Why Does It Matter That Avatar Is A Movie?
 

One thing we hear a lot is the "it's just a movie" argument, but TBH I don't really understand it. I mean, people are inspired and changed by other forms of art all the time, like music or books or paintings, and you never hear anyone pull an "it's just a book" argument or something, but for some reason, movies seem to be taboo as a form of inspiration. Why is that?

Well, it's changed people. That's good. But people hating their birth race is just too far. Even blasphemous. Especially blasphemous. Some people, unfortunately, need to be reminded.

Nobody would say jack if it was a book, though. But people seem to get in a tizzy because it's in movie-form.

And are you going on about the blasphemy again?:S Like I said before, spirt > species.

Yeah, but you've got to admit it's a bit strange to see someone hating their own species. Even if their spirit says otherwise.

Well, there are misanthropic people everywhere, people here would hardly be the first.

not at all. its called misanthropy, something that's been known for a long time. Misanthropy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Well if that's the case, we've got a forum full of misanthropes.

To which I say, "meh."

Let me ask you something, Advent. Does wishing I were Na'vi mean I automatically hate humans? Is it possible that I want to be a Na'vi, and be indifferent to humans?

Yeah, I would leave for Pandora if I could, but stop acting like I'd drop a couple nukes off the Venture Star on the way out or something.

That very well may be true, but I don't think they outright hate their species. Instead they hate the direction modern society is going. And for that I don't blame them one bit.

Spot on.

I don't hate what we are, I hate what we've become.

I think I'm the very definition of an asocial misanthrope. :P

But I STILL respect ALL OF YOUR opinions and beliefs though - and I think you should too, Advent. You can dislike what other people thinks and believes - but that does not mean you have to disrespect them.

For example, I really dislike the idea of humanity reaching out in space. Really, really dislike. But that does not mean that I disrespect the people who thinks that way. I simply states "Ok, that person thinks we should get into space. I think it's wrong, but I'll let him have his opinions."

And it's the same with everything else. Yes, I do hate my birth race. Are you going to refuse to talk to me now? Or can you respect that we think differently, and find other things to talk about, or perhaps debate the opinion?

Anyway... this thread has gone horribly off-topic. Just a reminder. ;)

I'd say it's because no other art form has ever produced such a strong reaction or inspiration. I guess it's the sort of natural backlash to any kind of superhype about anything, that tries to restore the order of balance or something by stating that it's just a movie, which it is.

Oh dear...

Ditto for me.

I don't disrespect them. I'm just saying, it's blatantly obvious we have misanthropes here.

Of course. But that does not have to be something bad - it's all about perspective.

Of course... But I really do not hate humans, just because I wish to be something better... What I do hate is people who can't see that and keep repeating the same thing.

im a misanthrope.
wow, it is obvious...

Anyway, back on topic please. Why are movies always singled out as an unacceptable form of inspiration?

I don't have a real good answer on this. Maybe movies are singled out because they are arguably easier to 'consume' than, say, a book, which requires a bit more time, patience, thinking, and interpretation. By this argument, books appear more 'intellectual,' especially if the movie is just loaded with action scenes and all that stuff. Hence, it seems more logical to find inspiration from a book.

But I don't like what I just said, there's plenty of movies (which may or may not involve action) that require thinking and interpretation from the viewer, and certainly some books that defy the 'intellectual' tag.

Maybe part of the problem is that people don't think of a huge-scale film like Avatar as one that is meant to be inspiring. They just see such a movie as something meant primarily to entertain and make a huge pile of money. Perhaps they'll say that one with a much smaller budget and far less SFX can be [allowed to be] inspiring, but a huge flick that is meant to be a blockbuster? "Nahh..."

I'm just thinking out loud at this point, don't know how logical I sound...

In general, the world needs more of this. ^

And yes, I'm off topic. Just making an observation.

Hey, don't put words in my mouth. I hate it when people do that.
And wishing you are a Na'vi doesn't make you a misanthrope. Don't let anger or frustration get the better of you, Tsyal.

And you can tell who they are. Always taking the Na'vi side. Defending them more than anything. Outright insulting companies, politics, Civilization, along with society.

Of course, hating society I have no quarrel with. And I especially hate politicians.

News to me. Since when has this been going on?

For as long as they've been around... :(

Pretty much since movies have been out, I guess. I'm sure you've heard the "it's just a movie" argument, right? Well, I'm just pointing out that movies tend to be disregarded as forms of inspiration more than any other form of media. I mean, no one ever hears an "it's just a book" or "it's just a piece of music" argument. I'm just trying to figure out why movies seem to be the odd one out all the time.:S

I usually only hear of people saying "it's just a movie" to frightened kids who just saw a scary movie.

All the time, wut. Give some examples. Sounds like you're making something out of nothing. :S

You're on the forum for one. :P

I wouldn't say that is really true. How many times do we hear things like "It's just a myth/legend/story" all of which tended to be book based.

It is a movie, but whether it is just a movie will depend on the judgement of each individual. Just like I think that the bible is "just a fictional book." But many diasgree with my view and think it is very important.

Maybe 'cause Hollywood does make a lot of really stupid movies (and more ppl are exposed to them than say, trashy novels) and if you don't get the subtext, it can be hard to tell the difference. Sturgeon's Law, folks--90% percent of works in any medium, in any genre, are crap. Which ones make the top 10% can be highly subjective.

Oh, and to those who come out of Avatar hating humans, remember that the Na'vi are (somewhat idealized) primordial humans. Go far back enough and your ancestors lived in small groups where everyone's family, got their food directly from the land, and connected with the land and animals. There's still people like that today, and guess what, they're getting raped, massacred, and forced off their sacred lands so the place can be clearcut, stripmined, and otherwise destroyed. As always, their conquerors think that might makes right. http://www.survivalinternational.org/