• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
James Cameron addresses Avatar ‘racism’ accusations

Home> Film & TV

Published 15:30 10 Dec 2022 GMT

James Cameron addresses Avatar ‘racism’ accusations

"The important thing is to listen and to be sensitive to issues that people have"

Daisy Phillipson

Daisy Phillipson

James Cameron has addressed accusations of racism in Avatar, saying 'the important thing is to listen and to be sensitive to issues that people have'.

It's been 13 years since the first Avatar hit the big screen and revolutionised 3D cinema as we know it, while also smashing box office records as the highest grossing film of all time.

Fans are now eagerly awaiting the sequel, set to drop later this month, and let's just say there's a lot to be excited about.

Advert

But one issue that's arisen once more is the debate over whether or not the franchise features racially insensitive themes.

The first Avatar proved to be quite polarising in this sense – one the one hand, the storyline centres on the Na'vi, the indigenous people of the fictional planet Pandora, as they battle against the oppression of humans.

Some perceive the plot to be a metaphor for the way humankind, particularly in the west, treats the earth today, and that the film champions indigenous cultures.

Advert

On the other hand, a number of critics noted the similarities of the Na'vi story and the historical oppression of Native Americans and accused it of cultural appropriation.

The issue has been heavily debated over the years.
Twitter

Another criticism that arose suggested Jake Sully's character arc represented the 'white saviour complex', which describes white people in power who consider themselves as godlike figures for 'rescuing' BIPOC individuals.

As you can see, there are two very different ways of viewing the movie's subtext.

Advert

Cameron was more than willing to open up about these issues in a sit down with UNILAD ahead of The Way of Water's release, saying: "I think the important thing is to listen and to be sensitive to issues that people have."

"Here's my philosophy in general," he explained. "The people who have been victimised historically are always right. It's not up to me, speaking from a perspective of white privilege, if you will, to tell them that they're wrong.

"I have to listen. I have to say, 'Okay, if that's what you're feeling, that's what you're feeling.' And it has validity. It's pointless for me to say, 'Well, that was never my intention.'"

Cameron went on to tell us how the sequel moves away from the 'white saviour motif', adding: "Jake is just a father, he's part of the tribe, he's much more submissive in a way.

Advert

"When he shows up to the Metkayina as a refugee and says 'take us in', he's not running things. He doesn't want to run things."

Discussing the cultural appropriation critique, the filmmaker acknowledged the mistakes from the past and said: "We're trying to create our own indigenous cultures, and see them and how they express themselves through their art, through their weaving, through their clothing, hairstyles, everything else.

"We try to draw from everything so we kind of average it out and we're not extracting from any individual culture without their permission.

"But still, it's a tricky, tricky thing, and there may be people that object.

Advert

Cameron explained how the Avatar sequel overcame the 'white saviour' motif.
20th Century Fox

"I hope they don't; I hope they see the intention, which is to celebrate the wisdom keepers. I see the indigenous people that still remain in our world today as the people who are more connected to nature than we are in our industrialised urbanised civilization, and we need to learn from them.

"The movie is intended to celebrate those philosophies, that spirituality. If we offend anybody in the process, I can only apologise, but we're doing the best we can."

Avatar: The Way of Water swims into cinemas on December 16 where it can be seen in 2D and epic 3D.

Featured Image Credit: LADbible/20th Century Fox

Topics: Film and TV, James Cameron

Daisy Phillipson
Daisy Phillipson

Daisy graduated from Kingston University with a degree in Magazine Journalism, writing a thesis on the move from print to digital publishing. Continuing this theme, she has written for a range of online publications including Digital Spy and Little White Lies, with a particular passion for TV and film. Contact her on [email protected]

X

@DaisyWebb77

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

22 hours ago
a day ago
  • 22 hours ago

    Underrated Netflix mini-series labeled 'beautiful and relatable' as viewers watch for 9.4 million hours

    Idris Elba stars in the 'refreshing' eight-parter

    Film & TV
  • a day ago

    Fans can't stop watching 'underrated' Ryan Reynolds movie that's one of the best 'made in the last 10 years' and is now on Netflix

    Ryan Reynold has a whole lot of films under his belt but many think this gem is underrated

    Film & TV
  • a day ago

    Five epic movies that have just arrived on Netflix include 'cinematic masterpiece' which 'not enough people have seen'

    Which film will you choose to watch this weekend?

    Film & TV
  • a day ago

    People are just discovering what the 'Disney Hug Rule' is when visiting worldwide theme parks

    TikTok users have been chiming in with their own experiences with staff members

    Film & TV
  • Avatar 2 Is Going To Be So Long James Cameron Is Encouraging Pee Breaks
  • James Cameron Lashes Out At People Trolling His Avatar Sequels
  • James Cameron told executive to ‘get the f**k out of my office’ after begging him to cut down Avatar
  • Antiques Roadshow guest had items worth $26,000 that were so offensive they couldn’t be broadcast