Telegraph: Critics Accuse 'Avatar' of Racist Imperialism

Worldwide record-breaking success 'Avatar' is accused of being racist and imperialist. Photo by wordpress.com

"Avatar" continues its remarkable, record-breaking run at box offices worldwide. As reported by Novinite.com, the film has grossed over BGN 3,0 M in Bulgarian in a few weeks, and had been seen by over 270 000 Bulgarians throughout the country.

Worldwide, the film took just 17 days to pass USD 1 B in ticket sales, a new record, and to become the second highest grossing film of all time behind Titanic, also directed by Cameron.

As the Daily telegraph reports, however, the film is not without its critics.

Hundreds of blogs, YouTube videos and social network postings have sprung up on the subject since the film's release three weeks ago, with one writer dubbing the 3-D extravaganza "a racial fantasy par excellence".

Critics have claimed that the story of a white US Marine who saves an alien race perpetuates the "white Messiah fable" and suggests that non-whites are primitives incapable of helping themselves.

David Brooks, a columnist writing in the New York Times, said: "Avatar is a racial fantasy par excellence... It rests on the stereotype that white people are rationalist and technocratic while colonial victims are spiritual and athletic.

"It also creates a sort of two-edged cultural imperialism. Natives can either have their history shaped by cruel imperialists or benevolent ones, but either way, they are going to be supporting actors in our journey to self-admiration."

Robinne Lee, a black actress who appeared opposite Will Smith in the film Seven Pounds, is also among Avatar's detractors.

Likening the film to Pocahontas, where "the Indian woman leads the white man into the wilderness, and he learns the way of the people and becomes the savior", she said: "It's really upsetting in many ways. It would be nice if we could save ourselves."

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