From: Mary Horsley <mphorsley-AT-verizon.net>
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Date: Mon, 18 Jan 2010 11:07:59 -0500
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Avatar script


Maybe next weekend.......now that it has won a Golden  
Globe.....besides, my interest has been peaked.

Mary
On Jan 18, 2010, at 1:51 AM, David Morley wrote:

> Just an open thought to add to this talk,I'm no expert but George  
> Lucas's
> friend and mythological master Joseph Campbell said "The function of  
> the
> myth is to put man in accord with nature...the function of art is to  
> bring
> out the grand designs of nature,so the possible accord can be more  
> evident"
>
> I think, as a metaphor, Avatar at least attempted to do this for a  
> large
> section of it's desired audience.
> This fact is largely ignored when discussing Avatar's script or  
> against
> other memorable films that recreate the "hero's journey story" Films  
> like
> Star Wars and the Lord of the Rings seem to be more metaphysical and
> symbolic in the way that they represent things that are important to  
> all
> humanity like "the force" in Star Wars or" the ring" in Lord of the  
> Rings.
>
> To a section of Avatar's audience,a section of liberal  
> progressives,it's
> goddess/pagan characters are directly representing indigenous people  
> in
> today's world with a story-line that is almost agitprop in it's  
> approach.
> I think this is part of the reason it is getting such a  
> response.That and of
> course the amazing 3D world Pandora is,when seeing the film for most
> people.
>
> If you look at Avatar as a modern myth,..as a story to teach a truth  
> and a
> lesson about the contemporary life being lived by,and then told to,the
> desired audience to view it,.... I think Avatar's script has been very
> successful.
> I loved Star Wars and Lord of the Rings and all of those other  
> recreation
> myths. But I see Avatar's story line less of a fantasy with lots of
> interesting characters, and more of a simple to understand metaphor of
> today's world dynamics...set against an almost realistic and  
> interesting
> fantasy future situation,made believable by our space and planetary
> exploring ways of today.
> Yes the characters are almost cartoons and yes there are a lot of  
> situations
> that look they were  intentionally made to look like todays video  
> games with
> violent machines fighting ...etc.. but I see that as a way to get a  
> large
> audience...it worked.
>
> Is that not something that is in it's self, easy to admire about  
> Avatar?
> Am I crazy?.. please tell me what you think.
>
>
> On Sun, Jan 17, 2010 at 6:20 PM, Christopher Hudert
> <heyhoot-AT-mindspring.com>wrote:
>
>>
>> On Jan 17, 2010, at 7:47 PM, Gregory Ballora wrote:
>>
>>> There is no empirical yardstick to measure art.
>>
>> Yes there is. It's out in my garage buried under a bunch of rusty  
>> junk.
>> I'll go get it for you.....
>>
>>
>> I'm back. I must have leant it to someone. I'm sure it will turn up
>> soon. Oh wait, I just remember I loaned it to George Lucas for the
>> Empirical Strikes Back. I better call him and get it back.
>>
>>
>>
>> Not exactly puppetry, but animated, which is at least an adopted  
>> child
>> of the field, is the movie "Igor." No great message but a very funny,
>> smart comedy. Check it out if you haven't seen it. Some great  
>> throwaway
>> bits and off screen jokes that you catch if you are paying attention.
>>
>>
>> Christopher
>>
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Mary
mphorsley-AT-verizon.net




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