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A study on the corporality in the film Avatar
Cross-Cultural Studies
2012,
29(), pp.233-256
DOI : 10.21049/ccs.2012.29..233
Publisher : Center for Cross Culture Studies
Research Area : Literature
DOI : 10.21049/ccs.2012.29..233
Publisher : Center for Cross Culture Studies
Research Area : Literature
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This paper aims to look into various symbolic meanings of the body shown in the film, Avatar (2009, James Cameron), and to ponder over a variety of media strategies carried by the pursuit of the corporality shown in this film. In a nutshell, the body in Avatar is a symbol of primitiveness rather than civilization, and the body language is a fundamental and effective means of communication much better than verbal language. A variety of physical contacts that appeared in many scenes of the movie emphasizes the role of the body as a means of real communication. Also, in the composition of the film dominated by the confrontation of civilization, numerous creatures in the planet Pandora with a variety of colors as well as a number of agencies and large body sizes express primitive richness. The narrative of the film telling the story of a 'moving' body ultimately emphasizes the superiority of the body with respect to consciousness, unlike the narrative of conventional movies dealing with the problems of the body. In addition, the corporality pursued by this film implies several important media strategies. It may reveal a self-reflection of the material civilization and the imperialism, or, on the contrary, an attempt to conceal or dilute them. It may also represent a self-reflection of the overdeveloped media technology, or simply the dilution of it. Finally, it may be an attempt to recover the feeling of "presence", not fully supported by the 3D technology, by the identification of the spectator's body and the character's body.
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