Introduction
In any society, race and ethnicity are common issues. Racism is the discrimination of people on racial basis. Races include, Black, Chinese, Polynesian, and Indian. On the same note, ethnicity is the aggravated discrimination established on ethnic grounds. The ethnic circumstances may be regional in nature. Racism and ethnicity can be viewed from perspectives which are: Individual and Societal. It is in the appreciation of the works of Feagin and Feagin’s discussions that we come to the conclusion that these perspectives form a conclusive illustration on race and ethnicity issues. In this study, therefore, I objectively purpose to bring to scope the applicability of theoretical stands that revolve around race and ethnicity in, Avatar, the movie.
Body
The individual perspective on ethnicity and race illustrates that a person’s view of issues determines his reaction. In this foregoing, the individual uses his rationality to highlight major aspects of the environment that are in his association. Similarly, when it comes to matters of ethnicity, the same mental position determines his judgment on other people. A person may discriminate another person basing on his personal intuition which may dictate hate, despise and disregard for the person, group of persons or a community that assumes a different race or ethnicity. In Avatar, Individual perspectives override societal perspectives in that it does not take the model that defines societal perspectives in detail. On the societal perspective, however, Pandora was a place in the space that happened to be occupied by a group of individuals known as the Navi. Social apartness as depicted by Feagin is hence a common phenomenon. The community would discriminate against another community. It is also clear that the community did live in harmony, this stems from the point that they were one ethnic community which would certainly offer resistance to any invalid that tried to cross borders to its space. It further follows that, the scientists in their quest for mineral exploitation, had to engineer up individuals who would probably match the identity of the Navis. The scientists had a negative view on the Navis hence the reason to their initiative of coming up with people who looked like the Nazi called avatars. Under this observation, race and ethnicity take the category of societal view on the phenomenon along, neighborhoods, economic reasons, families and religious institutions. On the broader view, individual perspectives take the dominant position in the following instances that I have cited.
Jake takes up the responsibility that was supposed to be exercised by his late brother. This is an illustration of how ethnic he is; he clings to his family relations. When Jake is found by a Navi called Neytiri in the forest, she takes him home. She is of the impression that he is one of their own. It further becomes deeper when she is told by her mother to take up the role of initiating Jake in the way of the community. It then appears like this society overlooked other communities outside their racial grouping. Ethnicity was implicit on the activities that involved the incorporation of jack in the ways of the community. Racism on the other hand is illustrative in the events that culminate to Jacks rescue.
The private security force further displays their ethnicity and favoritism aspects when they promise Jack for the healing of his legs if he discovered the tricks and ways to go about getting to the stem of their goal. Blatant racism is the act of violently affecting another group of people who assume a different racial position. Private security forces led by Selfridge decide to destroy Home tree upon their realization that the Navis would never abandon that place.
Quaritch hits at Grace when she was being rescued by a pilot. It is in the reiteration to the fact that she was a Nazi. Her survival was not to his expectations since his target was to terminate the Navi community. They had a perspective towards this ethnical grouping hence his inhumane actions. At the war rages and escalates, Quaritch plans on killing Jack because of his betrayal. He had gone against his allegiance to the forces. This is an individual perspective by the forces which form part of Quaritch’s leadership. Tree of souls is a religious institution recognized by the Navi, Quartitch believes that destroying it would bring an end to its dominance and position. It is in this regard that we come to the appreciation that the cultural view was responsible for negative ethnicity factors.
However, the domination aspect by individuals on race and ethnicity factors would have shifted and assumed the form of Societal perspectives had the movie majored on ,political ,workforce, mass media, schools and companies that represent a modern structure of racism. It is line with this parameters that people and societies are able to able to accommodate or put up with each other.
Conclusion
References
Cameron, J. (2009). Avatar: A Confidential Report on the Biological and Social History of Pandora. New York: HarperCollins.
Feagin, J. (2013). Systemic Racism: A Theory of Oppression. New York: Routledge.
Harmann, D. (n.d.). Ethnicity and Race: Making Identities in a Changing World. New York: SAGE publications.
