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Avatar: Prime Example of the Power of Art

James Cameron’s new movie, Avatar, is a supremely-executed movie.  The special effects are, in a very real sense, no longer “special”.  They are spectacular, but they are so well rendered, and so seamlessly melded with live-action, that they become accepted by the audience as being the basic reality for the story.  Much of the current media coverage surrounds the digital world and digital effects used to create the film.  Yet, I would argue, that is not at all the reason why this film is notable or why this film has real power.

Art has a special place in this world, not simply for its aesthetic and entertainment value, but also for its ability to enable us to see new perspectives and for its ability to literally change the way we see the world.  Avatar is a movie that exemplifies this power.

No, the movie is not perfect.  The story could certainly be stronger.  What the movie has going for it, though, are the following strengths:

1. There are clear messages being promoted by the story
2. The story is told in an emotionally-moving fashion
3. The story takes place in a fictional, science-fiction universe
4. The movie has unbelievably strong draw for a massive audience of all ages

Let’s take this step by step.

First, no story, no art would have any real value without an underlying message.  Art always intentionally communicates something – a point of view, an argument, something.  In this case with Avatar, there are several messages:

• Willful and wanton destruction of the environment is wrong
• The displacement (by force or otherwise) of indigenous people for economic reasons is wrong
• Corporate greed blinds people to the ethics of what they are doing

Whether you believe these to be true or not is beside the point.  Cameron believes them to be true, because these are the messages in the film, and this is his film, his story.

Next, the story is told in an emotionally-moving fashion.  Cameron is a good story-teller. That, ultimately, is what makes him good, and why his movies draw in so many viewers – whether it was Alien, Aliens, True Lies, or Titanic, Cameron has always told his stories well.  By creating a good story and presenting it to us artfully, he shapes, pokes and prods our emotions – and emotions are the key to creating lasting memories and the key to changing how we think.

The story takes place in a fictional world.  Good science-fiction has always been social commentary.  Avatar is no exception.  By placing the events and people of the story in a fictional world, we the viewers of the story become less defensive.  Whatever the message is about, it isn’t ostensibly about us, about our world, about what we do.  But of course it really is about us, our world, and what we do.  The magic of make-believe is that we are more likely to consider the arguments without being reflexively defensive.

Cameron uses stunning digital effects to create his fictitious world and to tell his story.  The movie simply could not be made without the technology and the skill to use it wisely.  But the additional draw, over and above Cameron’s innate storytelling ability and his reputation, is the sheer coolness factor of it all.  I have seen grown men get excited and giddy from seeing the computer generated environment on television ads.  The computer-generated world pulls in a lot of people, young and old.

When you put all four strengths together, you end up with a movie that will have lasting effect.  It is art with power.  You won’t see it right away.  I predict that the greatest impact this film will have on our future is through its impact on the children who see this film.  Yes, many adults will be moved by the film.  It will have an impact on us.  But it is through the children, who will absorb the world, the story, and its messages beyond what we adults will, who are going to be most changed by the film.

Avatar has a message.  Avatar moves us.  Avatar is art at its best, with the power to change us.