Implicit Meanings in Avatar

Name: Caitlin Floer

In Film; An Introduction, Phillips defines an implicit meaning as "a generalization a person makes about a film or other text or about a subject in a text" . These can be developed through cinematic techniques, symbols, narratives, or stories (Phillips, 2002). 

One of the largest meanings taken from this film is the similarity of the actions of the army in Pandora with the actions being taken in The War on Terror in the Middle East. This is shown in a number of different places throughout the film, but most notably during a narrative when Colonial Quaritch is prepping his army to go into battle with the Na'vi, leading them with the line; "We will fight terror with terror". This quote serves to bring forth real memories of war to the viewers and possibly some resentment at the fact that they are planning on going in to destroy the Na'vi's home in order to gain Unobtanium.

Source: Google Images

This meaning comes directly from producer James Cameron, who has publicly proclaimed himself to be an environmental activist who believes that humans and industrial society are causing climate change. In an interview with PBS, Cameron noted that he referenced Iraq, Vietnam, and the American colonial period in the film; also noting that Americans have a history of taking what they need from nature and indigenous peoples and don’t give anything back in return (Hamilton, 2009).

One thing that differentiates this story from others that depict the fight between native people and white people is that in the end, Jake Sully and a few other characters choose to stay in their avatars. Some stories will conclude with a select white person being accepted into a tribe, but rarely do plot lines have a chance to show a full transformation and acceptance into the native tribe. 

Source: Google Images

This could be another implicit meaning from Cameron, hinting that the solution to our real-world troubles could be to try to live harmoniously together; something that sounds good on paper but is more difficult to implement when dealing with drastically different cultures and beliefs.

Source: Mast, Gerald. Film Cinema Movie: A Theory of Experience. New York: Harper & Row, 1977.
Source: Hamilton, Andrew. (2009, Dec 23). The Meaning of Avatar. Retrieved from http://www.toqonline.com/blog/the-meaning-of-avatar/