Growing up, my Chinese culture was a rarity on American Television. Sure, I'd see glimpses of it - like in Ni Hao Kai-Lan, KungFu Panda, and others - but I never regarded any of these adaptations as a true homage to my culture. These franchises used Chinese culture and profited off of it; they watered it down until it was nothing else but pagodas and lanterns. If you ask the average American, they'll probably tell you that Chinese culture just consists of dragons, kung fu, and fireworks.
But Chinese culture is so much more than that. It's the longest standing culture in the world, and it's one that is beautiful, vibrant, and certainly not one that can be summarized in a few motifs. For much of my life, it was never accurately depicted. I found my real Chinese culture in Chinese movies instead.
However, the Nickelodeon show Avatar: The Last Airbender, finally gets it right.
Instead of trying to profit off of my culture, Avatar pays respect to it. It notices the small details and accurately depicts ancient Chinese culture in a beautiful, respectful way. And not only does it portray my culture - it also shows numerous other Asian cultures, such as those of the Japanese, Indians, Tibetans, and more. It's a kid's show that miraculously exemplifies the complexities and beauties of a culture that has been clouded with stereotypes and Americanization.
Avatar hones in in all the small details. In the title sequence, real, accurate Chinese characters are painted behind the benders. The scrolls in the show are accurately read vertically from right to left. In Tales of Ba Sing Se, creators Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko depict the use of incense to memorialize the dead, which is a common Chinese practice - one that I've even participated in before. Buddhism, the religion of Avatar Aang, is accurately and respectfully illustrated through his vegetarianism and mercy. The characters eat accurate Chinese food, such as bao zi and duck. (Though duck in this universe is always combined with some other animal!) In fact, while my sister and I were watching the show, my mom came by and mused that the show seemed to take place in the prosperous Ming dynasty. Yin and yang are a key theme in the series, Yue's name literally means 'moon' in Chinese, and the palaces strike a strong resemblance to the Chinese Summer Palace and Forbidden City. Most importantly, the bending fighting styles are based off of traditional Asian martial arts - airbending uses Ba Gua, waterbending uses Tai Chi (something that elders regularly practice in China!), earthbending uses Hung Gar, and firebending uses Shaolin kung fu (source).
What was so amazing about Avatar was the fact that I knew millions of other people had also witnessed my culture - an accurate depiction of it - and it was no longer a Chinese movie that only Chinese kids watched ... American children were also being exposed to the culture of my family. It felt so good to know that my culture was being represented in such a beautiful way. I felt proud, and I felt at home. Avatar is an objectively good series, but to me, it had a special connection: a connection between myself and my culture. I only wish I could have watched Avatar as a child. Seeing this kind of representation blew me away, and it would have been just as monumental - or even more so - to a younger me, struggling to fit in with a white suburbia while still maintaining her Asian roots.
Avatar also utilizes music played by traditional Chinese instruments such as the erhu, guqin, and many others. Simply put, the soundtrack for Avatar is amazing. It does what music was meant to do - it reaches to your heartstrings and evokes an indescribable emotion. If Aang and his "gaang" are running away from a monster, the soundtrack fills you with excitement. If Aang and his friends are just messing around, the soundtrack helps conjure a playful atmosphere. The musical themes in Avatar are beautiful. It's insane that a kid's show could have such a well-developed soundtrack, on top of carefully executed cultural references. My favorite soundtrack in Avatar, however, is called 'Safe Return':
This theme is played whenever Aang and his friends are flying away safely on Appa's back, fresh from a new adventure and heading into the night. The soft chords of the guqin wrap you in a hug that almost feels as if you yourself are on Appa's back, surrounded by friends and flying to safety. It's a piece that will always have a place in a mind, and it's the piece that I will always remember Avatar by. This safe, family-like feeling truly encapsulates what Avatar feels to me: a cultural world that I find familiarity in.
Avatar's a well-rounded show that excels in every department, and it certainly doesn't stop at the soundtrack. It handles mature themes such as genocide, corruption, economic divide, environmental issues, childhood abuse, and more. I could ramble about how this show weaves these themes through its plot, but I'll let you watch the show and see for yourself. For this blogpost, however, I will focus on the gender studies of Avatar.
On the female side, Avatar presents a homage of strong, witty female characters that I have been missing from media from so long. My favorite has to be Azula, who is the opposite of every sexist stereotype placated on women. She's cool-headed, cunning, manipulative, and strategic - so much different than the emotional, motherly woman that cries and makes brash decisions that is so often portrayed in today's television. That is also why my favorite female character isn't Katara, as she plays into the female motherly trope - she's demanding, stubborn, and brash - however, the show is able to play these features to Katara's strength instead of using them against her.
Azula outwits many of her male counterparts, including the Avatar himself and her own brother Zuko. She is a strong-willed, incredibly intelligent character who stops at nothing until she gets what she wants, even if her motives are much too far. Azula doesn't crave attention from the opposite sex, nor does she dwell too much on her femininity - Azula carves her own path, one that utilizes elements from the traditional male and female roles of society to make her the best version of herself. Even though her toxic traits and manipulative tendencies cannot be justified, I admire Azula for her utter respect for herself. Unlike Zuko, Azula's honor does not come from her father or uncle - it comes from within herself. Azula's faith in her capabilities is what allows her to master lightning and continuously deceive Aang and his friends. Azula is one of the best villains I have ever seen on the screen - she is terrifying, but just as she is frightening, she is just as admirable.
Just as Azula serves as a revolutionary female character in entertainment, Aang serves the same purpose for the males. In the beginning of the series, Aang is a small, wimpish boy that has an undying love for Katara, even if it isn't reciprocated. He's childish, boyish, lighthearted, and embodies every trait that a child character should have. He loves to play and have fun, and it is not until much later in the series does he grasp his responsibilities in the world. His mischievousness often gets himself and his friends into trouble - such as riding the carts in Omashu and riding the fish on Kiyoshi Island - but these traits just serve to make him seem even more realistic. We love him for his inability to concentrate and grow up. However, the difference between Aang and other male characters often portrayed in the media is the fact that Aang - the small, skinny bald boy - gets the girl, while tall, brooding Zuko is left single and alone (sorry to spoil, but Mai breaks up with him in the comics).
Aang carves a new definition of masculinity by possessing traits that make him just as "manly" as Combustion Man. His strength is not in physical appearance, but in his ability to show mercy, vulnerability, and stick to his moral values (upholding the teachings of the monks, even against previous Avatars). While Aang can be dimwitted at times, at the core of his character is a love and respect for others, no matter their look, ethnicity, or purpose. He saves Zuko's life on countless occasions, even though the latter's mission is to kill Aang, and he spares Sozin's life at the finale of the series. Even though his entire people has been wiped off the planet, Aang still manages to maintain an upbeat attitude and is there for his friends. Unlike Sokka, he views Katara as a bender that is just as capable as he is. This is why Aang is the avatar and not Zuko - Aang possesses a strength that none of them have - endurance. Perhaps it's his childlike traits or his naivety - whatever the case, Aang does not let the past mar his future. And even though Aang is not as tall or toned as Zuko, Katara ends up with Aang because Aang brings all the traits that the "true man" should bring to the relationship - trust, humility, and respect. Unlike Aang, Zuko is much too involved in the past and in his head to maintain a steady, healthy relationship.
Aang is not the "traditional man". He's not some emotionless creature that revels in whatever next bodybuilding technique he can master. He cries in front of Katara and empathizes with her. He is willing and able to feel and understand his emotions, which is a trait that society actively represses in men today. He actively works to understand Katara and reason with her - even when she's being bossy and demanding, Aang understands that it's a facet of her personality and accepts her for it. He is there for Katara physically, emotionally, and romantically. That being said, Aang brings all the traits of a healthy, formidable relationship - and that in itself exemplifies just what kind of man Aang is.
Avatar: The Last Airbender is one of the best shows I've ever watched, and it will most likely remain so. It accurately depicts my culture, breaks down gender barriers, and delivers a cohesive, interesting plot that only builds upon itself. It exposes children to mature themes, all while maintaining a humor that connects with young and older audiences. Avatar is revolutionary in that it is not only a kid's show: it's a show that reaches all audience types without having to rely on adult jokes. And if you've just finished Avatar and want another adventure story that has Asian culture, I strongly recommend the Chinese cartoon Journey to the West (西遊記). The main character, Sun Wukong, is much like Aang in that he is a mischievous child (unlike Aang, he's a monkey) that possesses astronomical amounts of power. His mission is to accompany a monk named Tang Sanzang in a pilgrimage from China to India with the help of Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing. On the way, Sun Wukong and his friends encounter a plethora of monsters trying to derail their journey. It's as lighthearted and fun as Avatar and while watching Avatar for the first time, I found many connections between the two cartoons.
Here's an episode of Journey to the West (turn on captions)!
In the end, Avatar can be a lesson to all kid's show creators. Kids can handle mature themes when presented in the right way, and shows that are attentive to detail are what will educate our children and teach them new lessons through media. Avatar is a show that people will continue to learn from, no matter their age.
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