he is shown as rather slow and clumsy in most respects
But this is in a body he's only just acquired, without undergoing any of the normal training, in comparison to Na'vi who are in the bodies they were born in and following presumably many years of education/practice. And he isn't just good at flying; he's effortlessly good at it. As soon as he's mastered his mount, he seems to be as accomplished as Neytiri, who has again presumably had years of practice.
It is a very common trope; that's why it's recognisable. Oddly enough we were discussing it in relation to Dune yesterday evening, and we agreed that yes, it applies there too. I think it is simply that we are now mroe aware of these things.
I do think though that one shouldn't dismiss either Dune or Avater solely on the basis that they're racist. If we applied that to all literature, we'd have very little left.
no subject
But this is in a body he's only just acquired, without undergoing any of the normal training, in comparison to Na'vi who are in the bodies they were born in and following presumably many years of education/practice. And he isn't just good at flying; he's effortlessly good at it. As soon as he's mastered his mount, he seems to be as accomplished as Neytiri, who has again presumably had years of practice.
It is a very common trope; that's why it's recognisable. Oddly enough we were discussing it in relation to Dune yesterday evening, and we agreed that yes, it applies there too. I think it is simply that we are now mroe aware of these things.
I do think though that one shouldn't dismiss either Dune or Avater solely on the basis that they're racist. If we applied that to all literature, we'd have very little left.