...Analysis of Ethnocentrism in Avatar In the film Avatar, Jake Sully, a human, mentally controls a body that contains cells of the Na’vi natives from the planet, Pandora, and he attempts to learn the culture of the Na’vi. In a long run, the effect of being exposed to enthnocentrism, primitivism, romanticism and exoticism, could have changed Jakes’s decision from helping the humans to helping and living with the Na’vi. The aim of this essay is to explore enthinocentrism and its three areas: the primitive lives of the Na’vi, Na’vi’s romanticism with nature, and the exoticism of Pandora’s features and its inhabitants. Ethnocentrism is the view of one’s own culture to be superior and normal over the other culture (Lundberg, 2013). To the humans, they view the Na’vi as “blue monkey” (Cameron & Laudau, 2009), and are disrespectful towards their culture. The Na’vi also show the same attitude towards humans, where Eytukan, the clan leader, said that Jake has an “alien smell” (Cameron & Laudau, 2009). The humans view the trees as merely just an obstacle, whereas the Na’vi valued the trees deeply, where they believe that the trees are sacred, and were used to communicate and worship their mother goddess, Eywa. In turn, both sides think of each other as inferior and uncultured creatures from their contrast of their own beliefs. Primitivism is the view of another culture that is less developed, evolutionary and technologically (Lundberg, 2013). A scene where the Na’vi gives the impression...
Words: 673 - Pages: 3
...Journal of Business & Economics Research – June 2012 Volume 10, Number 6 A Study On Effectiveness Of Movie Trailers Boosting Customers’ Appreciation Desire: A Customer Science Approach Using Statistics And GSR Takayuki Iida, Aoyama Gakuin University, Japan Akira Goto, Aoyama Gakuin University, Japan Shoya Fukuchi, Aoyama Gakuin University, Japan Kakuro Amasaka, Aoyama Gakuin University, Japan ABSTRACT In this study, the authors research “Effectiveness of Movie Trailers Boosting Customers’ Appreciation Desire” using statistical science and GSR (Galvanic Skin Response) data. As a result of this study, the authors suggest two models of movie trailers boosting customers’ appreciation desire to make a new movie trailer. Keywords: Movie Trailer Production Approach Model; Statistics; GSR INTRODUCTION O ver the last several years, the authors have been conducting applied research on a Customer Science Approach. In this study, the authors research “Effectiveness of Movie Trailers Boosting Customers’ Appreciation Desire” using statistical science and GSR (Galvanic Skin Response) data. First, shared factors that form the backdrop for the structural elements of movie trailers are identified (picture, story, function, etc.) and a numerical model is used to assess their relative impact. Next, GSR experiments are used as a new way to visualize viewers’ emotional responses and identify key factors that motivate them to see the advertised film. Key factors that affect viewer emotions (including...
Words: 3991 - Pages: 16
...Mariah Henley Mrs. Brady English 4A Pd. 5 11 February 2015 Why Hasn't Leonardo DiCaprio Won an Oscar? Leonardo DiCaprio has been nominated to win an Oscar quite a few times, but he has yet to win against his competition and take home the award. What exactly is keeping someone who has been acting for twenty years from winning an Oscar? DiCaprio deserves to win an Oscar despite the fact that he has a rowdy behavior outside of acting, the roles he takes on aren't jaw-dropping, and that he's picky with the movies he will be in. Now that Leonardo is making $20 million per movie and is a single forty-year-old rich man, he takes his fame for granted and gets in trouble at huge parties and has been since he was a teenager. Tom Beer, author of the expose "Leonardo DiCaprio: Back in the Game," wrote, "He was partying in the clubs, he was picking fights with basketball players, he was dating every supermodel in sight." Beer's statement proves that DiCaprio is out of control and that people are starting to notice his ridiculous behavior. The Academy pays attention to celebrities and their actions outside of filming. Many people assume that just because a person is acting like an animal, they won't get the opportunity to receive an Oscar. In DiCaprio's defense, I don't think his personal life should determine whether or not he wins an award. Dedication and hardwork should be what gets recognized, not the decisions an adult is making outside of his career. DiCaprio has taken on...
Words: 778 - Pages: 4
...James Cameron’s movie Avatar was a major discussion amongst my friends when it came out. All of them had seen it at midnight opening, while I was stuck home doing errands and work. For weeks they would talk about how amazing the scenery was and how epic the fights were between the Na’vi and humans. I was completely lost during each discussion we had when we hung out at Starbucks or each other’s houses. I hated not knowing what the movie was about and finally I decided to watch it online. Now I know the reason why people thought it was awesome. I was just like every other viewer who thought the scenery was breathtaking and the story was amazing. Although I have seen Avatar about a hundred times now, I never once thought there were hidden messages occurring behind the movie. I had to watch it again so I could see why people seemed to view Avatar as being an environmental or political issue. The movie seems able to predict how our future will turn out, a type of religion being practiced, and show us acts of imperialism being displayed throughout the story. I was so distracted by the technology used to create Avatar’s scenery; and how amazing the creatures and characters looked that I never once noticed how it could be possibly be allegory of our own world. The movie seems to predict that our future will become miserable. That we will gradually fall short of supplies and that Earth will end up dying. So far this seems to be true because the earth is already fighting back for...
Words: 1074 - Pages: 5
...Paige Johnston Film Essay Avatar The critical acclaim that followed the box office destroyer, Avatar, out shined most films since the creation of Hollywood and the American cinema composition. Coming in at the second highest grossing film of all times only behind Titanic, James Cameron and his crew of artistic creators surely gave their audiences something to talk about. The film takes place in two separate worlds, the industrialized earth and the beautiful and plush avatar infested world of Pandora. The controversy of the film is centered on the humans mining the world of Pandora for a highly valuable element worth an estimated $20 million dollars a kilogram. The artistically drawn battle between the humans and the natives of Pandora, bring about a reminder of several classically organized stories that seem to follow along the same paths that Avatar treads upon. With this controversy that is being brought to light, the issue of race, racial tolerance and other problems dealing with color are brought up throughout the film in a multitude of ways. Whether it be embodied in the thoughts and processes of the characters, through the actual actions of the film, or the eerily similar comparisons that can be made between Avatar and other racially charged films, race is definitely a subject that was vividly dug up when the film crossed the minds of the viewers. Many reviews of the film Avatar put most of the racist charges and blames of inequality onto the writers of...
Words: 1007 - Pages: 5
...Journal of Business & Economics Research – June 2012 Volume 10, Number 6 A Study On Effectiveness Of Movie Trailers Boosting Customers’ Appreciation Desire: A Customer Science Approach Using Statistics And GSR Takayuki Iida, Aoyama Gakuin University, Japan Akira Goto, Aoyama Gakuin University, Japan Shoya Fukuchi, Aoyama Gakuin University, Japan Kakuro Amasaka, Aoyama Gakuin University, Japan ABSTRACT In this study, the authors research “Effectiveness of Movie Trailers Boosting Customers’ Appreciation Desire†using statistical science and GSR (Galvanic Skin Response) data. As a result of this study, the authors suggest two models of movie trailers boosting customers’ appreciation desire to make a new movie trailer. Keywords: Movie Trailer Production Approach Model; Statistics; GSR INTRODUCTION O ver the last several years, the authors have been conducting applied research on a Customer Science Approach. In this study, the authors research “Effectiveness of Movie Trailers Boosting Customers’ Appreciation Desire†using statistical science and GSR (Galvanic Skin Response) data. First, shared factors that form the backdrop for the structural elements of movie trailers are identified (picture, story, function, etc.) and a numerical model is used to assess their relative impact. Next, GSR experiments are used as a new way to visualize viewers’ emotional responses and identify key factors that motivate them to see the advertised film. Key factors that affect...
Words: 3991 - Pages: 16
...Avatar In the future, Humans have traveled through space and locate a planet named Alpha Centauri B-4. The planet is known by the locals as Pandora, which is populated by exotic plants and weird creatures. The human travelers intend on seizing the wealth the planet has to offer. The savior of the story is a former Marine by the name of Jake Sully. Jake Sully joins the native population of the planet in the hopes of avoiding planetary conquest by the human travelers set on depleting Pandora of its environmental wealth. The movie Avatar is a great success with its great action scenes, its creation of futuristic vehicles, the creation of new alien life forms, the expert use of CGI, the beautiful and awe inspiring cinematography, and the selection of vivid and brilliant colors for use throughout Pandora. Avatars introduction and use of the Combat Amp Suit, Grinder Vehicle and Scorpion Gunship helped in taking the combat scenes from an everyday science fiction fight to a whole new level. With raising the bar in combat fight scenes the Combat Amp Suit accessories displayed in the movie emphasize the detail spent by James Cameron in creating the perfect combat vehicle for his movie. The combat suit is fitted with cannons, flamethrower, slashing blade and various firing projectiles. The Grinder Vehicle is an ATV on steroids. The Grinder Vehicle is instrumental in helping the human travelers gain access through the dangerous and dense forest to the indigenous population...
Words: 959 - Pages: 4
...To explore Pandora's biosphere, scientists use Na'vi-human hybrids called 'avatars', operated by genetically matched humans. Jake Sully is a combat marine who has been injured in battle. As a result, he’s a paraplegic and in a wheelchair. After his twin brother is killed, Jake takes his place in a project on Pandora, a distant planet. Sully takes control of an "avatar" - a body combining human and Na'vi elements that is controlled while in a deep sleep - in a bid to infiltrate the alien race and get them to move from their home. Sully succeeds in joining the tribe, but he soon finds himself indebted to a beautiful member of the Na’vi tribe, Neytiri, who saves him from death -- either by her poisonous arrow or by the terrifying creatures that inhabit the land. Neytiri takes Jake to her father, the leader of the Na'vi, and it is decided that he will be allowed to live, and to learn their ways. Jake lives the life of the Na'vi and returns frequently to report his findings. While Jake begins to bond with the native tribe and quickly falls in love with the beautiful alien Neytiri, the restless Colonel moves forward with his ruthless extermination tactics, forcing the soldier to take a stand - and fight back in an epic battle for the fate of Pandora. With the exceptions of Jake, Norm, Max and several other scientists, all humans are expelled from Pandora and sent back to Earth; where after Jake is transferred entirely into his avatar with the aid of the...
Words: 260 - Pages: 2
...sinking ship: Titanic When I’m with my classmates every once in a while the conversation will turn to "favorite movies." I'll mention Titanic, and at least a couple people will snicker. I pay them no mind because I know that five years ago, these same people were moved to tears by that very movie. And they're too embarrassed now to admit it. I just watched Titanic for the first time in a long time. Expecting to simply enjoy the story again, I was surprised to find that the movie has lost none of its power over these five years. I cried again in all the same places. At first, I avoided watching this film for the longest time. Long before it was even released I had dismissed it as an over-hyped, over-blown, overly romanticized piece of Hollywood, and I wanted nothing to do with it. I never watched it in the theatre. I shook my head in disbelief at the 11 Academy Awards - even though I had never seen it. The director, James Cameron does a great job of creating an almost "you are there" type of atmosphere. One doesn’t just watch it, but one really feels it. The lead performances from Kate Winslet (as Rose) and Leonardo DiCaprio (as Jack) are excellent but both were first rate. They had their rich girl/poor boy characters perfectly. In my opinion, stealing the show was Frances Fisher as Rose's mother. She was perfect as the snobby aristocrat, and one could sense the fear and loathing she felt every time she looked at Jack. I'm not an expert on the sinking of the Titanic, but I have...
Words: 750 - Pages: 3
...me think of the film --- Titanic, the most classical movie in 20th center. Titanic is not just a love story, it also connects with the big history disaster ---Titanic sink in the ocean. Titanic no doubt is a commercial as well as the future of the film and the development trend of trends. Her highest grossing and the excellent graphics technology make the film into the classic of classic. Leonardo Dicaprio plays Jack, Kate Jools plays Ross is an eternal remembrance of the people and yearning. Titanic was one of the highest grossing films which had made almost $2,000,000,000 in total. It had also picked up 11 academy awards including the best picture, best director and the best original song and so on. According to the Wikipedia, the file received steady attendance after opening in North America on Friday December, 19, 1997. By the end of that same week, theaters were begging to sell out (Wikipedia). The film earned $8,658,814 on the opening day. By March 1998, it was the first film to earn more than $1billion worldwide. The film stayed in theaters in North America for almost ten months. Titanic made double its domestic amount overseas, generating an interactional gross of $1,242,413,080 and accumulating a grand total of $1,843,201,268 worldwide. It became the highest- grossing file in history, and remanded so for twenty years. The film of Titanic started in 1996, treasure Hunter Brock Lovett dives above the wreck of the Titanic looking for the diamond...
Words: 345 - Pages: 2
...In the classical film, Titanic, written and directed by James Cameron, the key actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet played the part of the two star crossed lovers from different social statuses of whom were able to meet under the most unforeseen circumstances (IMDb). Against all odds they fell in love and were able to express unconditional love through whatever trail that may have confronted them. At the beginning of the film they were both introduced in their own status and was elaborated on with how they were and how their lives were before boarding the RMS Titanic. The setting starts off with them boarding and continues to take place on the RMS Titanic following them as their love blossomed. As the film progresses, the theme of the...
Words: 1201 - Pages: 5
...RUNNING HEAD: AVATAR AVATAR Film Review Directed by James Cameron Eric Anderly ARTS/100 Deborah Laws Review “Avatar is set in the Year 2154 on the distant planet Pandora.” (French, 2009) The planet has been inhabited by Humans and was targeted because it vast supply of unobtainium, which is an energy source that the Human desperately are in need of in order to sustain life on Earth. (French, 2009) The human have hired a mining crew that is responsible for the extraction of the inobtainium. An army of hired soldiers to ensure the safety and forcibility of the mission has also accompanied the mining crew. (French, 2009) Although the planet has gravity is does not have oxygen, so the Human must wear mask to supply them with air to breath. One of the obstacles that the miners and army must face is the Native tribe of the Na’vi who has inhabited the planet and is determined to protect it from the Humans. The Na’vi is a primitive tribe and do not rely on technology as the Humans do, but yet, the instincts and training they have used for a lifetime to fight. The Na’vi have a sacred place of worship within their jungle know as the “Tree of Souls”. This also to be the area that contains the largest amount of the unobtainium material and the Mining company is determined at an cost to get it, even if it means killing the Na’vi or destroying the forest. A recruit by the name of Jake Sully has been selected to work in the Avatar program as has signed on to regain...
Words: 1126 - Pages: 5
...Avatar is an American science fiction film written by James Cameron in 2009. The film is set in 2154 on Pandora, a moon in the star system, inhabited by the Navi, a blue-skinned species of natives. Physically, they are stronger and taller than humans and they live in harmony with the nature. Humans intend to exploit Pandora’s reserves of a precious mineral, but that threatens the existence of the Navi and the Pandora ecosystem. Humans have two solutions to achieve their goal: the first one is to improve relations with the natives to convince them to leave their forest and the second one is the war. Thus, scientists grow Navi bodies modified with human DNA, called Avatars, that are controlled by mentally-linked human operators in order to get in touch with the Navi. Jake Sully is one of these avatar operators and succeeds to be a member of the natives and consequently he becomes to be a spy. Indeed, he delivers key strategic information to the human militaries and moreover he discovers that the Navi will never leave their forest owing to their way of living in harmony with the nature. While humans decide to begin the war against the natives, Jake Sully develops strong attachments to Pandora and its inhabitants so he decides to change ends and to fight against the human attack. After a short summary of this film, I am doing some commentaries of it. This science fiction film isn’t so unreal to the contemporary world. In the film, the war begins owing to a precious mineral...
Words: 580 - Pages: 3
...This paper is a brief analysis of James Cameron's Avatar, a massively successful film that has managed to gross, so far, a half billion in revenue. With its popularity and mass appeal, it has also incurred a considerable amount of criticism from a variety of sources, targeting a variety of topics of the film, from its presentation of alien natives and a colonial corporate military, to race issues and a depiction of cigarette use. This essay attempts to explore main threads of the film, analyzing criticism, and offering its own critique and deconstruction. It will employ diagnostic critique, as well, in order to analyze how Avatar is equally a reflection of and an active influence on contemporary culture. Avatar takes place in the virtual world of Pandora, created by Cameron with digital technology and colonized with fantastic creatures and an indigenous race of tall blue aliens called the Na'vi. The film is presented in three-dimensions, a technology that has been around for some time but this is the first time it seems to be used without reference to novelty. In this way Cameron and Twentieth Century Fox made a film, or rather an experience that cannot be pirated; a considerable amount of its revenue is from viewers paying extra to watch it in three dimensions, undoubtedly multiple times, on a monolithic IMAX screen. The virtual world within Avatar is closely reminiscent of virtual spaces like Second Life; in both environments, individuals use avatars to plug into the space...
Words: 1376 - Pages: 6
...Male Representation How Is Masculinity Represented In The Three Example Sources You’ve Chosen? In order to investigate masculinity I will explore three specific examples of media texts relating to the representation of men in ‘The Wolf Of Wall Street film trailer’, the ‘GQ magazine’ and the ‘Sam Smith CD cover’. The first media text I will look at is The Wolf Of Wall Street film trailer released in December 17 2013 by Paramount Pictures. The films storyline is about Jordan Belfort in 1987 (Leonardo DiCaprio) taking an entry-level job at a Wall Street brokerage firm then moving up in the world and becoming a billionaire. Throughout the film Jordan is presented as a dominant leader who has high control over the staff that works for him modelling them into himself to make them successful. He is presented in the trailer as a powerful and wealthy stereotype. This is reflected in the trailer when he Male representation in the film trailer is shown as iconic, money obsessed drug using, sex fanatics. The film trailer portrays men as money obsessed by repeatedly showing scenes with money whether it being strapped to a hooker or thrown off a boat. The use of money symbolises power in the film and presents what money can do to change a person’s life. In the trailer the men make reckless decisions and act abnormally. This is shown in the film trailer by the quick scenes and fast action shots. The speed of the different shots symbolises the frantic life the characters have. Another...
Words: 430 - Pages: 2