#global lies

[ausetkmt]

Avatar Films Have Always Been A Gross Reimagining Of Colonialism

After 13 years, the sequel to Avatar(2009) has finally arrived. The original science fiction epic, written and directed by James Cameron, broke multiple box office records in its theatrical run and became the highest-grossing film of all time for a decade. Many will remember accompanying their families to sold-out theatres mere days before Christmas for a film that employed the use of groundbreaking technology which would change the art of filmmaking forever. However, Avatar (and its sequel Avatar: The Way Of The Water), is in fact a problematic analogy of indigenous oppression. 

To recap, Avatar follows disabled ex-marine Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) as he learns the ways of the Omaticaya clan of the Na’vi people in an avatar body that looks and functions just like theirs. Along with their culture, he falls in love with one of the Na’vi, a fierce warrior named Neytiri (From Scratch’s Zoe Saldana), and switches sides against the humans, subsequently leading the Omaticaya people in their war against Colonel Quaritch (Stephen Lang) and the Resources Development Association (RDA).

Many will remember the blue alien species facing adversity, but not many will remember (or have even noticed) that the central conflict in Avatar is an allegory for colonialism. An ignorant, aggressive, money-hungry corporation supported by military enforcement wishes to destroy the sacred homeland of indigenous communities in order to obtain valuable resources — sounds a little familiar to me. In fact, James Cameron has admitted that Avatar is based on the colonisation of Native Americans. In court documents from a 2015 plagiarism case where visual effects artist Gerald Morawski claims Cameron stole the idea from him, Cameron produced a sworn declaration detailing how he came up with the idea for the film. “Avatar is a science fiction retelling of the history of North and South America in the early colonial period,” read the statement. “Avatar very pointedly made reference to the colonial period in the Americas, with all its conflict and bloodshed between the military aggressors from Europe and the indigenous peoples. Europe equals Earth. The native Americans are the Na’vi. It’s not meant to be subtle.”

Indeed, Quaritch and the RDA are very obvious symbols of colonial whiteness; they even use a slew of derogatory, colonial verbiage, referring to the Na’vi as “savages” on multiple occasions. Sadly, this focal conflict follows into the sequel, with previously deceased Colonel Quaritch returning as the story’s villain via an avatar body that had all his memories stored in the event of his death. This time, he has one mission: getting revenge on Jake Sully. Colonel Quaritch is now even more bloodthirsty and dangerous, eager to destroy Jake and his new family, and he is willing to go as far as becoming the very beings he hates the most in order to exact vengeance. With the RDA and their weapons backing him, Quaritch lays waste to several Na’vi communities, burning down their homes and killing them in cold blood.

“The truth is, reimagining colonial violence and the suffering of indigenous people through the eyes of an alien species isn’t the epic story Cameron thinks it is.”

Indigenous people have taken issue with the themes in Avatar for years, but it’s only now with the increasing visibility of social media that there is a wider platform for them to share their opinions and continue a discourse about the problematic nature of this story. Now that indigenous people are being heard, some are calling for a boycott of the film’s highly anticipated sequel.

Much of the recent criticisms got louder following the resurfacing of a 2010 article by the Guardian that details the involvement of Cameron and Avatar’s Sigourney Weaver and Joel Moore in the Brazilian Xingu peoples’ campaign against the Belo Monte hydroelectric dam project. Acknowledging that the Avatar had created “a bit of a spotlight on [them] right now to raise awareness in certain key areas”, Cameron expressed his desire to make a 3D “experiential” documentary on the Xingu’s battle.

After watching indigenous ceremonies and meetings Cameron made extremely disparaging comments about the Lakota. “I felt like I was 130 years back in time watching what the Lakota Sioux might have been saying at a point when they were being pushed and they were being killed and they were being asked to displace and they were being given some form of compensation,” said Cameron. “This was a driving force for me in the writing of Avatar – I couldn't help but think that if [the Lakota Sioux] had had a time-window and they could see the future… and they could see their kids committing suicide at the highest suicide rates in the nation… because they were hopeless and they were a dead-end society – which is what is happening now – they would have fought a lot harder.”

Cameron has since addressed the subsequent accusations of racism in a UNILAD article, noting that he wanted to “listen and to be sensitive to issues that people have.” However, Cameron has not apologised directly to the Lakota people for his degrading comments. 

Simply acknowledging people's feelings as “valid” is not enough. The truth is, reimagining colonial violence and the suffering of indigenous people through the eyes of an alien species isn’t the epic story Cameron thinks it is. It’s an appropriative and tasteless virtue-signalling of a traumatic issue that still affects millions of native people today.

Despite Cameron claiming that he wishes to move away from the white saviour trope, the backstory of Avatar’s central white character says otherwise. By positioning Jake as the Na’vi’s saviour, the film’s “fuck white people” metanarrative conveniently disavows whiteness as inherently bad. Even in Avatar: The Way of Water, despite bringing even more death and destruction to the beautiful land of the indigenous Metkayina tribe who provide a safe haven for his family, Jake pretty much remains the hero of the story.

This representation of Jake as one of the “good” whites implores people to view whiteness as an institution and a system, rather than individuals who can be complicit in a system of violence and oppression. In doing this, Cameron suggests that sometimes, whiteness can save us. It feels like some weird colonial wet dream that appoints certain well-meaning white people as the saviours of native people in the perpetual struggle against other white people. Both Avatar films’ metanarratives are framed as counter-hegemonic, but they ultimately end up reproducing hegemony by positioning white people as heroes — thus supporting and legitimising white supremacy. 

The franchise props up whiteness as something special and unique that enrichens and sets you apart from everyone else. In Avatar: The Way of Water, Jake and Neytiri’s kids are seen as outcasts, similar to Jake, because they were born with five fingers like humans instead of four like other indigenous Na’vi. Because of this, they are teased by other Na’vi. However, throughout the course of the film, the Sully kids are revealed to have special abilities; Kiri (Weaver) the daughter of the late Grace Augustine’s (also Weaver) avatar body, has a particularly special connection with Ewya, the Na’vi’s omniscient deity. It’s interesting that in both films, the characters that are connected to whiteness (apart from the RDA) are treated as different and special among the indigenous communities they make a home in.

Ultimately, colonialism is a real-life monster that has and continues to affect indigenous people globally for generations. Though the story of Avatar is fictional; its themes aren’t, and it’s imperative that we think critically about the on-screen representation of certain issues and groups because the media largely informs our understanding of the subjects depicted. It also informs our application of these issues — from individual to collective praxis. It’s even more important when you consider the global visibility of this film.

James Cameron most likely thought that this film would implore pro-colonialists and Western imperials to think about their empire’s history differently. But if he really wanted to fight for the rights of indigenous people, he could have directly provided aid, reparations, or any kind of tangible support to these communities instead of producing a multi-billion dollar franchise that emblematizes their trauma. His net worth is literally $700 million. But do the people whose struggle inspired filmmakers like Cameron and line his millionaire pockets see even a cent of those profits? No. Of course not. 

It’s true: Western colonialism begets a debt that cannot ever be repaid. But white Westerners, at the very least, can make a start — and putting a spin on indigenous trauma for profit isn’t it.

#racism on film #Refinery29: Avatar Films Have Always Been A Gross Reimagining Of Colonialism #avatar #avatar 2 #color #global lies #cameron is a racist director #western colonialism

[ladyvaderpixetc]

Jon Stewart, hitting the nail on the head once again.

#gacked from Jessica Chastain's tweet #jon stewart #on the ridiculous lies regarding #trickle down economics #and billionaires hoarding wealth to play with #abolish billionaires #us politics #but also kind of #uk politics #hell it's #world politics #billionaires and privatisation are a global threat

[reality-detective]

"Every single prediction they've ever made has been wrong." Geologist, Prof. Ian Plimer, blows the UN's "human-induced climate change" propaganda completely out of the water.

"They still haven't, after 30 years, shown us that human emissions [of CO2] drive global warming." "There's been a relentless campaign of propaganda for 30 years, and the basics haven't been shown." 🤔

#pay attention #educate yourselves #educate yourself #knowledge is power #reeducate yourself #reeducate yourselves #think about it #think for yourselves #think for yourself #do your homework #do some research #do your own research #ask yourself questions #question everything #climate crisis #global warming #green new deal #lies exposed

[karagna]

A Pound of Flesh link: https://karagna.itch.io/a-pound-of-flesh-concept

For this year's Global Game Jam, I decided "Hey why don't I solo dev an entire visual novel in Renpy with absolutely 0 prior knowledge in coding?"

And so I did! Presenting A Pound of Flesh (part 1), a short vn where you play as Agatha, a girl who begins working at a quaint butcher shop.

It's around 20 mins play time, and if there's interest I'll most likely add on more sections as well! Right now you can only play up to the end of week 1 because I only had 36-ish hours to code and draw the entire thing. Let me know what you guys think if you play it!

#li draws #artists on tumblr #original character #global game jam #ggj #ggj24 #visual novel #renpy #vn #A Pound of Flesh

[treasurechestsubs]

Special Release~ Author Notes from C101-C150 from 2HA novel and Global Examination Extra Chapter on Qin Jiu's Birthday English Translated

Hello everyone~! :D

We have a special release today~

2HA (Husky And His White Cat Shizun) Novel Author Notes C101-150: >> Link (viewable and downloadable) <<

For easy viewing, here are the links to the author notes for >> C001-050 << and >> C051-C100 <<

and

Global Examination Extra Chapter shared by Mu Su Li on Qin Jiu's Birthday: >> Link (viewable and downloadable) <<

*********

Our ongoing projects: >> Link <<

Our Carrd: >> Link <<

In case you wish to join our discord server for more content, please fill up this >> request form <<

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Happy reading~ ^v^

#2ha #the husky and his white cat shizun #novel #author notes #global examination #qqgk #extra chapter #qin jiu #birthday #special chapter #english translated #fan translation #meatbun doesn't eat meat #Mu Su Li #pure love #action #drama #fantasy #historical #erha #erha he ta de bai mao shizun #2ha tidbits #mini-theatres #treasure chest subs

[drawulan]

Invigilator A

#global examination #qqgk #quan qiu gao kao #you huo #全球高考 #qqgk fanart #illustration #book illustration #danmei recs #danmei novels #danmei fanart #danmei #mu su li #commision me #commissions open #art commissions

[cnovelartreblogs]

This cover is a.may.zing oh my god. Like. Exactly how I pictured this scene.

Official art from the Global Examination manhua on Bilibili.

#official art #mu su li #global examination #qin jiu #you huo #jiuhuo

[qqgk-incorrect-quotes]

Yu Wen: why don't humans have a specific noise for 'there are bees here, let's leave immediately'. Why are elephants more advanced than humans? Di Li: we do have a specific noise for it Di Li: it sounds like 'there are bees here, let's leave immediately'

#global university entrance examination #guee #qqgk #quan qiu gao kao #global examination #guee incorrect quotes #qqgk incorrect quotes #main source: unknown #source: incorrect quotes generator #di li #yu wen #danmei #danmei incorrect quotes

[yaoioioay]

GUEE 2

#jiuhuo #you huo #qin jiu #guee #global examination #quan qiu gao kao #qqgk #global university entrance examination #bilibili #bilibili comics #mu su li #invigilator #examination

[yuwenism]

Gotta say, I love Di Li and his amazing winged eyeliner/eyelashes

#guee #qqgk #quan qiu gao kao #global university entrance examination #全球高考 #di li #狄黎

[skylilac]

this book is acruakly soooo disappointing

#i was thinking like oh religion and queer angels and culty stuff that sounds fun but its actually SO BORING #every fifteen pages he started talking abt his ex like i still love him and also hes ENGAGED???? but he keeps saying betrothed like a weirdo #and like hes literally still in love w his ex but i KNOW thats not the real li but hes talked to the real li like six times maybe #like why put a love triangle if everythings lame and boring #and like the workd building fucking sucks its so bad all i know is global warming made it rlly rlly hot #and ok i get this kinda dystopian setting is hard to pull off but why is it SO fucking jarring i keep forgetting its dystopia #and like listen i get queer rep being important but this is SO BAD. #its like modern queerness + future dystopian apocalypse and it fucking sucks #like nothing abt queerness evolved over the last few decades?? are you fr?? we’re still having the exact same queer discourse?? #if youre gonna write a love letter to queer survival at least be fucking CREATIVE #im not buying that human culture stayed totally static except for global warming and a religious apocalypse #what abt race what abt sports what abt food what abt jewelry and clothes and ughhhh this is so boring #ok and the li also has no personality traits bc every time hes there alk the mc says is #wow! he has floppy hair! that he pushes back w bobby pins! #oh my i dont know how to use the bobby pins he gave me so im gonna dramatically throw them on the floor when we have our only fight! #ALL I KNOW IS. he has floppy hair it might be black #this book fucking sucksssss im so upset i hate gr reviews #avery rambles

[reality-detective]

⚠️⚠️⚠️ Global Warming ⚠️⚠️⚠️

Overnight, temperatures in Mongolia dropped to as low as -58 degrees. 🤔

Source: 👇

#pay attention #educate yourselves #educate yourself #knowledge is power #reeducate yourself #reeducate yourselves #think about it #think for yourselves #think for yourself #do your homework #do your own research #do some research #ask yourself questions #question everything #climate crisis #climate change #global warming #lies exposed

[crabboytahomaru]

Global Examination got licensed LETS GOOOOO

(and the earth is online and kaleidoscope of death)

#global examination #guee #qqgk #you huo #qin jiu #yu wen #di li #chu yue #wen yuan #154 #tagging characters so people see it #teio

[treasurechestsubs]

Global Examination Audio Drama S1 (old) Ep 13 English Subbed

Hello everyone~ ^v^

Global Examination (GE or QQGK) Audio Drama S1 (old) Ep 13 is now available~!

These episodes can be accessed via our discord server. To request an invite to the server, please fill up this >> request form <<

Please note: In case you try to open above link or any links from us on your phone and get an error message, please just try opening the link in your phone’s internet browser, go to the address bar and remove the “href.li” part and proceed to open the link.

Please also note: When you put down your responses in the above-linked form, please just put down a link to your social media profile or mention something like username (social media). Only writing your username does not give us any information on which social media website you are referring to, and so, I won’t be able to process such requests. Also, if you just write some random answer (like OK) for this question, your request will definitely not be considered and no invite will be sent to you.

Many a times, it happens that our email to you having the invite link goes to your spam folder in your mailbox. So please do check once check there once and if you still haven’t received an invite, contact us on tumblr.

Also, please do double-check the email address you put down because one reason for you not receiving any invite could also be that you put down a wrong email address and so the mail bounced back.

*********

Our ongoing projects: >> Link <<

Our revamped Carrd: >> Link <<

*********

Notes:

1) Please use >> VLC Player << to play the file. It is available for a large range of operating systems as well as devices.

For advanced users, I’d recommend >> K-lite codec pack + MPC-HC player << Standard version or above. The player is included from the standard version onwards.

2) Please avoid sharing these files on YouTube and other video streaming platforms. If you wish to share our subbed files, please just reblog or link this tumblr post.

3) Copper Coins, Global Examination, Panguan, Qianqiu, Mou Mou, Mo Dao Zu Shi, Kaleidoscope of Death and Tian Ya Ke Audio Dramas are paid dramas. So please consider purchasing these audio drama if possible in order to support the original content creators. Links to the original CN audio only ADs have been linked in the >> projects << page for ease of navigation.

Happy watching~! :)

#global examination #quanqiu gaokao #ge #qqgk #audio drama #season 1 #old #episode 13 #english subbed #fan translation #fan subbed #mu su li #pure love #action #drama #thriller #treasure chest subs

[drawulan]

Old art redraw

#quan qiu gao kao #qqgk #global examination #jiuhuo #全球高考 #mu su li #danmei novels #danmei fanart #qin jiu #you huo

[cnovelartreblogs]

He has the prettiest eyes 😭

#official art #global examination #mu su li #you huo