The many sides of the blockbuster effect

Blockbuster movies, like the recently released “Avatar,” by James Cameron, can have a huge impact on the lives of many people for an unimaginable amount of reasons.

Cameron returned to the public eye again this winter with the release of “Avatar,” a story, more or less, about a human invasion of an alien planet called Pandora, with only a handful of human heroes attempting to save the natives. It is because of this box office bombshell that Cameron has received press accusations about racism. In the “Avatar” argument here states this is a case of the western white hero saving people of a different heritage, a theme Hollywood has beaten to death over the years.

These accusations come with the fact actors who played the alien “Na’vi” race were played by African American, Dominican, Native American etc, actors. While the majority of actors who played the human heroes were Caucasian, according to the Associated Press.

The opposing side claims Cameron did this not to promote this idea but to expose to his audience the evils of racism.

The movie shows a few individuals who stand against the racist actions of a whole military fleet. And the main hero, Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), represents how we must understand and immerse ourselves in other cultures, to promote understanding and cohesive living. The latter sentiment came from Cameron himself in an e-mail to the AP.

“Avatar” “asks us to open our eyes and truly see others, respecting them even though they are different, in the hope that we may find a way to prevent conflict and live more harmoniously on this world. I hardly think that is a racist message,” Cameron wrote.

But others argue Caucasian men don’t always have to be the heroes in this commonplace film scenario. This idea is one that Hollywood has glorified in numerous other movies throughout film history.

However, on the non-conflict side of the blockbuster effect is a cult following. Movies that create a world so different, with such an emphasis on new and fantastical “realities,” become the perfect escape from our own. After seeing a movie like this, a switch flips in some people’s minds and they want nothing more than to be a part of that new planet.
This is how things like certain live-action-role-playing (LARPing) groups and sports like Quidditch come into reality. And why not? Being a wizard on a broomstick or a mighty warrior with a doom-hammer is much more entertaining than writing papers or working in customer service. You get to be a much more fantastic version of yourself.

Even colleges and universities in New England have heard their calling from the realm of the fantastic. Tufts University, Harvard, Boston College, Boston University and Emerson all have Quidditch teams according to Harrypotterwizardshop.com’s news page. There is even live coverage of the high-flying fictional sport online.

Now why is this type of fantasy so popular? One could say, in a college setting, reality takes its toll on many students. With workloads, enough to last a week, assigned for one day, its no wonder this reality isn’t good enough for many. And bloggers all over the web have said just that, after seeing “Avatar”. A report by Scot Yount, at NECN, yields a finding that many fans are literally depressed with reality and want nothing more than to be a part of the vast and intricate ecosystem of Pandora.

Maybe from this slump will rise an “Avatar”-based LARPing game or some form of sport. Only time will tell. However, one thing is clear through all of this; to be obsessed, depressed and upset at a larger-than-life movie is becoming commonplace and affecting lives, for good and bad, all over the country.

Chris Reynolds can be contacted at ae@keeneequinox.com.