Ecologism, Social Relations, and Persistent Struggle in Avatar: The Way of Water

Mikail Boz

Article Details

Ecologism, Social Relations, and Persistent Struggle in Avatar: The Way of Water

Authors:

Mikail Boz

Publisher:

Selcuk University

Main Topics:

Radyo-Televizyon

Journal:

Selçuk İletişim Vol.16 Issue 2, pp.267-292

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

10/2023

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001301061

pISSN:

2148-2942

Keywords:

Abstract:

 In this study, James Camerons Avatar: The Way of Water 2022 is analyzed through qualitative descriptive content analysis in terms of the basic concepts and elements of ecologism ideology within the framework of thematic tendencies and motifs in the film. Although ecologism is divided into many different approaches, the core ideas and concepts that shape this micro-ideology are defined as holism, sustainability, environmental ethics, self-realization, redefining and redesigning the relationship between humans and nature, protecting the integrity of nature and life forms, encouraging variations on integrity, and the concrete and immediate implementation of qualitative life forms. In post-2000 American science fiction blockbuster films, the Avatar, which stands out with a strong ecological emphasis, and the second film of the series, Avatar: The Way of Water, is selected as a purposive sampling for the analysis. As a result, it was observed that, The Way of Water deals with the ideas that shape ecologism, that the ecologist perspective expressed as shallow ecologism has a stronger place, and that the relationship between nature, humans and species is reinterpreted with a balanced perspective that questions the relatively hierarchical place of humans. The thematic concentration and motifs in the film about the outcasts, the contrast between the new and the old generation in the process of cultural transmission, and the attitude towards persistent struggle in narrative structure provide a discussion on the limits of classicalmainstream cinema.

 In this study, James Camerons Avatar: The Way of Water 2022 is analyzed through qualitative descriptive content analysis in terms of the basic concepts and elements of ecologism ideology within the framework of thematic tendencies and motifs in the film. Although ecologism is divided into many different approaches, the core ideas and concepts that shape this micro-ideology are defined as holism, sustainability, environmental ethics, self-realization, redefining and redesigning the relationship between humans and nature, protecting the integrity of nature and life forms, encouraging variations on integrity, and the concrete and immediate implementation of qualitative life forms. In post-2000 American science fiction blockbuster films, the Avatar, which stands out with a strong ecological emphasis, and the second film of the series, Avatar: The Way of Water, is selected as a purposive sampling for the analysis. As a result, it was observed that, The Way of Water deals with the ideas that shape ecologism, that the ecologist perspective expressed as shallow ecologism has a stronger place, and that the relationship between nature, humans and species is reinterpreted with a balanced perspective that questions the relatively hierarchical place of humans. The thematic concentration and motifs in the film about the outcasts, the contrast between the new and the old generation in the process of cultural transmission, and the attitude towards persistent struggle in narrative structure provide a discussion on the limits of classicalmainstream cinema.

 In this study, James Camerons Avatar: The Way of Water 2022 is analyzed through qualitative descriptive content analysis in terms of the basic concepts and elements of ecologism ideology within the framework of thematic tendencies and motifs in the film. Although ecologism is divided into many different approaches, the core ideas and concepts that shape this micro-ideology are defined as holism, sustainability, environmental ethics, self-realization, redefining and redesigning the relationship between humans and nature, protecting the integrity of nature and life forms, encouraging variations on integrity, and the concrete and immediate implementation of qualitative life forms. In post-2000 American science fiction blockbuster films, the Avatar, which stands out with a strong ecological emphasis, and the second film of the series, Avatar: The Way of Water, is selected as a purposive sampling for the analysis. As a result, it was observed that, The Way of Water deals with the ideas that shape ecologism, that the ecologist perspective expressed as shallow ecologism has a stronger place, and that the relationship between nature, humans and species is reinterpreted with a balanced perspective that questions the relatively hierarchical place of humans. The thematic concentration and motifs in the film about the outcasts, the contrast between the new and the old generation in the process of cultural transmission, and the attitude towards persistent struggle in narrative structure provide a discussion on the limits of classicalmainstream cinema.

 Bu çalışmada James Cameronun Avatar: Suyun Yolu 2022 filmi ekolojizm ideolojisinin temel kavramları ve unsurları açısından nitel betimsel içerik analiziyle, filmde yer bulan yeni tematik yönelimler ve motifler çerçevesinde incelenmiştir. Ekolojizm çok farklı ekollere bölünse de bu mikro ideolojiye yön veren çekirdek fikirleri ve anahtar kavramları ekoloji, bütüncülük, sürdürülebilirlik, çevre ahlakı, kendini gerçekleştirme, insan ve doğa arasındaki ilişkiyi yeniden tanımlama ve tasarlama, doğanın ve yaşam biçimlerinin bütünlüğünün korunması, bütünlüğe dair çeşitlemelerin teşvik edilmesi ve kalitatif yaşam biçimlerinin somut ve derhâl uygulanması olarak tanımlanmaktadır. 2000 sonrası Amerikan bilimkurgu sinemasında çekilen gişe rekoru kıran filmlerde güçlü bir ekolojist vurguyla dikkat çeken Avatar serisinin ikinci filmi Avatar: Suyun Yolu filmi inceleme için amaçlı örneklem olarak seçilmiştir. Sonuç olarak, Suyun Yolunda ekolojizme yön veren fikirlerin işlendiği, sığ ekolojizm olarak ifade edilen ekolojist perspektifin daha güçlü bir şekilde yer bulduğu, doğa, insan ve türler arasındaki ilişkinin yeniden, görece insanın hiyerarşik yerini sorgulayan, dengeli bir perspektifle yorumlandığı görülmüştür. Topluluktan dışlanmışların durumu, kültürel aktarım sürecinde yeni ve eski nesil arasındaki karşıtlık, düşmanca saldırganlık ve anlatı yapısında süreğen mücadeleye karşı tavrın ne olacağı konusunda filmdeki tematik yoğunlaşma ve motif çeşitlemeleri, klasik Hollywood ve anaakım sinemanın sınırlarını ele alma konusunda tartışma sağlamaktadır.

Article Details

Ecologism, Social Relations, and Persistent Struggle in Avatar: The Way of Water

Authors:

Mikail Boz

Publisher:

Selcuk University

Main Topics:

Radyo-Televizyon

Journal:

Selçuk İletişim Vol.16 Issue 2, pp.267-292

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

10/2023

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001301061

pISSN:

2148-2942

Ecologism

ideology

evil

science fiction

Avatar

James CameronEkolojizm

ideoloji

kötülük

bilimkurgu

Avatar

James Cameron

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Mikail Boz

Publisher: Selcuk University

Main Topics: Radyo-Televizyon

Journal: Selçuk İletişim Vol.16 Issue 2, pp.267-292

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 10/2023

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001301061

pISSN: 2148-2942

Issues

Authors:

Mikail Boz

Publisher:

Selcuk University

Main Topics:

Radyo-Televizyon

Journal:

Selçuk İletişim Vol.16 Issue 2, pp.267-292

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

10/2023

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001301061

pISSN:

2148-2942