How do shared events, past and present, define communities?
All communities can be defined by shared events. It is the shared events, both past and present, that shape both a community and an individual’s values, goals and aspirations. Members of a strong and healthy community all share similar values and experiences which define how they belong within that community. These shared experiences, values, goals and aspirations, provide a basis for an individual’s self perception. Without them, communities cannot thrive as a whole, and therefore a sense of belonging, self worth and individuality cannot be achieved. This can be seen throughout history, in historical attitudes relating to colonialism, war and equal rights, where conflicting values have seen the degradation and destruction of once strong communities. James Cameron’s 2009 blockbuster film, Avatar, privileges the importance of having …show more content…
Grace, Neytiri and Jake are all influential characters and are good role models for those that surround them. Those who acknowledge and respect others’ needs, values, and opinions are often the most influential members of a community. This can be seen within Avatar, predominantly in the characters Grace Augustine and Neytiri, but also in Jake as his character developed further in the plot. In contrast, those who always push to influence, dominate others, and ignore the wishes and opinions of those in their community are often the least powerful. Although they have the potential to make a large impact on people, the result of their neglect is often negative rather than positive. Historical leaders, such as Stalin and Hitler are examples of how these attitudes have torn apart communities. Instead of giving people the choice to adopt their values, they rather tried to dominate and force their values onto the community, creating conflict and dividing