Avatar thoughts: 2nd pass, post-viewing

This morning, after a round of in-house (literally) family celebration, my sister, father, and I went to see Avatar.

As you may have gathered from my previous post, I had some serious reservations about the film's narrative arc.

To simplify a host of fairly irreducible ruminations is difficult; long story short, the film is problematic, but still quite a good film. I would say that most of my concerns were found to have reasonable warrant within the film: some of them aren't so bad, but some - one in particular - are still troubling.

Just a few of the thoughts that I was having while I watched the film, and in discussion afterwards [spoilers to follow]:

1) The film's casting directors acquitted themselves well in presenting often-marginalized faces & bodies.
-While much of the primary cast is Anglo, at the same time, the protagonist is disabled (paralyzed), which is the first time that I can recall, off-hand, a film which has a - the - lead character handicapped throughout the entire film. Big thumbs up to that.
-Non-Anglo characters were present throughout the background and foreground. In my previous post, I was concerned that, of all the primary cast human characters, only two were people of color. This is true; but both had substantive roles, and Michelle Rodriguez' fighter pilot actually had my favorite character arc. There were also several minority faces throughout the background, weakening any charges that Dileep Rao and Rodriguez were token casting choices.
-Female characters were, similarly, represented well in both primary roles of intelligence, strength, and authority, as well as throughout the background.
-In short: Cameron's casting director(s) did a very good job of presenting a wide gender and ethnic spectrum, didn't shy away from presenting a handicapped protagonist, and managed to do so in a way that seemed to bypass typecasting boundaries (except poor Michelle Rodriguez, who just cannot shake the tough-girl image she's born since The Fast & The Furious).

2) I'm still unhappy with the story of Jake Sully's rise to prominence within the native tribe.
-He gets the girl, lives to see the future, rides the bad-shut-yo-mouth flying reptile-bird, and so on.
-Maybe this is more just my general concern with how Hollywood films treat their protagonists: with the universe-on-film revolving around them, every action, person, and event, whether past, present , or future. conveniently happening with them in the center of the action. If this is true, which it seems like it is, then I can't specifically cite this as a shortcoming of either Cameron or Avatar.

3) I'm more displeased than I thought I would be by the conclusiveness of the film's ending.
-The film concludes, seemingly, on a high note: the outsiders are banished from the edenic world of Pandora (an incredibly silly name for a developmentally high-priority planet, by the way: who in the universe would want to "open up Pandora"?), and the tribes, united, stand behind Jake Sully.
-First off, internally, this ending doesn't make much sense. If "unobtainium" (another incredibly silly placeholderish name) is actually so valuable ($20M/kg... although, with inflation in 2154, who knows how valuable that actually is?), then history - economics - and sociology all seem to point towards this not being a permanent victory, but rather an incredibly fleeting respite. But this is neither here nor there; it's more of a technical concern than critical commentary.
-Second, more importantly, this ending is a happy one. This is my major concern remaining after a first viewing:

-The film ends on a happy note: in a literal deus ex machina (or, more properly, ex natura), Eywa, the Gaia-figure of the film, unites the power of the planet (Earth! Wind! Fire! Water! Heart!) to save the indigenous peoples and herself from the plundering, pillaging earth-humans with their murderous technology. Even if the future is indeterminate, at least, for the moment, the victory has conclusively been won.
-This simply is not the way that things have always turned out: for most native peoples, facing encroaching empire or exploitative harvesting, there is no end to the story, and certainly no end that has turned out well. For the Australian aboriginal peoples, the North American first nations, and African native tribes, the story still continues. In some cases, progress has been made; for other peoples, however, the story is simply one of unvarying neglect, social marginalization, economic oppression, and widespread apathy towards their plight.
-This is why Cameron's Avatar is still, for me, so strongly redolent of White Guilt. To tell a story about native peoples is one thing; to mirror the true story of native peoples, as awkward, uncomfortable, or embarrassing as it may be, is quite another.

-I can understand that this film is a fantasy. But I hope that it is a fantasy that stirs us to action, rather than a fantasy that provides all-too-easy catharsis: after three hours in the movie theater, we leave feeling sympathetic toward native peoples, guilty about our own exploitative/imperialistic ways, but satisfied knowing that the Na'vi got their measure of justice - even while native and aboriginal people the world over have yet to see their reparations in kind.


But still, on this day, I celebrate with family and friends, rejoicing in - remembering - and hoping for - the presence of one among us who did not just come to save, but to suffer.
And, having suffered to the point of death, and having died, and having been given life again, he was not content that only he might have life, but did not see his work as complete until all poor, heavy-burdened, and unvalued people could come to share in that life. This is true.

Florida; stay laced.

There is a long history, within most religious traditions, of voices speaking into (and out of) silence.

This photographic entry finds its position within said storied narrative.

There are others; there are many others, and their stories will be told. But their timeliness is, at the moment, of rather dubious value; as opposed to these pictures, who still find themselves unpickled, fresh.

Wednesday10.28.2009

For the past week (10.26-11.3), I found myself in Sandestin, FL, at
The Navigators' biennial National Collegiate Conference.


I haven't been on the beach since some point vaguely located
within my high school years.


Windswept is rarely an apropos descriptor for my life; here, it
served well.


Jason Macneille's award-winning (really) elephant.


Mammoth, even.

Thursday10.29.2009


Lisa & Leah.

Friday10.30.2009


Ser Landelot.


Mein Doppelgänger, Jason 朱.


Capt. Joelee.

Tuesday11.03.2009

Upon my return to the Northeast (a genuine city skyline? Sight for
sore eyes!), after a lengthy and eventful day of travel, I was
greeted by a plethora of packages awaiting me, desktop.


Among them was my first pair of Creative Recreation kicks, a
complete and utter surprise gift from Mr. John Shen, a true brother
in the faith and in the flyness. A muse, of sorts, in many ways.

Thanks - deep thanks - for the hookup, 哥们儿.

Thursday11.05.2009

My parents' Xmas present arrived early, fresh off the
DHL courier from Karachi, Pakistan. As it's a custom-
made piece, I gave it a quick try-on to ensure that
the measurements had been transmitted properly,
and that I wouldn't have to avail myself of the tailors'
generous - if time-limited - return policy.


No such concerns!

Then back into the closet it was, to mellow and
mature until the coming Christ mass.

Christmas Songs in February

There's something right about listening to a Christmas song in February.

With the bout of advertisements and seasonal jingles ringing through the air, Christmas can be - has become? - passe by December. Christus missus est ("Christ has come"), but so have Toys 'R' Us, Wal*Mart, and Best Buy, for all his consumer children.

But in February, snow lies dense on the ground; it was a brisk day, a sharp day, a clear day. I'm a little tired, and I'm nursing a little bit of a cold. It's late enough in the semester for me to have made mistakes, and plenty; early enough that I'm still uncertain about the rest of the school year. What might Spring's warmth bring? What shape will this semester take?

It seems like there's room for hope; and right now, with no holiday in sight, I feel readily the need for a Christmas (mas Cristo?) more than I did in December, December with its heady air of holiday and presents, home, finals, excitement.

So, you know, I listen to a Christmas song.

DC Family & Friends / Zha Zhang Mian (짜장면)

1/1 - 1/2/2009

[The seventh and penultimate entry in a series of eight
photographic recollections of my travels over the
Christmas and New Year's holidays.]

Thursday01.01.2008

Departing from Williamsburg early in the morning, we
arrived in Bethesda, Maryland precisely on-schedule to
meet up with my friends Ray and Soyoon at the
Montgomery Mall, conveniently located directly across
the street from my grandmother's apartment.


Tori.




Soyoon and Ray arrived around noon; my family headed off, on the
return trip to Delaware, and we took a summary lap around the mall
before deciding to head off to the Mall.


National Sculpture Garden.










Ray looking coquettish.






Graf on the street, Art is everywhere.

After a quick stroll across the (frigid) Mall, we hit the National Air
and Space Museum.




Indecipherable tag (wack handstyle), National Mall, Washington, DC.








The pool, half-frozen, bore the weight of several local (water)fowl.




We took a quick detour through the National Botanic
Gardens' outdoor portion before heading back to Ray's
car, and thence on to Grandma's.








Mad good, of all sorts of food: pickled bamboo,
scrambled eggs with fried onions, duck, and Chinese
barbecued pork.


A mother and grandmother's refrigerator photographs: My dad (L,
ca. 1955) and me (R, ca. early-1990s).


Me, 1988, from 奶奶's extensive photo album
collection.

Friday12.26.2008

On Friday, Neul Kkot and I ran errands with my
grandmother: grocery shopping, household chores, and
stopping by the nearby public library to use the internet
and borrow some movies to watch that night.


Not this one.

As night approached, we returned home and began preparations for
cooking Jja Jjang Myeon (炸酱面).






Ahhhh, my favorite... give me this and rice and I am
set for a week+.


炸酱面, 水饺, and 小鸡翼. Chea!

After eating a ridickolus large dinner meal, I took off for a lengthy nap
while Neul Kkot did some reading. Ray returned later that night to
hang out and sleep over. After he grabbed a quick bite (and I further
demolished a bunch of the dumplings), we decided to head out and
(thanks to my borrowed GPS) find a video rental place, plus grab some
snacks.

After only getting lost a little, we found a Blockbuster.


There is no need for this remake.

And a Giant.


There is no need for this food.

[Next: A day in Baltimore! and a trip to Commonwealth
DC, plus my first night at my 老家 in 2009.]

Bidding Farewell / Newark / Christmas Day!

12/20 - 12/22/2008

[The fifth in a series of photoessays, the content of
which examines my holidays in NYC, DE, MD, VA,
and DC.]

Tuesday12.23.2008

On my way from a dentist's appointment to a series of
afternoon meetings in Newark, I passed by the old KB
Toy Works on Kirkwood Highway. With some time to
spare before my first lunch meeting, I dropped into the
old store, with its chain in the midst of an ugly
liquidation, to salute the good old days.


Time was when I would have leapt for joints like this
at full price, not to mention at a 40% off storewide sale.
But those days, I suppose, are no longer with us; and
soon, neither will Kay Bee.




For the summers immediately following my senior year of high school,
and freshman year of college, I worked at a law firm down the
highway from this KB Toy Works. Every pay day, on my way home, I
would stop in at the record/DVD store, selecting a used CD or two, and
perhaps a movie, then drop by the toy store and browse for 15 minutes
or half an hour.


Godfather I, stencil wheatpaste, behind the Starbucks
on Main Street, Newark, DE.


KB Toys isn't the only remnant of my high school years to suffer the
travails of a recession; upon my arrival in Newark, I discovered that
the legendary Korner Diner, UD staple and on-and-off employment
for several local friends, had also figuratively shuttered its doors.

Korner Diner stood out as a landmark for me not only for its
adequate diner fare and exceptional hours, but in regards to its
incredibly laxity with regards to regulating its parking lot:
besides the Burger King and a vaguely distant shopping center,
Korner Diner was the only reliable free parking lot in the
downtown Newark area.


Goodnight, you princes of Newark;


You kings of New Castle.


Welcome to heartbreak.


OBEY sticker, Main Street, Newark, DE.


My friend Tom suggested Kildare's - a newly-opened establishment,
trying their luck amidst a recession in the always-ripe epicureanism
of a university town - on the strength of their burgers.


"Nordic Pack" Court Force Lows, design by, of course,
Staple.


Same as it ever was.


An old friend from Charter, Tom returned to Newark
for graduate work after an undergraduate career spent
in New Jersey; ever since, I can rely on him to kick it
when I come through.

After a leisurely lunch with Tom, I headed back over to
my parents' church's office, from whence their pastor
and I headed over to Panera's, again on Main Street, to
break it down about ministry and the work in Delaware
and back at Yale.



Upon my return home, I discovered a recently-
arrived package from the Supreme web store.


Ever since the New Haven winter's inaugural flurries,
I had been keeping an eye out for a solid - and flizzy -
crewneck. Upon Supreme announcing their first (for
me) online sale in recent memory, I had an eye out
for one of these crested crewnecks. After half a month
of waffling, I pushed the button and headed in on it.


Free advertising with purchase.

Thursday12.25.2008

After a solid semester of health, my grace ran out around
5 AM on Wednesday morning, Christmas Eve. Having
stayed up until around 3 AM to catch up on a stack of
X-Men comics delivered monthly to my parents' house
for the last five years, I went to bed feeling faintly ill and
discomfited; I woke at 5 AM with all the symptoms (and
they are unmistakable) of a stomach flu.

After spending a good 66-75% of the 24th in bed, and
having missed our family's traditional day-early
observance of Christmas dinner, I roused myself, wan
and peakish, for the Christmas Day celebrations.


The comforts of suburbanity.


The ever-watching Eye of the Media.


My family had also prepared presents for Lydia; and she,
in turn, had brought gifts for us.


$4 at the mall - a gift from me, to me!


My first pair of J's!


AJ XI LS Retro's... thanks mom + dad.


From the WeSC x Stash collaborative collection, a pair of
raw Japanese selvage... I grow increasingly cognizant
of the attractiveness of raw and dry denim. Again,
thanks to my parents who keep on providing even with
the state of the economy.


The NORT/Recon complimentary carry bag, encasing
(and not incaseing) my Johnny Blaze AM 90/360s.


And one last surprise from Mom and Dad. Straight from SBTG, a/k/a
Singaporean sneaker customizer Mark Ong, a Royalefam Be@rmy
t-shirt, issuing forth from a Medicom Be@rbrick X Royalefam
(in-house brand designed and produced by SBTG) collaboration.



Upon reflection, I'm incredibly grateful for my family.
Not only - though of course partly - for the material goods
with which they provide me, but just for knowing that
they care about me; that they are interested about my
interests, thoughtful enough to order a t-shirt from
Singapore or get me another pair of shoes when, as ought
to be fairly obvious to any of my observant readers or
casual acquaintances, I have more than a plentiful stock of
footwear. That they always, consistently, provide a warm,
welcoming place for me to come home to; even when I
consider New Haven more of a home than New Castle,
the knowledge that they are standing at the gates, waiting
in patience, is a Godsend.

I'm trying to say, in words online because I don't really ever
know how, or when, to casually and easily say so in person,
thank you.

[Next: On the road again! Family and food throughout the
Midatlantic states.]