The evidence I have chosen is an American science fiction film “Avatar,” created by James Cameron (2009).  Because of its ground-breaking visual effects and its messages about environmentalism and humanitarianism, Avatar became one of the highest-grossing film on the record.  On the other hand, it has also received criticism for its “white savior” narrative.  Regardless, the huge success of this film indicates that many (non-Indigenous) audiences sympathized with the message preached in this film: The invaders, who have already depleted their own resources, are now driven by a compulsive lust for the resources of the spiritually enlightened indigenous tribes.  “Avatar” (2009) is a film that not only demonstrates non-Indigenous’ yearning for the already lost nature, but is also a naturalistic fantasy that has been idealized and idolized through the Western framework.

The story revolves around Jake Sully, a paraplegic ex-marine, who takes place of his deceased twin brother in the Avatar project, an exploration of the biosphere of the land of Pandora using genetically engineered human-Na’vi (inhabitants of Pandora) hybrids called “avatars.”  He gets lost during expedition and is saved by a Na’vi princess, Neytiri, who sees an auspicious sign and takes Jake into her society.  Initially, Jake provides a mining company, RDA, the information about the Na’vi and their clan but switches allegiance as he sympathizes with the Na’vi and falls in love with Neytiri.  He regains trust from the Na’vi and unites all clans to battle against the destructive and genocidal RDA.

The portrayal of the Na’vi has many symbolic similarities to the Indigenous peoples of North America:  High reverence for all living things, ornamental attire, spirituality.  The film focuses heavily on tribal rituals and the distinction between environment and the supernatural is blurry.  The Na’vi are depictions of the Indigenous peoples, but at the same time, they depict what modern society has lost in exchange for what capitalism has brought them – minimal decoration and deep respect for the nature and spiritual connectedness.  The Na’vi are depicted as the polar opposite of the White men of the RDA, who are caricaturized as materialistic and imperialistic colonial powers.  These men of the RDA, are people from the future Earth where its resources have been depleted.  It can be argued that, if the Na’vi depict the Indigenous peoples, the characters from the RDA depict the early settlers.  However, since their background is that they came from a resource-depleted planet, it may be more accurate to state that they are the ugly representations of the current state of our capitalist society.  Jake Sully, through the course of contact with the Na’vi (Indigenous peoples), learns about himself and eventually becomes the messianic figure to lead the Na’vi to defeat the RDA (capitalism, imperialism, colonialism).

Jake Sully is the figure that non-Indigenous members of the capitalist society want to believe that they are.  Although belonging to a capitalist society, he ‘enlightens’ and becomes the leader to save the Na’vi.  Quoting the lyrics from a Christian song (is it ironic?), Jake Sully would be the one who says “I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see!”  My belief is that non-Indigenous people, more or less, want to be Jake Sully.  We want to be the one who realizes that the act was wrongful and, if possible, compensate for that act.  This is an egocentric way of thinking that subjects the Na’vi (Indigenous peoples) to benevolent prejudice.  However, my argument is that this belief may be more common than we, non-Indigenous people, hope to believe.

In psychology, there is a defence mechanism called introjection and identification.  Introjection is when we internalize the beliefs of other people and identification is when one assimilates another individual’s aspect and is transformed (wholly or partially).  These two processes can be regarded as an indication of the non-Indigenous people’s  temporary psychological escape from the consequences of capitalism while still, allowing them to hold on to its luxuries.  The dissonance between the admission of the wrongful invasion and the dependency on capitalism may underlie why some non-Indigenous are compelled to fall under this Jake Sully pitfall.  We admit that colonization was wrongful but we cannot live without benefitting from its legacy.  Therefore, we take on the burden of racial leadership which serves as a convenient atonement, a gentle slap on our wrist, although it merely is a fantasy coming from psychological compensation (Note: in psychological terms, compensation is a strategy whereby one covers up (un)consciously their weaknesses, desires, or frustrations in one area through fulfillment in another area).  However, not knowing this erroneous belief can lead to false notions of alliance and even worse, can emerge as cultural appropriation or racism.