As heard in the Chicago Sun times and other news papers, Avatar, a Science-fiction fantasy film, has become one of the favorites in entertainment. James Cameron, director of the film and also director of Titanic, waited many years to film this production because he needed the right technology to come forth with his idea. It took about four years to actually finish his idea and thus presenting us with the movie: Avatar. Besides taking him so many years to produce it was also a costly production of about $300,000. Avatar is a film about two different worlds and the aims to protect their “home”. It brings up the issue of anti-war and helps connect humans to each other.
The issue here is if it was worth spending so much time and money to produce such a film? Roger Ebert, journalists, comments that “Once again, Cameron has silenced the doubters by simply delivering an extraordinary film”. This film has not only brought entertainment but also has shared the opportunity to provide us with many interesting ideas of what we think of the world and each other. Avatar starts off with an “alien” who is unable to walk. The alien is sent to “a human outpost” on Pandora where he is to achieve the “key”, in this case it’s like a mineral, to save earth’s energy crisis. They create avatars in order for them not to die. It’s a complicated description because there might be many interpretations but it mainly focuses on human race and this extraordinary life of the world.
Aristotle argues that the world should focus on liberality and that private property should be private but have its use be common. This might relate to the film in the sense that private property does not only focus on material things but also on the things in our world. Aristotle would agree with the film because it brings the idea that earth should not be fighting with the environment. Avatar teaches about Human race; these might not be real humans but they are considered to be just like anyone else. We as humans have the tendency to take whatever we feel like it without asking. This is why Aristotle argues that property should be private with some sense of common use.
Privacy gives a sense of individuality. For example war is a major impact in our lives; many go fight to protect us. Aristotle’s argument might lead into the thought that it does not always have to be private property that’s owned but also the ideas. These soldiers think about others and it does not necessarily mean that they must own something in order to be generous and help protect our country. We can see that Cameron came up with many ideas that took him a long time and if someone were to steal his credit then what is the point of spending all that money but yet he shared his idea with everyone.
Even though many would argue that Aristotle’s point of view is wrong we all have a sense to support it. That is plagiarism. Plagiarism is a big controversial topic. We can’t just “steal” from each other but we have to borrow and give credit. We can use ideas from others but they still have an owner and that is what Aristotle is trying to enforce in us. Avatar seems to be just one example of how humanity is a whole no matter the race or the property owned. We each have a sense of generosity within us that helps each provide with what one is capable of without it being taken from us.
The issue here is if it was worth spending so much time and money to produce such a film? Roger Ebert, journalists, comments that “Once again, Cameron has silenced the doubters by simply delivering an extraordinary film”. This film has not only brought entertainment but also has shared the opportunity to provide us with many interesting ideas of what we think of the world and each other. Avatar starts off with an “alien” who is unable to walk. The alien is sent to “a human outpost” on Pandora where he is to achieve the “key”, in this case it’s like a mineral, to save earth’s energy crisis. They create avatars in order for them not to die. It’s a complicated description because there might be many interpretations but it mainly focuses on human race and this extraordinary life of the world.
Aristotle argues that the world should focus on liberality and that private property should be private but have its use be common. This might relate to the film in the sense that private property does not only focus on material things but also on the things in our world. Aristotle would agree with the film because it brings the idea that earth should not be fighting with the environment. Avatar teaches about Human race; these might not be real humans but they are considered to be just like anyone else. We as humans have the tendency to take whatever we feel like it without asking. This is why Aristotle argues that property should be private with some sense of common use.
Privacy gives a sense of individuality. For example war is a major impact in our lives; many go fight to protect us. Aristotle’s argument might lead into the thought that it does not always have to be private property that’s owned but also the ideas. These soldiers think about others and it does not necessarily mean that they must own something in order to be generous and help protect our country. We can see that Cameron came up with many ideas that took him a long time and if someone were to steal his credit then what is the point of spending all that money but yet he shared his idea with everyone.
Even though many would argue that Aristotle’s point of view is wrong we all have a sense to support it. That is plagiarism. Plagiarism is a big controversial topic. We can’t just “steal” from each other but we have to borrow and give credit. We can use ideas from others but they still have an owner and that is what Aristotle is trying to enforce in us. Avatar seems to be just one example of how humanity is a whole no matter the race or the property owned. We each have a sense of generosity within us that helps each provide with what one is capable of without it being taken from us.
Even though I enjoy James Cameron's films, this one I'm avoiding with a passion! Everyone is marvelling on the technology used in the film but the audience chooses to be blinded by the message that humans will take over anywhere they see fit! This is not even an original story since Kevin Costner directed a film that was similar to it in 1990 with Dances With Wolves (It won a Best Picture Oscar & I enjoyed that movie). This movie is not what Aristotle had in mind on property and yet no one notices. My point is just because it looks nice doesn't mean it's not CRAP!
ReplyDeleteFirst off, let me say that I found this blog entry very interesting. I never would have thought to tie in Avatar with Aristotle. I do see the point that you are trying to make, but I have to agree a bit with dessoul. I haven't seen this because I'm not into the sci-fi and despite the new technology used to create this film, the reviews were mixed. A lot of people say that the plot is weak. My sister told me about and it is the same plot that's been done over and over. I do get that the humans are looking out for themselves by trying to take over another planet or whatever it is and that does goes against what Aristotle believes about living and living well. But this story has been done already. It reminds of the disney movie , Fern Gully, where once again humans were trying to destory the environment for their own selfish needs and greed and that was years ago.
ReplyDeleteBut I did enjoy reading your post. Good job.
I have to agree with Ms. Miller's comment above about never having imagined that Avatar could be tied into Aristotle's way of thinking about protecting one's life through ownership. In my opinion, this is a very unique and interesting take on Aristotle and I believe that it works very well with what we have been talking about in class. Yes, it does go with Aristotle's idea of securing one's own life, and not only one's own life but also that we should help other's do the same, which the human race in the movie contradicts because they are being selfish and do not care to destroy everything and everyone else as long as they get what they want. This is a very interesting tie, and at the same time a twist to all of our examples in class. Great Job!
ReplyDeleteI have actually not seen Avatar, but you actually picking avatar and comparing it to Aristotle is very interesting. I too agree with Jacqueline that that this is very interesting and unique, and that it works very well with Aristotle's philosophy on private property, but I was mildly thrown back by the earth and war example.
ReplyDeleteGood Job
Avatar is sure to be the greatest movie in our contemporary. Remember when the time I enjoyed the movie, i fele like the na'vi(local creatures) were behavioring as African people in today's world. They have their own community and dont wanna be disturbed by the outside people. The ideal world Aristotle depicted indeed exists today!
ReplyDeleteAristotle preachs a common use of the things around us. In Avatar what the director is trying to show us is, how we come into a place and take everything and call it our own. The people of that world are connected to everything around them, and they all share the tree. They the Aleins if i can call them because i forgot what they called them. Share everything and use the world to common use, were i believe is when human beings come in and attempt to take everything and make it theres. Kind of relates to Iraq today, we went in destroyed the country and now are trying to push our way of life onto them. If you look at recent News article on CNN. Iraq just signed big oil contracs with Exxon and Shell, all big western oil companies. It's similar to the point of the film.
ReplyDelete