Comments on: James Cameron’s Avatar: Watch Some -isms This December! http://disabledfeminists.com/2009/11/21/james-camerons-avatar/ FWD (feminists with disabilities) for a way forward Thu, 30 Dec 2010 17:29:21 +0000 hourly 1 By: Jessica Lee http://disabledfeminists.com/2009/11/21/james-camerons-avatar/#comment-6041 Jessica Lee Fri, 08 Jan 2010 23:55:24 +0000 http://disabledfeminists.com/?p=1183#comment-6041 "but it’s worth pondering the fact that Cameron has been thinking about and developing this project for over a decade, and he apparently has not identified any content in it which might be considered problematic" That's so full of win. My best guess is that he was too busy thinking about how to incorporate as many fiber-optics as humanly possible into the Pandora ecosystem rather than actually plot and story development. I've seen the film and it's basically Pocahontas in Space with pretty lights and floating mountains. I find it impossible to believe Cameron was working on the story itself. After all this story's already been written, time and time again. “but it’s worth pondering the fact that Cameron has been thinking about and developing this project for over a decade, and he apparently has not identified any content in it which might be considered problematic”
That’s so full of win. My best guess is that he was too busy thinking about how to incorporate as many fiber-optics as humanly possible into the Pandora ecosystem rather than actually plot and story development. I’ve seen the film and it’s basically Pocahontas in Space with pretty lights and floating mountains. I find it impossible to believe Cameron was working on the story itself. After all this story’s already been written, time and time again.

]]> By: jonathan helix http://disabledfeminists.com/2009/11/21/james-camerons-avatar/#comment-5645 jonathan helix Sun, 03 Jan 2010 03:29:09 +0000 http://disabledfeminists.com/?p=1183#comment-5645 Meloukhia, you raise good points I hadn't thought of http://disabledfeminists.com/2009/11/21/james-camerons-avatar/#comment-5123 Yes, you're right. Even if it's only marketed with bad attitudes that's cause for concern. I'm nearly finished my blog on another side of Avatar, might post a link when done. Meloukhia, you raise good points I hadn’t thought of http://disabledfeminists.com/2009/11/21/james-camerons-avatar/#comment-5123

Yes, you’re right. Even if it’s only marketed with bad attitudes that’s cause for concern. I’m nearly finished my blog on another side of Avatar, might post a link when done.

]]> By: meloukhia http://disabledfeminists.com/2009/11/21/james-camerons-avatar/#comment-5208 meloukhia Wed, 23 Dec 2009 23:28:25 +0000 http://disabledfeminists.com/?p=1183#comment-5208 Anna, as discussed above, this post is specifically a critique of the <em>framing of the movie in promotional materials</em>. A separate review of the film will probably be going up later. Anna, as discussed above, this post is specifically a critique of the framing of the movie in promotional materials. A separate review of the film will probably be going up later.

]]> By: Anna http://disabledfeminists.com/2009/11/21/james-camerons-avatar/#comment-5207 Anna Wed, 23 Dec 2009 23:20:43 +0000 http://disabledfeminists.com/?p=1183#comment-5207 Have you actually seen this movie? I'm a wheelchair user and not only did I not find it offensive, I thought it was a much more accurate, positive portrayal of disability than any other film in recent times. 1. Crip Drag-Normally I'm completely against this but they produced the technology used to produce the movie captured the actors' movements to create the characters. Since the avatar walks, runs and jumps, the actor has to as well. Not ideal but admissable. 2. The protagonist does not spend much time sulking over his disability. As a newly injured formerly highly active person, it wouldn't be illogical for him to experience some desire of being able to walk again, especially in a future where that's possible just not affordable for him. It's explained at the beginning but in the end the choice he makes does not indicate sulking at all. I won't post it as it's a spoiler, but see the movie and you'll understand. 3. The protagonist is shown to be employed in a highly demanding job. Yes his superior isn't happy with him being on her team but at no point is his disability even brought up as being an issue. He gets around base easily and independently. Never is he shown as being a burden. Have you actually seen this movie? I’m a wheelchair user and not only did I not find it offensive, I thought it was a much more accurate, positive portrayal of disability than any other film in recent times.

1. Crip Drag-Normally I’m completely against this but they produced the technology used to produce the movie captured the actors’ movements to create the characters. Since the avatar walks, runs and jumps, the actor has to as well. Not ideal but admissable.

2. The protagonist does not spend much time sulking over his disability. As a newly injured formerly highly active person, it wouldn’t be illogical for him to experience some desire of being able to walk again, especially in a future where that’s possible just not affordable for him. It’s explained at the beginning but in the end the choice he makes does not indicate sulking at all. I won’t post it as it’s a spoiler, but see the movie and you’ll understand.

3. The protagonist is shown to be employed in a highly demanding job. Yes his superior isn’t happy with him being on her team but at no point is his disability even brought up as being an issue. He gets around base easily and independently. Never is he shown as being a burden.

]]> By: Sasha_feather http://disabledfeminists.com/2009/11/21/james-camerons-avatar/#comment-5189 Sasha_feather Wed, 23 Dec 2009 16:09:39 +0000 http://disabledfeminists.com/?p=1183#comment-5189 This post has been included in a linkspam at <a href="http://access-fandom.dreamwidth.org/9189.html" rel="nofollow">Access_Fandom</a>. Thank you! This post has been included in a linkspam at Access_Fandom. Thank you!

]]> By: meloukhia http://disabledfeminists.com/2009/11/21/james-camerons-avatar/#comment-5123 meloukhia Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:04:36 +0000 http://disabledfeminists.com/?p=1183#comment-5123 Jonathan, I firmly believe that media critique before pieces are released plays a valuable role in the overall discussion about media and the themes in media. And, in fact, even after things are released, people actually are allowed to talk about them without having seen them (as, for example, in the case of people who can't see <em>Avatar</em> because it is playing in inaccessible theatres). "Wait until you've seen it" and "you can't talk about it until you've seen it" are two arguments which are <em>classically</em> used to silence people who critique media from an anti-oppression standpoint. And I personally am tired of them. I specifically wanted to address issues which were glaring in the promotional materials in part because the film is being promoted with these attitudes, which seems to suggest a clear message about society and media. Even if the film isn't racist, sexist, and ableist, which it sounds like it is from all the reviews I've read, shouldn't we talk about the fact that it was promoted with racism, sexism, and ableism front and centre? The fact that this kind of marketing is believed to appeal to moviegoers is, I think, something worth discussing. The fact that one would promote a movie by saying "hey, this is totally -ism filled, you should watch it" and that this would be viewed as a potentially profitable promotional technique says a lot about our society. Jonathan, I firmly believe that media critique before pieces are released plays a valuable role in the overall discussion about media and the themes in media. And, in fact, even after things are released, people actually are allowed to talk about them without having seen them (as, for example, in the case of people who can’t see Avatar because it is playing in inaccessible theatres). “Wait until you’ve seen it” and “you can’t talk about it until you’ve seen it” are two arguments which are classically used to silence people who critique media from an anti-oppression standpoint. And I personally am tired of them.

I specifically wanted to address issues which were glaring in the promotional materials in part because the film is being promoted with these attitudes, which seems to suggest a clear message about society and media. Even if the film isn’t racist, sexist, and ableist, which it sounds like it is from all the reviews I’ve read, shouldn’t we talk about the fact that it was promoted with racism, sexism, and ableism front and centre? The fact that this kind of marketing is believed to appeal to moviegoers is, I think, something worth discussing. The fact that one would promote a movie by saying “hey, this is totally -ism filled, you should watch it” and that this would be viewed as a potentially profitable promotional technique says a lot about our society.

]]> By: jonathan helix http://disabledfeminists.com/2009/11/21/james-camerons-avatar/#comment-5121 jonathan helix Mon, 21 Dec 2009 23:47:27 +0000 http://disabledfeminists.com/?p=1183#comment-5121 With due respect, I think it might pay to save the negatives until after we've seen the movie? I haven't seen it - yet. I've been told as a special effects movie it's fantastic. Let's face it, love or hate his movies Cameron does do "epic" very well imho. Thanks for alerting me to some possible themes I hadn't thought of. I've tweeted this page as justice/fairness/feminist issues are important to me. However, I shall reserve judgement until after I've seen it. I think that's only fair? Peace to all Jonathan :-) With due respect, I think it might pay to save the negatives until after we’ve seen the movie? I haven’t seen it – yet. I’ve been told as a special effects movie it’s fantastic. Let’s face it, love or hate his movies Cameron does do “epic” very well imho.

Thanks for alerting me to some possible themes I hadn’t thought of. I’ve tweeted this page as justice/fairness/feminist issues are important to me. However, I shall reserve judgement until after I’ve seen it. I think that’s only fair?

Peace to all

Jonathan :-)

]]> By: Kat http://disabledfeminists.com/2009/11/21/james-camerons-avatar/#comment-4815 Kat Wed, 16 Dec 2009 05:29:37 +0000 http://disabledfeminists.com/?p=1183#comment-4815 My friend posted this on my facebook. It's an interview in which Cameron admits that he designed the female aliens that way so people would objectify them. http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=11723 My friend posted this on my facebook. It’s an interview in which Cameron admits that he designed the female aliens that way so people would objectify them.
http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=11723

]]> By: Kaitlyn http://disabledfeminists.com/2009/11/21/james-camerons-avatar/#comment-3943 Kaitlyn Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:14:45 +0000 http://disabledfeminists.com/?p=1183#comment-3943 I wanted to see it when I heard it one of trailers would be for "My Name Is Khan"* but info on whether the trailer would be seen everywhere, just in India, or just in cities around the world where the company assumes there is an audience. (Not Memphis, in other words.) *In MNIK, Shahrukh Khan plays a character with aspergers - he's Muslim and after Sept 11, the authorities interpret "the visible aspects of his condition as "suspicious" behavior." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Name_Is_Khan If the movie comes to Memphis (it better!), I was thinking of dragging my mom along because she works with special ed kids. But now I'm hoping that someone will post here in February about the movie. (It could be awesome, or it could be terrible - Karan Johar is directing.) I wanted to see it when I heard it one of trailers would be for “My Name Is Khan”* but info on whether the trailer would be seen everywhere, just in India, or just in cities around the world where the company assumes there is an audience. (Not Memphis, in other words.)

*In MNIK, Shahrukh Khan plays a character with aspergers – he’s Muslim and after Sept 11, the authorities interpret “the visible aspects of his condition as “suspicious” behavior.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Name_Is_Khan

If the movie comes to Memphis (it better!), I was thinking of dragging my mom along because she works with special ed kids. But now I’m hoping that someone will post here in February about the movie. (It could be awesome, or it could be terrible – Karan Johar is directing.)

]]> By: Kaitlyn http://disabledfeminists.com/2009/11/21/james-camerons-avatar/#comment-3942 Kaitlyn Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:09:48 +0000 http://disabledfeminists.com/?p=1183#comment-3942 ralph78 - I love me some CCH Pounder! She would be awesome as the boss of the human crew, but no, she'll be blue. ralph78 – I love me some CCH Pounder! She would be awesome as the boss of the human crew, but no, she’ll be blue.

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