Avatar Imperialism Analysis

Deep in the heart of every former colony there was imperialism clawing through their resources. Many old colonies were breeding grounds for imperialism because they had many rich and otherwise unobtainable resources. Imperialism is using someone else’s resources for your own advantage, and possibly to their disadvantage. It is seen throughout Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness through the extensive ivory trade and enslavement of the Congolese natives. This imperialism is highlighted through the repetitive use of light and dark. In the 2009 film Avatar directed by James Cameron imperialism is seen through the desire for unobtanium, an element not found on earth. This is also seen through repetitive use of light and dark. In the 2009 film Avatar

Often there is a continual battle between this light and dark in the battle, the darkness continually tries to overthrow the lightness of European civilization. Kurtz’s fiancé is still living in civilized England but the darkness of the Congo has reached her there: “She came forward, all in black, with a pale head, floating towards me in the dusk. She was in mourning,” (Conrad 69). The light and the dark are in battle in this quote. The “pale” represents the lightness in her. The Intended represents the light of European civilization with her pale complexion and generally positive view on imperialism. The black clothes she is in represents the darkness that Kurtz’s death has brought her. This shows that she feels that the emotion of mourning is a dark feeling, from one’s savage roots. The feeling of mourning is taking her over, she is being consumed and covered in its dark clothing. The savagery is taking root in her everyday life. To further add to this battle of light and dark the scene takes place at dusk, the meeting point of light and dark. At this intersection, the dark starts taking over and it becomes night. This time exemplifies the battle of the dark overtaking the light in the world. Like in Avatar this example from Heart of Darkness highlights the battles between the imperialists and the natives through the symbolism of light and

In closing Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness and James Cameron’s Avatar illustrate imperialism through continuous use of light and dark to show the opposition between the two as well as the darkness pushing to take over the light. They differ, however, because in Avatar the darkness represents the imposing imperialists from Earth and in Heart of Darkness they represent the suppressed Congolese Natives. In Avatar, the darkness is seen trying to overtake the light through both the visual appearance of the Na’vi and in a conversation between Neytiri and Jake about Seeing. In Heart of Darkness this same idea is illustrated through the darkness of the Intended’s appearance and dress. This concept of darkness overtaking the light illustrates imperialism because one force always wants to have the most control, be it the imperialists or otherwise. In Avatar, the imperialists are dark based on their costuming and guns. This shows how imperialism can be dark as it can destroy culture and bring in waves of death. However, in Heart of Darkness the Congolese are darkness, needing the light of imperialism to save them from their savagery. The darkness in Heart of Darkness depicts darkness as a lesser, uncivilized state, which reduces the imperialist’s guilt allowing their imperialism to continue without moral implications. This fight between light and dark exists in everyday life with people trying to control other’s. They could be trying to do this for the right reasons, or the wrong