tbt to when the atla comic discussed cultural appropriation and absolutely nailed it
But that wasn’t the final word that the book gave on the
subject.
To present that scene without further commentary goes
against the entire point that Avatar: The Promise was making.
Consider: you’re looking at a comic written
by a Chinese-American author (Gene Luen Yang), drawn by two Japanese women (Studio
Gurihiru) that primarily illustrate American books, based on an American
cartoon that was done in a style reminiscent of Japanese anime (which in turn
can be partly traced back to American cartoons), helmed by two Caucasian Americans (Bryan
Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino), who drew heavily from Inuit, Japanese,
Chinese, and Tibetan cultures for inspiration.
The Promise was about Aang trying to clean up the mess left
when cultures that had been traditionally separated ended up being mixed (by
force), with a particular emphasis on the colonies that the Fire Nation had
left in the Earth Kingdom. His initial
instinct was to just try to put things back the way they were and make the Fire
Nation citizens leave, but he ultimately he realized that wasn’t possible,
because he was dealing with actual people and not abstract concepts. There were children raised in two cultures,
people from different cultures in love, people who had never set foot in the
nation they were being told they had to return to in order to make everything
neat and tidy. Aang ultimately rejected
the calls to keep every nation/culture separate and instead created Republic
City, where people could share and mix their cultures.
As for the Air Nomad Fan Club?
There are absolutely jackasses out there making a mockery of
other cultures, or who want to just exploit a culture for profit, discarding it like gum that’s lost its flavor when they can’t get any more money out of it. But when you go beyond condemning that and decide that only the
most dominant cultures can be shared, appreciated, reinterpreted, and spread,
then you effectively hand a death sentence to all other cultures.
Cultural exchange and expansion should be made
with respect, empathy, and genuineness, yes, but it cannot be simply shut down point blank. Genuine appreciation and interest needs to be accepted and guided in a positive direction. The point of
The Promise was ultimately that people cannot be neatly put into boxes and told
to stick to their own nation and culture.
They will make friends, they will fall in love, and cultures will mix,
change, and adapt. That’s human nature.
(The OP did touch on some of this in a later post, but it’s worth expanding on)
That’s alright though. I’m more of a writer. And I have a story to tell.
I have always been disabled. However, up until eight years ago, I could still walk, run, skip, jump, etc. In November 2006, I had a surgery that left me almost paralyzed. I could walk short distances but had to spend the rest of my time in a wheelchair. I was scared and confused. I didn’t know what to do. One day, I turned on the small television in my hospital room and realized that there was an Avatar marathon on. Now, you must understand. I’ve watched Avatar since I was in the fourth grade – when the very first episode came out! So I sat back and eagerly watched the marathon, whispering the dialogue and humming along to the music. When TheNorthern Air Temple came on, I sat in stunned silence. I had forgotten all about Teo! Here was an epic, well-written, character who just so happened to be disabled! Even better, he was a character who didn’t let his disability define him! By the time I reached The Blind Bandit, I was grinning from ear-to-ear as I watched Toph take down the group of wrestlers.
Toph and Teo are two of the best characters with disabilities that I’ve ever seen. Both are shown to have their limitations. Nevertheless, they’re both mentally, emotionally, and physically strong! And most importantly, they overcome their limitations! Teo can still fly around with the rest of his friends and is able to protect his home when the time comes. Toph is still able to travel around with the Avatar and has proven herself to be an excellent fighter and the greatest earthbender in the world!
To me, it was as if these fictional characters were saying, “You can do this! Don’t listen to anyone who says otherwise. What do they know!?”
And eight years later, it seem that the tables have turned.
A large part of the Avatar fandom seems to be taking the news that Korra’s in a wheelchair very badly. I’ve seen so many depressing and nasty comments. Many people are wondering how the Avatar can still fight and keep balance while being in a wheelchair.
And every time I see someone comment about how Korra “can’t do this” I just smile and think, “Yes, she can.”
the scene in avatar: the last airbender where zuko finally stands up for himself and calls out his abusive father is one of the most important scenes ever aired in a children’s cartoon
like, atla is so damn important to me bc it had such strong themes without being grimdark or edgy. children aren’t stupid, contrary to what the media seems to think, and it’s so important to teach kids at a young age about what abuse is & how it impacts their lives. i guarantee you at least one child needed to see that scene, and that alone makes the entire show worth it
