AN1001: Exploring Ethnocentrism and Primitivism in Avatar Movie

This essay explores the themes of ethnocentrism and primitivism as depicted in James Cameron's movie Avatar. Set in 2154 on Pandora, a moon inhabited by the Na'vi, the film presents a conflict between humans seeking to extract a valuable mineral and the indigenous population. The essay examines instances of ethnocentrism, where humans view Na'vi culture as inferior, demonstrated through disrespect, attempts at cultural assimilation, and ultimately, violent conflict. It also highlights the primitivism reflected in the Na'vi's communal lifestyle, animistic beliefs centered around the 'Tree of Souls', use of primitive technology, and the presence of shamanistic practices. While acknowledging glimpses of cultural relativism, the essay concludes that the movie strongly emphasizes ethnocentrism and primitivism, leaving a lasting impact on viewers.

Running head: ETHNOCENTRISM AND PRIMITIVISM IN AVATAR MOVIE
Presence of Ethnocentrism and Primitivism in Avatar Movie
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Author’s Note

1ETHNOCENTRISM AND PRIMITIVISM IN AVATAR MOVIE
Presence of Ethnocentrism and Primitivism in Avatar Movie
The Sci-fi movie Avatar was filmed under direction of James Cameron. The movie was
plotted in the year 2154, based on Pandora, which is a satellite of a planate in a distant planetary.
The human like inhabitant of the planet called themselves as Na’vi. Human visited the planate to
extract a mineral called “Unobtainium”, which is considered precious to solve the environmental
issues they are facing back on earth. The movie can be evaluated form the anthropological point
of view, examining the ethnocentrism reflected in it. Moreover, the movie also highlights the
contrasting view primitivism and advanced civilization that will be discussed in the following.
Ethnocentrism as defined by Bodley (2011) is considering one’s culture superior to the
others. This perception is highlighted in the movie under discussion and some of the direct
scenes are present that justifies this thought. The human in the movie sought to extract
“Unobtainium”, which was underneath the habitat of the Na’vi community. One can encounter
the presence of ethnocentrism within the human community living in the satellite. Many scenes
are viewed, where Colonel Miles Quaritch and Parker Selfridge refer the na’vi community as
animals or vermin that they seek to wipe out from the ground, so that they can extract the
mineral they are looking for. Both the character are positioned as the extreme ethnocentric, as
they are always disrespectful for the community and their culture. Moreover, there are multiple
scenes where the human tried to teach the Na’vi community their language that is English is spite
of learning theirs, so that they can drive them off their home ground. Moreover, the human were
disrespectful for both the native community of the satellite and their spiritual ground. It is
reflected by the use of firearms that was shown throughout the movie. The highest level of
ethnocentric act was demonstrated at the end of the movie where the human called for war to
drive the Na’vi community out of the home ground destroying the tree they live in.

2ETHNOCENTRISM AND PRIMITIVISM IN AVATAR MOVIE
The movie on the other hand reflected primitivism and primitive way of living of the
Na’vi community. Multiple examples can be drawn from the movie to define the statement. The
communal way of living is considered as one of the signs of primitivism as compared to the
primitive human society (Bell, 2017). The second example of primitivism is shown through the
Vitraya Ramunong or Eywa that is the tree of souls for Na’vi people. They held the belief that
the soul of individual goes into the tree of soul and their ancestors live in the form of the tree.
This is a primitive religious belief as defined by Halbmayer (2012) in the concept of Animism.
The tree of soul represented in the movie can be considered as a totemic object for the Na’vi
community.
Another example of primitivism is reflected through the use of primitive technology used
by the Na’vi community. The weapons used were bow and arrow, stone knives etc, which are
primitive form of technology in human history (Richerson & Christiansen, 2013). Another
significant example presented is the presence of shaman. Mo’at, the leader of the Na’vi
community is reflected as the shaman of the community as she is seen to perform spiritual
activities to heal people (Cowan, 2014).
Though the movie not only highlighted the concept of ethnocentrism and primitivism
throughout the entire time and presence of romanticism and cultural relativism is also presented;
a strong presence of the concepts are evidenced. Primitivism is reflected less number of time
than the rest by the presence was strong enough to make an impact on the mind of the viewers.
The cultural relativism is only presented through a few number of human in the movie, whereas,
the larger section represented extreme level of ethnocentrism.

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References
Bell, M. (2017). Primitivism (Vol. 19).
Bodley, J. H. (2011). Cultural anthropology: Tribes, states, and the global system. Rowman
Altamira.
Cowan, T. (2014). Shamanism as a spiritual practice for daily life. Crossing Press.
Halbmayer, E. (2012). Debating animism, perspectivism and the construction of
ontologies. Indiana, (29).
Richerson, P. J., & Christiansen, M. H. (2013). Cultural evolution: Society, technology,
language, and religion. MIT Press.