A commentary on the biocentric perspectives of Indigenous people
Avatar: The Way of Water by James Cameron
Case study by Margot Maritz
Avatar (2008) is still one of the most influential eco-cinematic media, commenting on environmental concerns surrounding humanity and their environmental destruction for their gain. Visually depicting the conflict between the anthropocene and nature, Avatar has done an immense job of showcasing how and why the environment should be treated with justice - it is a fact that we rely more on nature than we think.
James Cameron continues to strengthen this environmental agenda with Avatar: The Way of Water (2022), communicating detrimental human activities, and cultural injustice both leading to an increase in climate issues. Avatar strives to impact the audience's ecological perspectives by creating environmental awareness, evoking emotion and visual depictions of these climate concerns. Cameron (2022) expresses that “the lessons from Avatar apply to present-day Earth, too. Indigenous people sustain 80% of our planet’s remaining biodiversity – ecosystems essential to our climate, fresh water, and food security.”
Avatar’s environmental agenda
Jones (2021) expresses that the rainforests on the east coast of Mindanao, an island in the Philippines, have an abundance of nature and wildlife. These lush environments are due to the conservation by indigenous peoples and local communities; the area known as Pangasinan has been occupied by the Manobo people for centuries. The Manobo have long relied on the land to grow crops, hunt, fish, and gather herbs. They use a variety of techniques to protect the land, from restricting access to sacred sites, designating wildlife sanctuaries and implementing off-seasons for hunting (Jones 2021). “We see ourselves as part of nature because it is life-sustaining, Aaron Payment, chairperson of the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians in Michigan, told Vox. Our very lives depend on living in an ecological balance with our natural resources (Jones, 2021).” Avatar uses explicit storytelling and visual tools to emphasise the contrast between man’s anthropocentric behaviour and the biocentric lifestyle of the clans. This directly relates to the eco-centric actions of the western world and the environmental ethical perspectives of indigenous people.
Narrative and visual storytelling
Within Avatar: The Way of Water (2022), audiences see how society repeats itself; with the “threat”, Sky people, returning to Pandora, the extrasolar moon where the Na’vi, Jake Sully and his family live. Once again Jack must form alliances with additional clans, especially the Metkayina Clan (reef people) to protect their home and the environment.
Avatar’s environmental agenda
Jones (2021) expresses that the rainforests on the east coast of Mindanao, an island in the Philippines, have an abundance of nature and wildlife. These lush environments are due to the conservation by indigenous peoples and local communities; the area known as Pangasinan has been occupied by the Manobo people for centuries. The Manobo have long relied on the land to grow crops, hunt, fish, and gather herbs. They use a variety of techniques to protect the land, from restricting access to sacred sites, designating wildlife sanctuaries and implementing off-seasons for hunting (Jones 2021). “We see ourselves as part of nature because it is life-sustaining, Aaron Payment, chairperson of the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians in Michigan, told Vox. Our very lives depend on living in an ecological balance with our natural resources (Jones, 2021).” Avatar uses explicit storytelling and visual tools to emphasise the contrast between man’s anthropocentric behaviour and the biocentric lifestyle of the clans. This directly relates to the eco-centric actions of the western world and the environmental ethical perspectives of indigenous people.
Narrative and visual storytelling
Within Avatar: The Way of Water (2022), audiences see how society repeats itself; with the “threat”, Sky people, returning to Pandora, the extrasolar moon where the Na’vi, Jake Sully and his family live. Once again Jack must form alliances with additional clans, especially the Metkayina Clan (reef people) to protect their home and the environment.
Sky people, also known as RDA forces, invade Pandora with the intention to mine for resources. “It was then revealed that the humans' return to Pandora is not just to run a mining operation to strip the moon of unobtainium. Instead, the Resources Development Administration (RDA) came back with the added objective of colonising the entire moon and making it the new home for humanity since Earth is on the verge of no longer being inhabitable” (Eclarinal, 2022, p. 2). In the process of attempting to obtain the moon’s resources for human consumption, the sky people destroyed habitats and environments that resulted in biodiversity loss and Na’vi fatalities.
The destructive human activities represented within the actions of the Sky people can be seen in today's anthropocentric world. Deforestation, fracking, overfishing, whaling, and the depletion of natural resources leading to cultural-, and environmental issues and climate change. The Sky people displayed these activities resulting in an inhabitable Earth, initiating the need for the invasion. Audiences learn through these RDA actions that it is vital to protect our environment before the Earth becomes inhabitable.
The destructive human activities represented within the actions of the Sky people can be seen in today's anthropocentric world. Deforestation, fracking, overfishing, whaling, and the depletion of natural resources leading to cultural-, and environmental issues and climate change. The Sky people displayed these activities resulting in an inhabitable Earth, initiating the need for the invasion. Audiences learn through these RDA actions that it is vital to protect our environment before the Earth becomes inhabitable.
“The film captivates audiences with beautiful imagery and an engaging story, whilst conveying an important message about the dualities between industry, technology, past, future, people and nature, serving as a protest against many urgent, important, and difficult topics in parallel” (Richards, 2022).
Environmentalism
“Maybe a movie like this can make people feel connected to the ocean, and maybe that makes them think a little bit. I’m not saying just send 10 bucks to Greenpeace. I’m talking about how we can work together to conserve this wonderful, beautiful, amazing thing that we have right here on planet Earth,” says Cameron (Richards, 2022).
Environmentalism
“Maybe a movie like this can make people feel connected to the ocean, and maybe that makes them think a little bit. I’m not saying just send 10 bucks to Greenpeace. I’m talking about how we can work together to conserve this wonderful, beautiful, amazing thing that we have right here on planet Earth,” says Cameron (Richards, 2022).
Avatar provides an example of how we can live with nature in order to decrease the effects of climate change and solve environmental injustice. Avatar: The Way of Water showcases the determination they have to keep each other and the environment safe. In today’s world, we can see similar dedications of indigenous people and climate activists in order to protect biodiversity and nature. This ecocentric perspective can be seen by the visual representation of the protection of the rainforest and its people within Avatar and the protection of biodiversity and different clans despite their cultural differences, within the second film and biocentric awareness created by the Na’vi tribes' simplified and sustainable livelihood and their respect and connectivity to nature.
The visual representation of different biomes and ecosystems strengthens this environmental agenda. Audiences see the influence of these environments and creatures on the protagonists and thus could develop a better understanding of eco-conscious behaviours.
The sub-themes of poaching and conservation
The visual representation of different biomes and ecosystems strengthens this environmental agenda. Audiences see the influence of these environments and creatures on the protagonists and thus could develop a better understanding of eco-conscious behaviours.
The sub-themes of poaching and conservation
In Avatar: The Way of Water, “whalers” hunt and kill “tulkans” , a whale-like sea creature, creating an impactful poaching sub-theme. Tulkans are killed to extract a liquid that assists in age prevention. Correlating with companies using animal ingredients to create profitable beauty products.
“Western and Indigenous conservation methods are based on two distinct views of nature. In the case of the Western world, humans and nature are viewed as separate. So much so, that to protect nature, the philosophy has generally been to keep humans out of it. On the other hand, Indigenous cultures generally view humans as part of nature, meaning that humans belong in the natural world. Because Indigenous peoples’ cultures and livelihoods are so dependent on nature, their way of life is essentially conservation — they apply the knowledge and skills they’ve accumulated over generations to manage and protect their ancestral lands, and their traditional laws often provide guidelines about accessing and using the land’s resources” (Arévalo, 2023).
“Western and Indigenous conservation methods are based on two distinct views of nature. In the case of the Western world, humans and nature are viewed as separate. So much so, that to protect nature, the philosophy has generally been to keep humans out of it. On the other hand, Indigenous cultures generally view humans as part of nature, meaning that humans belong in the natural world. Because Indigenous peoples’ cultures and livelihoods are so dependent on nature, their way of life is essentially conservation — they apply the knowledge and skills they’ve accumulated over generations to manage and protect their ancestral lands, and their traditional laws often provide guidelines about accessing and using the land’s resources” (Arévalo, 2023).
Similar to the outlook of indigenous people, the tribes within Avatar consider themselves to be one with nature rather than above nature. Therefore the theme gets enhanced by the beautiful and tragic imagery of the Tulkans, the relationship they have with the Metkayina clan and the killings of these creatures. The loss of biodiversity and its impact on the clan creates an emotional reaction within audiences that could evoke conservation.
The sub-theme of migration
The sub-theme of migration
Due to conflict between the Sky people and Jake, he and his family are displaced from the rainforest and their tribe. They seek refuge at the coast with the Metkayina clan. This comments on numerous indigenous people, currently and in the past, losing their homes due to conflict and western greed. Avatar further demonstrates the challenges of indigenous people seeking refuge by reflecting a narrative of the Na’vi refugee family that is not initially accepted because they are visually different.
Avatar’s sustainable filmmaking
“Cameron hopes the eco-conscious message woven into Avatar will inspire people to apply Pandora’s principles to life on Earth, protect our one and only planet, and spark environmental, conservational, and climate change conversations on activism” (Richards, 2022).
Films are one of the most influential forms to create environmental awareness, promote sustainability and evoke eco-conscious change, however, a film production needs to first adhere to these sustainable principles in order to make a difference. Avatar: The Way of Water's sustainable impact on audiences is emphasised by the environmental ethical plotline and visual essence, as well as the sustainable production workflows.
According to Richards (2022), James Cameron was determined in having the production as sustainably as possible. For example strictly vegan catering and eco-friendly set infrastructure.
Via an Instagram post, Cameron (2022) explains that “it’s important as an environmental advocate to walk the walk in all areas of my life – my work on the @OfficialAvatar sequels is no exception”.
Cameron (Nast, 2017) stated that his production offices are sustainable. The pre-existing structure was improved with environmentally friendly materials and fabrics, such as bamboo and porcelain tiles. A water filtration system with reusable water bottles for all employees. Supplying vegan food and equipping the soundstage roofs, where new Avatar film scenes are shot, with a solar panel system - this indicates that the business has been using net-negative power for the past four years. Avatar: The Way of Water received a green-seal from the Environmental Media Association for the production’s sustainable efforts.
Avatar’s sustainable filmmaking
“Cameron hopes the eco-conscious message woven into Avatar will inspire people to apply Pandora’s principles to life on Earth, protect our one and only planet, and spark environmental, conservational, and climate change conversations on activism” (Richards, 2022).
Films are one of the most influential forms to create environmental awareness, promote sustainability and evoke eco-conscious change, however, a film production needs to first adhere to these sustainable principles in order to make a difference. Avatar: The Way of Water's sustainable impact on audiences is emphasised by the environmental ethical plotline and visual essence, as well as the sustainable production workflows.
According to Richards (2022), James Cameron was determined in having the production as sustainably as possible. For example strictly vegan catering and eco-friendly set infrastructure.
Via an Instagram post, Cameron (2022) explains that “it’s important as an environmental advocate to walk the walk in all areas of my life – my work on the @OfficialAvatar sequels is no exception”.
Cameron (Nast, 2017) stated that his production offices are sustainable. The pre-existing structure was improved with environmentally friendly materials and fabrics, such as bamboo and porcelain tiles. A water filtration system with reusable water bottles for all employees. Supplying vegan food and equipping the soundstage roofs, where new Avatar film scenes are shot, with a solar panel system - this indicates that the business has been using net-negative power for the past four years. Avatar: The Way of Water received a green-seal from the Environmental Media Association for the production’s sustainable efforts.
Arévalo, C. (2023) Protecting The World’s Wild Animals Through Indigenous Knowledge, Faunalytics. Available at: https://faunalytics.org/protecting-the-worlds-wild-animals-through-indigenous-knowledge/ (Accessed: 27 February 2023).
Avatar: The Way of Water (2022). 20th Century Studios, TSG Entertainment, Lightstorm Entertainment.
Cameron, J. (2022) Instagram Post, Instagram. Available at: https://www.instagram.com/p/CjL5UGKvZgz/ (Accessed: 31 January 2023).
Eclarinal, A.M. (2022) Avatar 2 Spoils Why Humans Invade Pandora Again, The Direct. Available at: https://thedirect.com/article/avatar-2-humans-pandora-invade-why (Accessed: 27 February 2023).
Gaughan, L. (2022) ‘Avatar’: The Different Clans of Pandora Explained, Collider. Available at: https://collider.com/avatar-2-the-way-of-water-pandora-clans-explained/ (Accessed: 27 February 2023).
IMDb (2022) Avatar: The Way of Water, IMDb. Available at: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1630029/.
Jones, B. (2021) Indigenous people are the world’s biggest conservationists, but they rarely get credit for it, VOX. Available at: https://www.vox.com/22518592/indigenous-people-conserve-nature-icca.
Nast, C. (2017) James Cameron Takes Us Inside His Never-Before -Seen Avatar Inspired Eco-Friendly Offices In Manhattan Beach, Architectural Digest. Available at: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/james-cameron-takes-us-inside-his-never-before-seen-avatar-inspired-eco-friendly-offices-in-manhattan-beach (Accessed: 27 February 2023).
Richards, L. (2022) ‘Avatar Inspires Activism: An Environmental Message From the World of Pandora’, Impakter, 26 December. Available at: https://impakter.com/avatar-inspires-activism-an-environmental-message-from-pandora/ (Accessed: 27 February 2023).
Avatar: The Way of Water (2022). 20th Century Studios, TSG Entertainment, Lightstorm Entertainment.
Cameron, J. (2022) Instagram Post, Instagram. Available at: https://www.instagram.com/p/CjL5UGKvZgz/ (Accessed: 31 January 2023).
Eclarinal, A.M. (2022) Avatar 2 Spoils Why Humans Invade Pandora Again, The Direct. Available at: https://thedirect.com/article/avatar-2-humans-pandora-invade-why (Accessed: 27 February 2023).
Gaughan, L. (2022) ‘Avatar’: The Different Clans of Pandora Explained, Collider. Available at: https://collider.com/avatar-2-the-way-of-water-pandora-clans-explained/ (Accessed: 27 February 2023).
IMDb (2022) Avatar: The Way of Water, IMDb. Available at: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1630029/.
Jones, B. (2021) Indigenous people are the world’s biggest conservationists, but they rarely get credit for it, VOX. Available at: https://www.vox.com/22518592/indigenous-people-conserve-nature-icca.
Nast, C. (2017) James Cameron Takes Us Inside His Never-Before -Seen Avatar Inspired Eco-Friendly Offices In Manhattan Beach, Architectural Digest. Available at: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/james-cameron-takes-us-inside-his-never-before-seen-avatar-inspired-eco-friendly-offices-in-manhattan-beach (Accessed: 27 February 2023).
Richards, L. (2022) ‘Avatar Inspires Activism: An Environmental Message From the World of Pandora’, Impakter, 26 December. Available at: https://impakter.com/avatar-inspires-activism-an-environmental-message-from-pandora/ (Accessed: 27 February 2023).
All imagery used are taken from the Avatar film and is the property of Lightstorm Entertainment.