In literary studies, postcolonialism
or postcolonial theory is a set of theories
in philosophy, film, political sciences and literature
that deal with cultural identity in colonized societies. Based on Barry’s book,
one of significant effect of postcolonial criticism is “to further undermine
the universalist claims once made on behalf of literature by liberal humanist
critics.” Even though a universal signification is declared for a work, the
universalism is always rejected by postcolonial criticism.
Barry (2005) summarized in
his book that postcolonial criticism depicts the attention to issues of
cultural difference in literal texts. The “AVATAR” is one of movies which can
be analyzed by using postcolonial theory. Avatar is a famous movie. This movie
is about alien race who live peacefully on a Pandora. The planet of Pandora is destroyed
by United State Army, using advanced military force in order to colonize
a natural resource on Pandora. This colonialism is the main aspect to be
discussed in postcolonial criticism.
Jack Sully is the main protagonist character in “AVATAR”. He is a
paraplegic who has the opportunity to regain his legs if he wants to be an
Avatar on Pandora. Jake has to learn about the avatar program and the people of
Pandora. By being an Avatar, the human can navigate the planet easily in order
to force the Na'vi to leave Hometree.
The human want to destroy the hometree because there is a very large deposit
of unobtanium underneath the tree. He was commissioned by Colonel
Quaritch to participate in the Avatar program. In this story, Jack Sully has a
double identity as both colonizer and colonized. It is the recognition of such
double identities which is one of the strengths of the post colonialist view.
Bhabha
(1994) argued that “colonial hybridity, as a cultural form, produced
ambivalence in the colonial masters and as such altered the authority of power.”
A hybrid is a composite of mixed origin, and hybridity is simply mixture.
Historically, hybridity became a useful tool in forming a fearful discourse of
racial mixing that arose toward the end of the 18th Century. The process of
cultural hybridization in the “AVATAR” happens when Jack becomes an Avatar. He
can switch his life as a human and an Avatar alternately. This emphasis on
identity as doubled, or hybrid, or unstable is a third characteristics of the
postcolonial approach.
Besides, the process of relating
to the colonizer can also be described through three phases: adopt, adapt and
adept. The first phase is like mimicry. Jack “adopt” himself as an Avatar in
order to get a link with another Avatar on Pandora. Then, he performs the
second phase of “adapt” to the new environment and the Na’vi culture. He is
taught a Na’vi language. He learns how to ride, how to walk, and how to hunt
silently. The last phase is called as an “adept” when he becomes a great Avatar
to live and survive. He is officially becoming the one of the Omaticaya people.
He can be also considered purely as a Na’vi, not a human anymore.
Surprisingly, he loves his life as a Na'vi warrior on Pandora far more
than he ever did his life as a human marine on Earth. After spending time as an
Avatar, Jack falls in love with Neytiri, the warrior of Na’vi. Her mother and
father are the leaders of Na’vi. The first meeting between Jack and Neytiri
happens when Neytiri saves Jack from viperwolves attack. He finds himself
indebted to the Neytiri. He can not let the human marines destroy the Na’vi
environment, especially the Na’vi hometree. Finally, he violates his mission
and turns to protect the Na’vi from the extermination the colonel has planned.
He has been assimilated into the native people's culture and has become a hero
for Na’vi.
Colonel
Quatrich is depicted as the main colonial for the Na’vi group. He orders his
militer to destroy the hometree. Jack, Neytiri and all Na’vis are oppressed by
its destruction. After the destruction of the hometree, Jack said, "I
was a warrior who dreamed he could bring peace. Sooner or later though, you
always have to wake up." He rises
and gets up with a lot of spirit. His spirit is revealed when he succeeds to
ride a great leonopteryx, called as Toruk Makto. It is a flying shadow
which only can be rode by five elected people and Jack is the sixth Toruk
Makto. Then, Jack also said, "The Sky People have sent us a message-
that they can take whatever they want, and no one can stop them. Well, we will
send them a message. You ride out as fast as the wind can carry you. You tell
the other clans to come. You tell them that Toruk Makto calls to them! You fly
now, with me, my brothers, sisters, and we will show the Sky People that they
cannot take whatever they want! And that this, this is our land!" It is stated that Jack
leads the Na’vi to battle with the Sky People (Human). Although the invaders
are equipped with sophisticated weapons technology,
all Na’vi stil can win ultimately. For postcolonial theorists, one of the most challenging problems is
how to unite people under the banner of different culture.
Adapted from: http://james-camerons-avatar.wikia.com/wiki/Avatar_Wiki
Created by: ~NKA~07PAG~LICRIT II~ My last analysis in Literature~ ^^
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