James Cameron's Avatar: Countering the Ableism Narrative to Discover Who God Wants Us to Be

 

James Cameron's Avatar: Countering the Ableism Narrative to Discover Who God Wants Us To Be

“One life ends. Another begins.”

“She says, all energy is only borrowed and one day you have to give it back.”

“I see you”

-James Cameron's Avatar

James Cameron's Avatar is simplicity at its most mesmerizing. I've always wondered how Cameron's films manage to do what they do with so little. To be fair, "little" is not really the proper word here, economic would be near the mark. Avatar has such a streamlined approach to storytelling that I would guess the film comes across as simple to most. A simple story bolstered by a profound knowledge of technological and visual wonder. In short, all visuals and no substance. However, as I have mentioned in other places, simplicity does not indicate a lack of depth. This reality remains resolute with Avatar to a tremendous degree.
The story of paralyzed Marine Cpl. Jake Sully and his coming to terms, quite literally in this case, with the indigenous people of the planet Pandora, demonstrates as much elegance as it does simplicity in its narrative approach. For sure, we have seen this story before. Though have we seen it in this way, brought to life as it is with such visual enthusiasm and creative sci-fi scale. The planet Pandora is a living biome that springs to life in every densely packed and thriving cinematic shot. Pandora offers us extraterrestrial life in the most organic of ways. It is life that exists separate from us, and will seemingly continue after our cinematic journey to Pandora is complete.
Avatar's visuals are more than spectacle however, they concisely illustrate the classic filmmaking adage of show, don't tell. I may shock you here by saying that I don't really agree with that sentiment. Perhaps, it is more accurate for me to say, that I don't agree with the way I think people understand that statement. When Director Alfred Hitchcock proposed the theory I don't think he meant it to be as definitive as it is currently understood to be. Filmmakers need words as much as they need visuals. A film needs a narrative in order for us to fully appreciate the way a filmmaker uses visuals to construct a story. In other words, images in concert with narrative and dialogue convey the human experience. I believe that is what Alfred Hitchcock meant when he offered us the theory. At the very least, it is the understanding that James Cameron uses in Avatar.
So we recall Jake Sully, and his paralyzed disabled body. Using spoken dialogue and visuals in tandem, Avatar delivers a unique perspective on the nuances of disability and ableism's effect on a disabled person's psyche. Jake Sully is a fully capable wheelchair using Marine, though he is persuaded to go to Pandora with the subtle promise of once again being able to walk. You see, Avatars are essentially clones of the native Pandoran people, grown specifically for scientific purposes. More precisely, Avatars are mind-body vehicles used by the researchers in order to experience life as one of the Na'vi. Putting it even more succinctly, Jake's Avatar body becomes the legs that he lost as a result of becoming paralyzed. Essentially the film's antagonistic, ableist narrative plays out like this: Help us infiltrate and dominate a native culture and we will give you your legs back.
However, being the heroic film that it is, Avatar beautifully sidesteps this ableism trap. by clearly delineating between what the world thinks of Jake's disability, and what his disability actually allows him to achieve. When Jake is out of the Avatar body, and in his wheelchair he is not shown to be weaker. He just needs to interact with the world differently than he had before.
The film enthusiastically propels this viewpoint forward in two distinct instances. The first is Jake's escape from a hostile RDA base, achieved completely in his wheelchair. Jake's abilities in a wheelchair also demonstrate something particular In regards to his relationship with his Avatar body. He is using it like everyone else, not as a replacement for his legs, but as an accessibility tool. A tool that allows him to experience life as a native Na'vi. Sure he gets a thrill out of walking again, but in the end that thrill becomes secondary to living on Pandora as the Na'vi do.
In the second instance, Jake is willing to leave his able-bodied fate up to the will of Eywa, the goddess deity of Pandora, and not to his own ambitions. He is willing to let go of his fate, not as a sign of resignation, but of confidence in either outcome. Which are, being integrated into a Na’vi Avatar, mind, body and soul, or one has to assume, remaining who he is. A disabled human being. At this point in Jake's story, either providential choice is weighted equally.

"I guess this is my last video log, because whatever happens tonight, either way I'm not going to be coming back to this place."

-James Cameron's Avatar

As a cinematic, narrative and visual experience Avatar is an exemplar of the cinematic visual journey, interwoven with a meaningfully rich narrative. This film is driven by an innate understanding of the capabilities of the human spirit and that spirit's God-given dignity. It all culminates in a story that should not be overlooked. With Avatar, writer-director James Cameron and his team beautifully convey our human need to understand one another, and the world around us. In doing so, we begin to comprehend who we are, and who we have the capacity to be.

Rated PG-13 for intense epic battle sequences and warfare, sensuality, language and some smoking

I found James Cameron's Avatar to be thematically rich, deeply meaningful and visually enthralling. I hope in some way you do too.

James Cameron's Avatar is available to stream on Disney plus with a subscription. It is also available to purchase on any digital video streaming service. It is available physically on DVD, Blu-ray, and ultra HD 4K disc.