Avatar: The Last Airbender: Lessons in Recognizing and Resisting Imperialism

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Woodford, K. (2022). Avatar: The Last Airbender: Lessons in Recognizing and Resisting Imperialism. Unc Charlotte Electronic Theses And Dissertations.
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Abstract

In the modern world, we are constantly fed misinformation and biased information. The press is controlled by the state in many countries like the United States and Russia. These governments have the power to start wars, imprison whomever they deem a threat to their power, and kill the ‘threat’ to the country and government. This is the result of imperialism. T; this is how fascism grows. It is rooted in the corruption of the state, and in the leader of the country. How can a people know their leader if, their government is lying to them, andif they do not have access to truthful reports? In this capitalist society, the average citizen does not have the time, resources, or money to find information that has not been censored by their government. This is why it is necessary for children to learn how to fight and resist imperialism. For example, Reporters Without Borders created The Uncensored Library in a Minecraft server. The library holds texts that were censored by the reporter’s’ (should this by reporters’) government. It also includes articles from reporters who were suspiciously killed. Why Minecraft, a children’s game? Because it is available in every country, even ones that severely control information. It would be near impossible to destroy The Uncensored Library because Reporters Without Borders would be able to remake it on a different server. In a similar vein, the children’s show Avatar: The Last Airbender covers themes such as imperialism, information control (censorship), trauma, and spiritualism. Avatar’s target audience is children aged six to eleven. What makes Avatar unique as a children’s show is how it teaches children lessons to recognize and resist imperialism in their own lives. Avatar uses multiple perspectives, complex storytelling, and provides nuance to inform and teach children about imperialism. Also,, how to resist it, and how to think and act on their emotions, especially anger and sadness. It is with this knowledge that children begin to understand their world, what their role will be in it, and how to change it.

Details
Author

Woodford, Kalei

Title

Avatar: The Last Airbender: Lessons in Recognizing and Resisting Imperialism

Physical Description

1 online resource (69 pages) : PDF

Date

2022

Degree Granting Institution

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Abstract

In the modern world, we are constantly fed misinformation and biased information. The press is controlled by the state in many countries like the United States and Russia. These governments have the power to start wars, imprison whomever they deem a threat to their power, and kill the ‘threat’ to the country and government. This is the result of imperialism. T; this is how fascism grows. It is rooted in the corruption of the state, and in the leader of the country. How can a people know their leader if, their government is lying to them, andif they do not have access to truthful reports? In this capitalist society, the average citizen does not have the time, resources, or money to find information that has not been censored by their government. This is why it is necessary for children to learn how to fight and resist imperialism. For example, Reporters Without Borders created The Uncensored Library in a Minecraft server. The library holds texts that were censored by the reporter’s’ (should this by reporters’) government. It also includes articles from reporters who were suspiciously killed. Why Minecraft, a children’s game? Because it is available in every country, even ones that severely control information. It would be near impossible to destroy The Uncensored Library because Reporters Without Borders would be able to remake it on a different server. In a similar vein, the children’s show Avatar: The Last Airbender covers themes such as imperialism, information control (censorship), trauma, and spiritualism. Avatar’s target audience is children aged six to eleven. What makes Avatar unique as a children’s show is how it teaches children lessons to recognize and resist imperialism in their own lives. Avatar uses multiple perspectives, complex storytelling, and provides nuance to inform and teach children about imperialism. Also,, how to resist it, and how to think and act on their emotions, especially anger and sadness. It is with this knowledge that children begin to understand their world, what their role will be in it, and how to change it.

Genre

masters theses

Subjects--Topics

English literature
History
Motion pictures

Degree

M.A.

Keywords

Avatar
Imperialism
Information Control
Spirituality
Trauma

Subject Area

English

Advisor(s)

Basu, Balaka

Committee Members

West, Mark
Tarr, Clayton

Degree Note

Thesis (M.A.)--University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2022.

Rights Statement

This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). For additional information, see http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/.

Rights Holder Information

Copyright is held by the author unless otherwise indicated.

Identifier

Woodford_uncc_0694N_13217

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/etd:3052