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Cameron's Avatar no different than the rest...

Sun Dec 20, 2009, 9:53 AM
  • Mood: Neutral
First of all, I'll take this moment to warn any readers that I'm about to delve into a pretty touchy topic... so if discussion on racism in the media doesn't sit quite right with you, I would discourage you from reading any further. Thanks!

Also, if you've seen this movie and disagree with what's said in this journal, please do comment! I really wanted to go watch this movie, but after doing the research, I'm undecided about whether I feel like it deserves my support.

~

I would say a few things about the whole movie in general first, but I think the following excerpts from the article you can find here [link] just about sums it up.

"This is a classic scenario you've seen in non-scifi epics from Dances With Wolves to The Last Samurai, where a white guy manages to get himself accepted into a closed society of people of color and eventually becomes its most awesome member.

This is not a message anybody wants to hear, least of all the white people who are creating and consuming these fantasies. Afro-Canadian scifi writer Nalo Hopkinson recently told the Boston Globe:

"In the US, to talk about race is to be seen as racist. You become the problem because you bring up the problem. So you find people who are hesitant to talk about it."

Sure, Avatar goes a little bit beyond the basic colonizing story. We are told in no uncertain terms that it's wrong to colonize the lands of native people. Our hero chooses to join the Na'vi rather than abide the racist culture of his own people. But it is nevertheless a story that revisits the same old tropes of colonization. Whites still get to be leaders of the natives - just in a kinder, gentler way than they would have in an old Flash Gordon flick or in Edgar Rice Burroughs' Mars novels.

First, we'll need to stop thinking that white people are the most "relatable" characters in stories. As one blogger put it:

"By the end of the film you're left wondering why the film needed the Jake Sully character at all. The film could have done just as well by focusing on an actual Na'vi native who comes into contact with crazy humans who have no respect for the environment. I can just see the explanation: "Well, we need someone (an avatar) for the audience to connect with. A normal guy will work better than these tall blue people." However, this is the type of thinking that molds all leads as white male characters (blank slates for the audience to project themselves upon) unless your name is Will Smith."

But more than that, whites need to rethink their fantasies about race.

Whites need to stop remaking the white guilt story, which is a sneaky way of turning every story about people of color into a story about being white. Speaking as a white person, I don't need to hear more about my own racial experience. I'd like to watch some movies about people of color (ahem, aliens), from the perspective of that group, without injecting a random white (erm, human) character to explain everything to me. Science fiction is exciting because it promises to show the world and the universe from perspectives radically unlike what we've seen before. But until white people stop making movies like Avatar, I fear that I'm doomed to see the same old story again and again."


Once again, you can find the rest of the article here [link] , and while you're at it, you might also be interested to read the interview James Cameron had with Playboy.

Yep, with Playboy magazine. Warning to any young readers, some very mature, and altogether disturbing, truths are revealed about this infamous director... Just in case you were a bit iffy on whether Mr. Cameron was an asshole, he opened his mouth and removed all doubt: [link]

:| Yeah. I'm definitely NOT sure about watching that movie any time soon... sad, because despite the disturbing perspective from which this film was created, the animation looks drool-worthy gorgeous. Ah well...


-
Still working on a couple of requests, including *IslandWriter's for catching my kiriban~ <3

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ANIME NORTH '09 PICS: [link]

:iconkataangweekstamp1::iconkataangweekstamp2::iconavatards-anonymous::iconunder-the-apple-tree::iconmai-fans::iconthemindblower::iconaangxkatara-fans::icontoph-fans::iconaang-aint-white-plz:
:iconavatard-directory::iconkataangweek2009::iconavatar-fan::iconavatar-cosplay-club::icontsubasareservoir::iconheroes-fan-club::iconsakunaru::iconzukartneyplz::icontokka-fans-united:
:iconaangstampplz1::iconaangstampplz2::icondreamerstamphalf1::icondreamerstamphalf2::iconirefusestamp1plz::iconirefusestamp2plz:
:icondastamp1plz::icondastamp2plz::iconileftdaonceleft::iconileftdaonceright:

I'M BACK BITCHES

Sat Nov 21, 2009, 5:52 PM
  • Mood: Love
  • Listening to: Dig - Incubus
  • Reading: about twi-fans freaking out over New Moon
  • Watching: Smallville [Pandora]
:P Sorry, that journal title = my unnecessary urge to emphasize how amazing it is that I'm returning. :XD:

So yes, it is true, I'm back in time to go through the 1,014 deviations and 1,451 messages in my inbox! Once I tackle those, I can begin uploading new art! :iconimhappyplz:

So, what've I missed? :D Lay it on me - Avatar fandom stuff, I haven't been in touch with anything other than Racebending in the past 3 MONTHS. :| I know, it felt really weird not coming home to the comp everyday and signing on to dA to read new journals. I want details, people, details! XD

Also, do me a huge favor and feature yourselves. Any and all cool new art you made in the past two months, drop me a link with a short description for each (like, the title and maybe throw in a sentence if you can), and I'll come take a look! =) I've missed this place sorely :heart:.

Also, what's all this I'm seeing at the bottom of the page about limited time free journal skins? o.O Has dA gone mad? Allowing us to accessorize without grossly overcharging us children? :0




-
Still working on a couple of requests, including *IslandWriter's for catching my kiriban~ <3 Hurray for progress.

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ANIME NORTH '09 PICS: [link]

:iconkataangweekstamp1::iconkataangweekstamp2::iconavatards-anonymous::iconunder-the-apple-tree::iconmai-fans::iconthemindblower::iconaangxkatara-fans::icontoph-fans::iconaang-aint-white-plz:
:iconavatard-directory::iconkataangweek2009::iconavatar-fan::iconavatar-cosplay-club::icontsubasareservoir::iconheroes-fan-club::iconsakunaru::iconzukartneyplz::icontokka-fans-united:
:iconaangstampplz1::iconaangstampplz2::icondreamerstamphalf1::icondreamerstamphalf2::iconirefusestamp1plz::iconirefusestamp2plz:
:icondastamp1plz::icondastamp2plz::iconileftdaonceleft::iconileftdaonceright:

KATAANG WEEK HATH ARRIVED.

Wed Aug 26, 2009, 9:37 AM
EDIT: more accurately, UNIVERSITY HATH BEGUN. So I won't be able to be on as often as I usually am... sad, I know. Please forgive me for not being able to get back to any notes/msgs, it may take me a couple weeks to get through all of them, possibly a month to come back to DA altogether.

Thank you for all the recent comments and favorites! normally I leave a message on the user's page but I haven't gotten a chance lately =C

So, consider this an extended BRB! I promise to come back soon as I can ;)

:peace:
Syonanto

---
KATAANG WEEK
And now although it's over, it was still totally awesome! :D I haven't finished all the prompts, but they're all I'm working on right now, I promise. And then right after that, I'll be completing previous requests~

In unrelated news, I got a new cell phone ^^. Sony Ericsson w760! I LOVE IT. Walkman, radio, 3.0 mgpx camera, video, slider. Red. Anyone else into Sony Ericsson phones? XDD

---
WOOOOOOOT :heart:
Feel free to drop off links to your Kataang Week creations in either my, :iconavatarded99:, :iconmyth12: or :iconlightskin:'s journals :iconflowerdanceplz:

Just a reminder: you do NOT need to sign up to participate! ;)


SYON'S KATAANG WEEK '09
August 19: Mischief - [link]
August 20: Skin - [link]
August 21: Reunited
August 22: Secrets
August 23: Passion - [link]
August 24: Spirit - [link]
August 25: Destiny - [link]


Tell everyone you know~ :heart:

:peace:
-Syonanto

-
Still working on a couple of requests, including *IslandWriter's for catching my kiriban~ <3 Hurray for progress.

---
ANIME NORTH '09 PICS: [link]

:iconkataangweekstamp1::iconkataangweekstamp2::iconavatards-anonymous::iconunder-the-apple-tree::iconmai-fans::iconthemindblower::iconaangxkatara-fans::icontoph-fans::iconaang-aint-white-plz:
:iconavatard-directory::iconkataangweek2009::iconavatar-fan::iconavatar-cosplay-club::icontsubasareservoir::iconheroes-fan-club::iconsakunaru::iconzukartneyplz::icontokka-fans-united:
:iconaangstampplz1::iconaangstampplz2::icondreamerstamphalf1::icondreamerstamphalf2::iconirefusestamp1plz::iconirefusestamp2plz:
:icondastamp1plz::icondastamp2plz::iconileftdaonceleft::iconileftdaonceright:

  • Mood: Content
  • Listening to: Tokio Hotel - Dark Side of the Sun

LOL KATAANG WEEK ICON...

Thu Aug 13, 2009, 9:54 AM
:iconkataangweek2009: : iconkataangweek2009 : Without the spaces.

K... who else noticed thebumpat the end...

Gawd I have such a dirty mind XD LMAO


The problem was that the new stamp I made [link] is longer than the one I made last year, so it's a larger file size. And icons on dA can only be under 15K. So even when I split it in two, the files were too large to make into joint icons like this :iconkataangweekstamp1::iconkataangweekstamp2:.

So please, feel free to use either of the icons! The single or the double, both are full of over 9000 Kataang power :D Hope you like!


KATAANG WEEK '09 PROMPTS
August 19: Mischief
August 20: Skin
August 21: Reunited
August 22: Secrets
August 23: Passion
August 24: Spirit
August 25: Destiny


Tell everyone you know~ :heart:

:peace:
-Syonanto


-
In other news, I'm still working on a couple of requests, including *IslandWriter's for catching my kiriban~ <3 Hurray for progress.

---
ANIME NORTH '09 PICS: [link]

:iconkataangweekstamp1::iconkataangweekstamp2::iconavatards-anonymous::iconunder-the-apple-tree::iconmai-fans::iconthemindblower::iconaangxkatara-fans::icontoph-fans::iconaang-aint-white-plz:
:iconavatard-directory::iconkataangweek2009::iconavatar-fan::iconavatar-cosplay-club::icontsubasareservoir::iconheroes-fan-club::iconsakunaru::iconzukartneyplz::icontokka-fans-united:

  • Mood: Excited
  • Listening to: G-Get Up and Dance - Faber Drive
  • Reading: kataang
  • Watching: kataang
  • Eating: ...kataang O.o

KATAANG WEEK COMETH [prompts!]

Wed Aug 12, 2009, 6:16 AM
Edit 2:
PROMPTS

August 19: Mischief
August 20: Skin
August 21: Reunited
August 22: Secrets
August 23: Passion
August 24: Spirit
August 25: Destiny


Special <3 to :iconlightskin:, :iconavatarded99: and :iconmyth12:. We had over a hundred-something prompts to go through, and cut it down to 7 in just 3 days :XD:

NEW KATAANG WEEK STAMP: [link] :heart:

/edit.

EDIT: Do you guys want a new Kataang Week stamp/icon?
Last year's = [link]
I was thinking of possibly updating it with more Kataang scenes. Y/N?
PLZ VOTE IN COMMENT KTHNX <33333


Amidst the sudden burst of Zutara Week artwork spreading like wildfire across dA, I feel the need to remind fellow Kataang fans that our time is coming REALLY SOON.

Like, REALLY soon. August 19-25th. Mark your calenders!

:iconlightskin:, :iconavatarded99:, :iconmyth12: and I are organizing it this year. Next journal will include the prompts!

For now, I'd just like to thank you guys for the prompt suggestions, and remind everyone that we want KW to be as great a success as last year- which was a BLAST! :dance:

It's almost party time.

ARE. YOU. READY?! :headbang:




-
In other news, I'm still working on a couple of requests, including *IslandWriter's for catching my kiriban~ <3 Hurray for progress.

---
ANIME NORTH '09 PICS: [link]

:iconkataangweekstamp1::iconkataangweekstamp2::iconavatards-anonymous::iconunder-the-apple-tree::iconmai-fans::iconthemindblower::iconaangxkatara-fans::icontoph-fans::iconaang-aint-white-plz:
:iconavatard-directory::iconl-lovers-club::iconavatar-fan::iconavatar-cosplay-club::icontsubasareservoir::iconheroes-fan-club::iconsakunaru::iconzukartneyplz::icontokka-fans-united:

  • Mood: Excited
  • Listening to: G-Get Up and Dance - Faber Drive
  • Reading: kataang
  • Watching: kataang
  • Eating: ...kataang O.o

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