As a class we just completed the ology of apology project, which was also linked to the winter exhibition, AND the new movie Avatar The Way Of Water. These are the questions we had to answer.
Driving question #1: How can we keep apologies for past wrongs alive so they are remembered and not repeated today?
Driving Question #2:Â What does James Cameron’s fantasy world of “Avatar” reveal about our own society?
After we wrapped up the winter exhibition, it’s safe to say it went a lot better than expected. All 5 of the grades in PLP each were working on their own project but we found a way to link them all to avatar. What me and my partner Colton did was we made keynotes telling the viewers about past governmental events that took place in the early 1900’s. Ours were to do with other races having problems with Canada. Mine was specifically Japanese internment during world war 2, im not going to explain a lot about it but if you would like to read about it ill link my slideshow down below.
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What we had to make for the exhibition was a mural representing the topic we focused on. As you can see it’s 3 boats broken up and sinking which represent all the opportunities that were lost and declined because of the harsh racist government that turned them away when trying to come to Canada to live a happier healthier life. The komagata Maru incident was when a boat full of people came to canada in hopes of a new life, but when they showed up they were required to pay a fine, per person, that none of them could afford. Therefore they were stuck on the boat, and it were like if the boat just sank, which were representing.
This project we also covered how apologies for events like those can be kept alive/remembered, so we do not repeat them today. Justin Trudeau apologized for the actions of the governors 100 years before him, which means he had nothing to do with it, but the fact he apologized made it obvious that is was acted upon wrongly and he said it shall not happen again. It is on video so whenever people have to go back to it they can, so by saying that it’s almost like a promise.Â
Moving onto Avatar, one of the main themes in the film is colonization. Humans from Earth travel to Pandora to take advantage of its natural resources, in particular a valuable mineral called Unobtanium. This is a clear similarity to the colonization of land here on earth and the way their resources are taken advantage of. The film reveals the negative consequences of such actions and the harm they can cause to the indigenous people and their culture.
Another important theme in the movie is the destruction of nature and the environment. The humans in the film cause significant harm to Pandora’s ecosystem. This is a reflection of the destruction of natural habitats and the impact of humans to nature. The film highlights the need for humanity to be more mindful and responsible for the planet and its resources.
Avatar also reveals the issues of greed and militarism. The humans in the film are driven by their desire for Unobtanium, and they are willing to use military force to obtain it. This is a clear reference to the way in which powerful countries use their military might to control and gain resources in other parts of the world, just like the Russia Ukraine conflict The film can be taken as a warning against those actions and the consequences they can have.
In conclusion Avatar may seem just like a fantasy world actin movie, but it reveals so much about our own society. Through its themes of colonization, destruction of nature, greed, and militarism, the film serves as a reflection of our world and a warning against the negative consequences of human actions.