WETA/20th Century Fox

While the numerous arguments inspired by James Cameron‘s science-fiction film “Avatar” have hardly quieted down in its fourth week of release, another group of voices has been added to the debate. On Jan. 2, “Avatar” opened in China, inspiring bloggers there to race back to their computers and pick apart the messages they are finding in that 3-D blockbuster.

At the Web site Global Voices, Andy Yee rounds up responses to “Avatar” written by prominent Chinese bloggers (and helpfully provides translation), some of whom have seized upon themes that also jumped out at American viewers.

Among the Chinese bloggers Mr. Yee points to is Huang Zhangjin, who, like many American critics, sees Eurocentric themes running through the movie:

I believe if Edward Said is still alive, when he sees that Jake is saved by the princess of Na’vi, he would think: this damn screenwriter! Are you not going to let the princess fall in love with Jake, and let Jake rescue the Na’vi? … From Madame Chrysanthème to Last Samurai to Avatar, when could Westerners stop seeing foreign cultures as female and themselves as male? And when could they stop the cross-cultural narcissism that, no matter how unsuccessful the Western man is, he will be loved by the Oriental woman?

The same blogger also picks up on the idea of “Avatar” as an environmental parable, writing:



The main male character has to be from another planet. He is a traitor of his highly civilized planet, where uncontrolled development has destroyed their planet to the point where they could no longer live there. They send a few of them to Earth to continue their species. Because we, the human beings, are sympathetic but also eye their high technology, we decided to start a high-tech energy project which will destroy planet Earth. … The more advanced the technology, the greedier you become.

Elsewhere, the blogger Lian Yue satirizes Chinese politics by writing a list of talking points compiled by an imaginary Chinese official after seeing “Avatar.” Among the entries on the list:

1. The first element of any war is human. Learn from the Na’vi, have a winning spirit, and don’t be afraid of any advanced weapons.

2. The Na’vi’s system of hereditary rule proves that democracy is not universally applicable.

3. Na’vi’s collectivism has won over capitalism. …

5. The human race’s army has not united resolutely under the leadership of Colonel Miles Quaritch, as a result there is internal struggle. Unity is iron, unity is steel!

6. Dr. Grace Augustine shows the weaknesses of intellectuals, which are not to be trusted. …

10. Planet Pandora is an inseparable part of our motherland.

The Web site Chinasmack.com collects comments from readers who see parallels between the plight of the alien Na’vi, who are pushed off their land by human industrialists, and reports in Chinese news media about residents who have been forcefully evicted from their homes by local Chinese governments that are demolishing the buildings and redeveloping the land. Among the remarks from the pseudonymous commenters: “Strongly condemn the Western director for using Avatar to allude to China’s current situation!!” and, “China’s demolition crews must go sue Old [James] Cameron, sue him for piracy/copyright infringement.”

We’re guessing that Old Mr. Cameron is laughing all the way to the bank: as in the U.S., “Avatar” is breaking box-office records in China, too.