on China. Western military weapons, like lock muskets and paddlewheel gunboats, were far superior to China’s. Britain’s troops were tough and could get warships and provisions from its nearby colonies in Southeast Asia and India. The result was a disaster for the Chinese. By the summer of 1842 British ships were victorious. In Avatar, even though the plan was to convince the Omaticaya clan to move peacefully, Parker Selfridge and Colonel Quartich had their own plan. Parker Selfridge and Colonel Quartich planned to provoke a response from the Omaticaya by destroying the Tree of Voices, one of their most sacred places, to justify the planned destruction of the Hometree. Then, a detachment of Scorpion Gunships led by …show more content…
Both the British and the humans in Avatar had similar outcomes, rebellion. Unhappy with the British rule, there was the rise of a secret martial arts society referred to by the English as the “Boxers" (their Chinese name being translated as “righteous harmonious fists"). The group launched a series of attacks against foreigners, Chinese Christians and complicit government officials. The high point of the rebellion occurred in mid-1900, when Beijing was occupied by 140,000 Boxers. They laid siege to the British legation, which harbored most of the international community. The foreigners held out for two months until a quickly arranged multinational military force managed to break the siege, scattering the Boxers. In Avatar, after the attack on the Hometree Jake Sully united all the Na’vi tribes and planned a rebellion. In the following days, the Na’vi fought back against the military using the banshees, bows and arrows, hammerhead titanotheres, and sturmbeest. Ultimately, after the death of Colonel Quaritch the Na’vi asked the humans to leave Pandora for good and gained control of their land. These examples demonstrate how the outcomes between Avatar and historical imperialism are
One of the most noticeable parallels between the motion picture and historical imperialism is the invaders’ motives for colonizing the land. Both the British and the humans in Avatar had similar intentions; the desire for natural resources and cultural superiority. Great Britain was interested in India for its immense potential for profit. …show more content…
Both the British and the humans in Avatar had similar actions; the use of weapons and advanced technology. In 1857 to 1858 Indian troops (sepoys) lead a widespread, but unsuccessful rebellion against British rule. While the people of the rebellion shot some British officers, what the British did outweighed the original attacks. Hundreds of sepoys were bayoneted or fired from cannons in a frenzy of British vengeance. The Sepoys had no defense against their weaponry and the British took complete control over India. Also, when China wanted to end opium trade because a large percentage of the population was addicted to opium, Great Britain refused and declared war on China. Western military weapons, like lock muskets and paddlewheel gunboats, were far superior to China’s. Britain’s troops were tough and could get warships and provisions from its nearby colonies in Southeast Asia and India. The result was a disaster for the Chinese. By the summer of 1842 British ships were victorious. In Avatar, even though the plan was to convince the Omaticaya clan to move peacefully, Parker Selfridge and Colonel Quartich had their own plan. Parker Selfridge and Colonel Quartich planned to provoke a response from the Omaticaya by destroying the Tree of Voices, one of their most sacred places, to justify the planned destruction of the Hometree. Then, a detachment of Scorpion Gunships led by …show more content…
Both the British and the humans in Avatar had similar outcomes, rebellion. Unhappy with the British rule, there was the rise of a secret martial arts society referred to by the English as the “Boxers" (their Chinese name being translated as “righteous harmonious fists"). The group launched a series of attacks against foreigners, Chinese Christians and complicit government officials. The high point of the rebellion occurred in mid-1900, when Beijing was occupied by 140,000 Boxers. They laid siege to the British legation, which harbored most of the international community. The foreigners held out for two months until a quickly arranged multinational military force managed to break the siege, scattering the Boxers. In Avatar, after the attack on the Hometree Jake Sully united all the Na’vi tribes and planned a rebellion. In the following days, the Na’vi fought back against the military using the banshees, bows and arrows, hammerhead titanotheres, and sturmbeest. Ultimately, after the death of Colonel Quaritch the Na’vi asked the humans to leave Pandora for good and gained control of their land. These examples demonstrate how the outcomes between Avatar and historical imperialism are