[Meta] Science and the Avatar-verse

[talibusorabat]

After finally reading the io9 article asking Is Legend of Korra Anti-Science?, I had some thoughts.

Amusingly, they had more to do with the original series than with Korra, but spoiler warnings for the whole of both series apply.

Comments

More spoilers for both series.

[iosonochesono]

Actually, I thought much the same thing when I heard Korra engaging with the propoganda-man. I was like, "Well, but you are privileged compared to the non-benders and I'm sure they do deal with a lot of oppression and invisibility compared to this elite." Though it sounds like this leader guy has other ideas in mind and is not a good guy, I would say a lot of the angry people are: Just good people that have problems and do have issues related to not being able to bend and having to deal with people that can wield so much power over them so easily.

It's one of the reasons the show is decidedly amazing, IMO. It jumped right into the concepts of oppression and privilege. She is obviously highly privileged as a bender (and not just any bender, but the Avatar) and doesn't get what it's like to be someone that can't compete with that world. We saw Sokka deal with things like that as a result of not being a bender in the last series, as well.

To me, that's so cool to see so plainly in a kids' series.

... Though I just realized I only read one link and now that I've read both it sounds like you've covered what I've said and much more (and even used Sokka as an example!)

Anyway, I'm really hopeful about it and CAN'T WAIT for episode three with this current set-up. I can already tell there will be so much cool dialogue. I wish I could buy the episodes on iTunes RIGHT NOW so we could discuss it in anthropology club.

Re: More spoilers for both series.

[talibusorabat]

Haha, YES! I was so excited to see that sequence of scenes, because it makes the bender versus non-bender conflict so much more layered and interesting. Also really nice to see a main character/hero get a privilege check. It should happen more often.

Though I saw someone on Tumblr use the soapbox scene to argue that the oppression of the poor by the rich is just in people's heads, and I was like "...are we watching the same series? O.o;;;"

Re: More spoilers for both series.

[iosonochesono]

Hell, are we living on the same planet if someone wants to imply that people aren't oppressed in any way by the rich, or in a social system that (essentially) supports maintaining poverty.

I mean just as one example when people who have money talk about "voting with your feet/money" because you don't get enough pay or whatever... You can't. Literally. You can't afford to not work or to make yourself less susceptiblel to being hired.

We can argue on details or whatever but it's plain stupid to act like it's all imaginary.

Re: More spoilers for both series.

[talibusorabat]

I have met people who have said that increased taxes on the wealthy is enslaving the rich. They're real. I don't know what reality they live in.

Re: More spoilers for both series.

[iosonochesono]

And I agree the privilege check was amazing (and well... sadly realistic that she didn't really think about it much and just lashed out in return.)

I have high hopes for her character development, that being the second episode!

Re: More spoilers for both series.

[talibusorabat]

It was such a 16 year old way to lash back, too. Korra feels very much like a real teen to me - not like the gAang, who all had to grow up way too fast. I'm really excited to watch her grow.