CDMX.- James Cameron has responded to criticism of racism against his Avatar franchise, stating that its goal is to “celebrate indigenous cultures.”
In contrast to the critics, James Cameron responded that the work on Avatar was about drawing inspiration from real things, and celebrating human ingenuity “that have created cultures for hundreds of thousands of years.”
“We try to walk a fine line there and celebrate indigenous Polynesian culture in general, from Hawaii, through Tahiti, through French Polynesia, Maori culture, and Samoan culture, and so on. And also put our own spin on it with our artists in terms of the style of the tattoos, the costumes and all that kind of stuff,” James Cameron said in an interview with The Wrap.
The director said that they worked not to commit cultural appropriation in the film, and thus not break the objective of honoring and celebrating indigenous cultures,
Avatar: El Camino del Agua, has achieved its second second weekend at the top of the North American box office, accumulating earnings of 253.7 million dollars in the United States.
Some activists defending indigenous cultures criticized Cameron for not hiring actors to represent these cultures, which he has said he defends in his projects.
The artist Yuè Begay published a letter in which she invites people not to see Avatar: El Camino del Agua and to boycott it.
“Don’t watch Avatar: The Water Road. Join Native Americans and other indigenous groups around the world in boycotting this horrible, racist film. Our cultures were misappropriated to cater to some white man’s complex salvation,” Yuè wrote. Begay.
“You have chosen to show or glorify colonialism. White people as aliens based on real indigenous peoples. That’s colonialism. That’s colonization. Do the right thing. Hire us! Hire our experts in your writing rooms, as your consultants, as your leaders. Stop trying to lead. You are NOT our leader. You are a stranger. A guest to our lands and culture. Act as such,” criticized the artist.
