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  • Essay / Parallels of Imperialism in The Film Avatar

    Imperialism began in the 19th century as a means to expand territories and continue the industrial revolution. Powerful nations like the United States and Great Britain took control of less developed regions for several reasons. This era of imperialism shaped the world today and is the only reason why we can afford products from all over the world today. In some places it is still prevalent today, and as such, films and novels have been made about the event. One of these films, Avatar, directed by James Cameron, beautifully illustrates the motivations and effects of imperialism through the use of cinema. This involves the people of Earth colonizing a Na'Vi planet that resembles the motivations of imperialism that occurred a century ago. The motivations for the imperialism of the European nations and the people of Heaven were the same. The Europeans wanted rubber, gold and wood to fuel their industrial revolution and the people of Sky wanted unobtanium to solve Earth's energy crisis. Plus, their racist. However, the most significant result of imperialism was the result of colonized peoples, and this is reflected equally in the story and in Avatar. Indigenous peoples were exploited and many were killed. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essay When Jake Sully is first introduced to the program, it is revealed that the main mission of colonization on the alien planet is to harvest a known resource. like unobtainium. This resource has an abundant amount of energy and can be used to solve Earth's energy crisis, which is why they are willing to destroy the homes of the Na'Vi people. As Jake Sully is taken to the operation's headquarters, he meets Parker Selfridge, one of the chief directors of the Avatar mission, speaking with Dr. Augustine, in favor of peace with the Na'Vi: "It's is why we I am here; unobtanium, because this little gray rock sells for 20 million per kilo. That's the only reason. That's what pays for the whole party. This is what pays for your science” (Cameron). Additionally, much of European imperialism was aimed at obtaining resources that were not available in their home countries. These resources included rubber, gold, copper, tin, and many others that were expensive and could help continue the industrial era the nation was going through. One of the continents from which they extracted these resources was Africa, considered inferior, similar to that of the Na'. Vi people. Through expeditions to Africa, raw materials were discovered and the leading explorer of the time, Dr. Livingstone, recorded his thoughts and reactions in his journal "Missionary Travels and Research in South Africa", "My Observations on This subject make I am extremely eager to promote the preparation of raw materials from European manufactures in Africa.” This evidence suggests that the desire for raw materials was, in fact, a major motive for imperialism in Avatar and for European imperialism. The Sky Peoples were looking for the raw material found under the Na'Vi people and because it was valuable to them, they tried to take over their lands and the Europeans also did this to the African people with their raw materials. The people of imperialist nations I don't have the impression that the natives are on the same level as the colonizers. Both in European imperialism and in the colonization of the Na'Vi, theDominators consider them savages and therefore have the right to kill them and use force against them. They have no remorse and feel they have the right to take whatever they want. A popular belief during the era of imperialism was Social Darwinism, or the belief that Western civilization was far superior to other civilizations. This was called the “white man's burden” in which Europeans viewed natives as children and uncivilized. they felt it was their duty to educate them. The Sky People are unaware of the Na'Vi culture and feel that they can destroy, kill, or take anything they want because they are inferior. It is with this racism that they can massacre many indigenous people and burn their homes and their connection to the forest. Jake Sully and Dr. Augustine, after seeing the rich culture and life of the Na'Vi, recognize them as a community and not, in fact, an inferior race. However, Parker doesn't feel the same way and only wants the resource the planet has: "No! They are savages bitten by flies who live in a tree. All right, look around you. I don't know about you, but I see a lot of trees. They can move! (Cameron). The ideas of the Europeans and the Sky People are the same, although the natives are totally different. The feeling of nationalism and superiority towards the natives was racist and resulted in ignorance of this important culture which was looked down upon. Both the Sky People and the Europeans had insignificant opinions about the culture and way of life of the indigenous people and had racist ideologies towards them. The White Man's Burden and the savage vision against the Na'Vi are the same, demonstrating a parallel between European imperialism and the imperialism in Avatar. The result of imperialism was beneficial to the nations that were imperialist because they received resources, land, and power. however, for the natives this was often detrimental. Their culture was broken, their leaders were killed and their homes were confiscated. This is prevalent in both the stories and Avatar. When Jake accidentally reveals that the Na'Vi want nothing from humans and that nothing will make them move or assimilate with the Sky Peoples, the colonel results in all-out war and destroys their home: "The hostiles believe that this territory of mountain is protected by their… divinity. And when we destroy it, we will blast a crater so deep in their racial memory that they will never come within 1,000 miles of this place again. And this too is a fact” (Cameron). European imperialism was brutal, as it had access to automatic weapons that decimated the natives when they refused to cooperate in meeting the needs of the British. As is often the case, the history of imperialism has been filled with brutality and much bloodshed. The people of Canton also did not want to assimilate and chose to revolt, but the results for them were devastating with one report from one township writing: "In truth the English barbarians are murdering us all that they can. These are dogs whose desires can never be satisfied. So we need not wonder whether the peace they have now established is real or pretended. Let’s all stand up, arm ourselves, unite and go against them.” This evidence demonstrates how devastating the effects of refusing assimilation can be and how bad the results of imperialism for natives are always. The impact of the people in Avatar parallels that of European imperialism. Superior technology devastated the natives,.