From IMDb and an avatard named torukmakto4:
OK, where to start?
How about the title?
Stealing ideas and calling it original
So you assert that Cameron...
STOLE, as in plagiarized, a valid original concept (not a genre element, a generality, or an archetypal concept)
AND
called this stolen idea his own?
If you want that rather radical and severe statement to fly, you will need to back it up with three important pieces of concrete data:
1. The original idea(s) that were infringed upon.
2. Proof that the usage of this concept in Cameron's work is in fact a violation of originality, i.e. documentation of the fact that Cameron did in fact copy the idea from another specific source rather than developing it by coincidence in isolation or deriving it from the same inspirational source that also inspired the work claimed to be infringed upon. This is not going to be easy. In fact, it may not be possible.
3. Concrete proof that Cameron cited this idea as a 100% original work of his own. If he admits an inspiration, he is not calling the idea a 100% original work of his own.
Poul Anderson wrote Call Me Joe in 1957...(Cameron) called it Avatar
OK, so you mean make an unoriginality claim about Avatar based on Anderson's Call Me Joe? Let's see what evidence you have.
a story about artificial life-forms, Psionics, space exploration and complex human psychology
Alright... seeing some general similarities here, mostly sci-fi basics, broad themes, and... some dissimilarities! OOPS! Um, way to do a good job using the distillation method to make two works look similar... NOT! You are going to have to try harder, because the trolls have already come up with better-looking and more believable unoriginality arguments more than a year ago!
Let's run these point by point...
artificial life-forms
The theme of ARTIFICIAL (i.e. designed from the ground up in an intelligent manner separate from natural evolution) organisms is NOT shared with Avatar. The avatars featured in said film are genetically engineered, but they are simple modifications of natural organisms, unlike the synthetic Jovians.
If we interpret that theme in a broader sense to include all bioengineered and modified lifeforms, it becomes uselessly broad. Avatar has more in common with Jurassic Park (genetic modification to serve human purpose) than with Call Me Joe under that comparison.
Psionics
Another broad theme, a parallel to science and brain/computer interface research.
The one valid similarity under this theme is a human's remote control of an entity in a telepresence manner by means of a hardware interface.
space exploration
An incredibly general theme that appears in the majority of sci-fi.
complex human psychology
A theme that does not appear as a primary element in Avatar, although Jake's journey could represent a sort of yearning for and achievement of a higher and less constrained existence, which is one possible way to interpret both Call Me Joe and Avatar. There may be an inspirational connection, although the concept of the achievement of a higher and less constrained existence through a shift in loyalty or a massive change in the basics of one's life may also be traced back to the archetype that inspired every "turncoat protagonist" or "going native" story INCLUDING CALL ME JOE.
Since this argument of yours is almost comically sparse and general, how about I just compare Call Me Joe and Avatar at a moderate level of generality?
Call Me Joe: A disabled man, Anglesey, is involved in an effort to explore the surface of Jupiter by means of telepathic control of a synthetic lifeform, a Jovian. He faces technical problems with his link hardware that cause disconnections at an increasing rate. This is attributed to a psychological cause, possibly rejection of the circumstances by his mind. Eventually it is realized that Joe, Anglesey's Jovian "avatar" (a term NOT used by the author!) has developed an independent existence from Anglesey himself, and the cause of the link failures is the composite mind's fear of separation. Eventually, Joe's mind takes over and Anglesey's separate existence ceases, his body now dead and empty. Anglesey/Joe's character lives on as a Jovian independent of outside control.
Avatar: A corporate entity, RDA, exploits the superconductive mineral wealth of the moon Pandora at the expense of its diverse biosphere, which includes an intelligent and evolved humanoid people, the Na'vi. A paraplegic man, Jake Sully, is brought on-world through a sudden turn of events to serve as his dead brother's replacement in the Avatar Program. This is an effort to further diplomacy with the Na'vi and scientific study of Pandora through the use of human drivers remotely controlling bioengineered Na'vi avatars. Jake, through the will of the moon's biological superintelligence Eywa, soon comes upon the Omaticaya, a Na'vi clan who take him in and educate him in the Na'vi way of life. He also comes upon a love interest, Neytiri, who becomes his mentor. Jake is ordered to act as a mole for RDA against the Omaticaya, but slowly comes to understand that his new existence with the Na'vi through his avatar is superior, all the while shifting in loyalty toward his new people and coming to realize the terrible injustice of RDA's actions. When a devastating RDA attack on the Omaticaya's ancestral home becomes imminent, Jake reveals his status in a desperate attempt to convince the Omaticaya to leave peacefully. His last-ditch attempt fails and the RDA fleet attacks the Omaticaya Hometree, leveling it and killing many, Neytiri's heart is broken by Jake's disloyalty and he becomes a traitor in the eyes of both sides. Jake, having been aided by sympathetic members of the Avatar Program and science team, returns to his avatar and fulfills his destiny as the sixth Toruk Makto, unifying the clans of the area in a final stand against oppression and proving his true loyalty to Neytiri and the Omaticaya. RDA, meanwhile, responds with its own genocidal final stand for its own survival. When Jake's forces nearly lose the ensuing battle, Eywa intervenes, crushing all RDA resistance. Jake destroys an RDA bomber just before it obliterates the single most sacred site, the Tree of Souls, which is a sort of portal to Eywa. Jake and Neytiri then proceed to kill the RDA head of security in a desperate fight. The RDA presence is forced off-world, securing the future of Pandora and the Na'vi for the foreseeable future. The film ends with Jake's permanent transference by Eywa into his avatar body, marking the completion of his transformation.
Trying to identify all dissimilarities between Call Me Joe and Avatar would be terribly difficult and incredibly long-winded, because, like the case of Avatar and Dune, another written work of sci-fi that has been referenced in Avatar unoriginality claims, these two stories have very little in common. Compared to the massive landscape of differences, the similarities are tiny and insignificant.
A much more viable strategy is to identify the similarities.
Here you go:
Disabled protagonist
Telepresence in a biological surrogate/avatar
Transformation of a character into a non-human being leading a superior and less restrictive life
Everything else is generalized sci-fi genre cornerstones: space, alien worlds... and generalized turncoat plot archetype themes.
What this comparison seems to indicate is that there MAY have been an inspirational connection to Call Me Joe in the creation of Avatar. This makes PERFECT sense, since Cameron has noted (or "ADMITTED" if you prefer) that his primary inspirations for Avatar were science fiction writings that he was exposed to in his childhood.
EDIT: Including Call Me Joe!
But as to THIS...
Poul Anderson wrote Call Me Joe in 1957. Cameron called it Avatar
No. Absolutely, positively, hell no. Avatar and Call Me Joe are VERY DIFFERENT stories with VERY DIFFERENT plots, characters, themes, messages... one centers on a psychological development, the other on a conflict between societies!
Their ONLY commonalities are those few concepts I mentioned.
Sidenote: Perhaps it's an homage? Did you ever think of that? Rather nice of Cameron to give some classic and obscure sci-fi a nod in his rather, um, popular film.
and added some basic and simple liberal principles of environmentalism, anti-militarism, white-guilt, anachro-primitivism
So unoriginality isn't enough? You just have to bash EVERY ASPECT of this film in the most tired and unoriginal (*cough* hypocritical *cough*) manner possible... seriously, learn to hate creatively. Those arguments and claims are older than dirt and make me want to yawn. There are more insidious and less obvious angles of attack to use that I could at least get a laugh out of reading.
They still demand a refute, though.
liberal principles of environmentalism
Environmentalism in Avatar is not a primary message. It is a generated message consisting of a narrow interpretation of the concept of societal responsibility, which is exemplified in the Na'vi. This extends to every aspect of life and culture. Respect for the biosphere that sustains one's life is just one way that overall societal responsibility manifests in a culture.
Not to mention that partisan politics have no place in this matter. Liberalism may tend more toward developing responsible societies (or it may not, in some cases) but these principles are deeper and more fundamental than something as high level as the (American...) political motives you are getting at.
anti-militarism
Note the following:
- The enemy (RDA) forces in Avatar are CORPORATE SECURITY FORCES. MERCENARIES. HIRED GUNS. MEN WHO HAVE SOLD OUT TO MURDER IN THE NAME OF PROFIT!
They are NOT MILITARY and they do NOT REPRESENT A NATIONAL INTEREST!
- Two protagonists, one our hero, are ex-Marines.
- Protagonists uphold ideals consistent with US (and other) military doctrine throughout the film.
- The rightful side of the conflict (the Na'vi) also engage in militaristic action against the enemy's forces. The protagonists (Jake, Neytiri, Trudy...) act as military leaders among Na'vi forces.
white-guilt
This is a common attack on any "going native" type scenario: The Western protagonist is the avatar (ha!) of white guilt for past actions, or is the white messiah who saves the "inferior" and "savage" other society. An equally valid interpretation is that the protagonist's journey represents a complete transformation of the "white" man that inherently removes his "whiteness" or "Western-ness", symbolized in the plot by his adoption of a new way of life and a new loyalty against his former "guilty" fellows. You look at a shot of Jake as Toruk Makto in the final battle and you see pure Na'vi warrior, other than his Marine-ness coming through in that rather out-of-place machine gun.
But that's just subjective analysis. Whatever. Point is that white guilt is more a perception, an artifact of the viewer, than an inherent characteristic of a story.
anachro-primitivism
That is the result of a very literal and rigid interpretation of the characteristics of the protagonists, combined with a prejudiced view that defines the Na'vi as primitive. I know it's hard to think about bows and arrows NOT being "primitive", but have some respect for the fact that technology != societal value. The Na'vi have other ways of coping. Us Westerns may love our tech, but that doesn't make it the only game in town.
Then there is the fact that several protagonists are scientists! (Grace? Max?) Avatar is in actuality pro-science, upholding reason and foresight over (corporate) illogicality and ignorance. Avatar holds technology as a tool to be wielded responsibly, nothing more or less.
plus excess CGI and explosions, etc.
Not gonna debate. Tasteful use of effects is subjective.
just to appeal to the Lowest common denominator to get box office numbers
What you may not know about the history of Avatar is that it had little studio or commercial influence in the early stages. It was written in 1994 and quickly shelved because technical issues prevented its production. Cameron created it as the fulfillment of his personal creative desire.
Early on, Fox was fearful of its potential to fail. This was a similar situation to Titanic: the concept of Avatar becoming a mainstream/commercial film did not emerge until production was well under way. There were times when it was feared that it wouldn't break even, and that it might bomb terribly. Prior to the release, a certain user named sith56 made his prediction: "Avatar will be the biggest box office flop in movie history." Even today, he is mocked on the Avatar boards in "sith56 EPIC FAIL" threads.
The moment I realize AVATAR was the biggest joke played on humanity was when I watched Palestinians dressed up like Na'vis while protesting against Israel.
Why does that make it a joke? Your evidence flies in the face of everything you are trying to claim about Avatar's ineffectiveness as a portrayal of real world events! This protest deal is a case of an oppressed people at risk of losing everything to an encroaching hostile outsider. Sound familiar? I don't care whose side you are on here, there is still very real injustice at play. Similar protests and cases of Avatar inspiring resistance and unity among the threatened are well documented all across the world.
That the image of the Na'vi is such a powerful and recognized metaphor for real-world injustice and oppression just goes to prove that Cameron absolutely hit the nail on the head.
China even made a very controversial move, one that I deeply despise, to CENSOR Avatar. No joke, there was governmental interference with Avatar showings. Theaters were forced to drop many screenings in favor of some communist documentary. Why? There was fear that Avatar's message would hit very hard among the victims of government injustice, forced evictions, and that there would be very serious and real unrest as a result.
I'll say that again. There was LEGITIMATE CONCERN that THIS FILM and its morality would inspire the oppressed to rise up in unity in defense of their natural rights.
Some way for Cameron to put forth a message not applicable to real situations in the real world.
Really, when a movie is loved by everyone and offends no one
Loved by everyone? Offends no one?
"Yeah, it was loved by everyone!" says the hater as he empties his flamethrower at Avatar. Real smart!
then you must realize it appeals to the dumbest people in our society.
That is a fallacy. There is no connection between overall success and success with the dumb. There is not even a connection between the dumb understanding it in any significant way and its success with the dumb. You could miss 90% of a film's substance and still enjoy it.
Popularity could also be explained by the film telling a desirable, and thus popular, story.
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