Globalization In Avatar
Molly Moar
May 14, 2013
Social 10-1
Economic Globalization and Cultural Contact
Economic Globalization and Cultural Contact
Cultural contact is what occurs when two cultures come in contact with one another, though media, trade, or immigration. The film Avatar is based on cultural contact and the outcomes of this concept. Pocahontas, another example of a film based on cultural contact, both films are relatively alike, they show ethnocentrism to other races until two people from different cultures fall in love, and learn to accept each other’s culture. Avatar depicts several concepts of economic globalization by portraying, ethnocentrism, acculturation, and marginalization.
Ethnocentrism is the belief that one’s culture, beliefs, and values are superior to other cultures, a theme that is present throughout the movie. In Avatar, humans established a settlement on Pandora in an attempt to take away and use the Na’vi’s land and resources. The humans had the idea that they had the right to take away the natives culture, ideals, and values for their own pretentious. When the scientists argued that the tree cannot be extracted, the CEO responded "Look around, there's plenty of trees, they are not gonna be homeless, they have a place to move to!” That statement suggested that the humans thought the Na’vi were second class, and the humans had more superiority. These motives are similar to our own past of historical globalization, such as the British Empire colonizing North America.
Acculturation is the cultural and psychological changes resulted in cultural contact. Though out the film Avatar, acculturation was an outcome for the Na’vi. Because of the human’s intents, the Na’vi lost many sacred parts of their culture. The Na’vi had a “home tree” that was the foundation for their culture, once the humans had burned it down there society went into chaos. Their culture and ways of life had been distorted forever. The Na’vi would have to learn to adapt
May 14, 2013
Social 10-1
Economic Globalization and Cultural Contact
Economic Globalization and Cultural Contact
Cultural contact is what occurs when two cultures come in contact with one another, though media, trade, or immigration. The film Avatar is based on cultural contact and the outcomes of this concept. Pocahontas, another example of a film based on cultural contact, both films are relatively alike, they show ethnocentrism to other races until two people from different cultures fall in love, and learn to accept each other’s culture. Avatar depicts several concepts of economic globalization by portraying, ethnocentrism, acculturation, and marginalization.
Ethnocentrism is the belief that one’s culture, beliefs, and values are superior to other cultures, a theme that is present throughout the movie. In Avatar, humans established a settlement on Pandora in an attempt to take away and use the Na’vi’s land and resources. The humans had the idea that they had the right to take away the natives culture, ideals, and values for their own pretentious. When the scientists argued that the tree cannot be extracted, the CEO responded "Look around, there's plenty of trees, they are not gonna be homeless, they have a place to move to!” That statement suggested that the humans thought the Na’vi were second class, and the humans had more superiority. These motives are similar to our own past of historical globalization, such as the British Empire colonizing North America.
Acculturation is the cultural and psychological changes resulted in cultural contact. Though out the film Avatar, acculturation was an outcome for the Na’vi. Because of the human’s intents, the Na’vi lost many sacred parts of their culture. The Na’vi had a “home tree” that was the foundation for their culture, once the humans had burned it down there society went into chaos. Their culture and ways of life had been distorted forever. The Na’vi would have to learn to adapt