Getting Under the Skin: A Study Guide to Avatar

Avatar (James Cameron, 2009) presents a glossy veneer of cinematic beauty and thematic liberal-mindedness. The stunning look of the film and its self-proclaimed celebration of environmentalism, indigenous cultures and nature triumphing over technology ensured box-office success – but if we scratch the surface, the picture becomes far more problematic. This study guide explores key themes such as race and orientalism, nature and technology, and colonisation.