INTRODUCTION This essay serves the purpose of analyzing the ethnographic principles that are illustrated in the popular film “Avatar”. An “ethnography” has come to be “equated with virtually any qualitative research project where the intent is to provide a detailed, in-depth description of everyday life and practices within a specific culture” (Hoey 2008). The film in question was released in 2009 and was directed by James Cameron. The film depicts a native culture known as the “Na’vi” who live on an alien world “Pandora” and the war that takes place with humans when they try to obtain the planets rich mineral sources. The following sections of this essay will consist of a detailed description of 3 key themes which can be related to ethnographic approaches/methods of modern day anthropological study. ORIENTALISM “Orientalism” is the word coined by Edward Said and refers to a constellation of false …show more content…
Debates such as those on authority have been essential for many years and critiques of ethnographers have claimed that there needs to be a sense of respect for others when conducting fieldwork. This debate can be linked to the film because there is no respect held for the Na’vi people by the humans and there is only an interest of personal gain held by the humans. However, this careless approach is held only by the militant sector as the researcher’s part of the avatar team end up fighting for the natives. The next debate that can be linked to the film can be seen by the misrepresentation held by the humans about the natives. The captain of the militants advocates that the natives are “savages” and he feeds his men with this opinion which influences their adherence to violent conduct. The main argument of the film represents how Grace Augustine feels that the humans abuse their intelligence and power over subordinates to act in accordance to our