A Life Entertained

Avatar has earned over $2.5 Billion worldwide. Before I rant on, I’ll admit that Avatar was friggin’ cool—visually, theoretically, conceptually; I echo the praise of critics and “Avatards”. By the way, whoever came up with “Avatards” to describe overenthusiastic movie fans is a genius! You should have an avatar-you that’s sold in Toys “R” Us nationwide; I bet Trekkies would even buy it. Aside from mr. cheap bastard renting 3D glasses, I had few problems with the movie. Seriously, out of $2.5 Billion you couldn’t manage to provide glasses that were—get ready for the shock of your life—MADE IN CHINA? Once Avatar is out of theaters, what happens to the thousands of used glasses? I suppose they could be donated to a worthy cause as a tax write off, but I’m pretty sure Hatians are more in need of food, water, and shelter than they are of seeing Alice in Wonderland and Johnny Depp reprise his role as creepy man (once again turning a charming children’s tale into a week of horrific nightmares). Okay, I’ve said my peace. Avatar was all that and a bag of chips, but Hollywood could have been more generous with the accoutrement so I could have spent my $3.50 on a bag of chips.

Avatar was the iceberg tip of a bigger issue that I got to thinking about post 3D spectacles. Figures vary, but America spends between a gazillion to googabazillion on entertainment annually, which in the words of Edward Lewis is an “obscene” amount of money. The reality TV, iTunes junkie in me doesn’t blink an eye because I enjoy being entertained. On the other hand, the beauty pageant contestant in me that longs for world peace screams, “What’s it all for???!!!!” $2.5 BILLION? Avatar conveyed messages of environmental stewardship and peace—are any of its proceeds going towards these causes? How many people could be fed/clothed/vaccinated/sheltered with that money? Could we stop wars? Reduce national/world debt? Find a cure for cancer or Alzheimer’s? End sex trafficking and slavery? Bring aid to countries that need medical attention and clean water? What if every dollar spent on entertainment was matched with a charitable contribution?

I’m being idealistic, but hear me out. As I walked out of Avatar I had this familiar feeling—the same one I get after listening to a favorite song on itunes or witnessing Broadway’s latest sensation. It’s the high of being entertained and then feeling ecstatic about the world that I live in. And then the worry sets in as I wonder, has life gotten so depressing that I rely on entertainment to remind me that the world is awesome and humanity, despite our flaws, is still amazing? Do we enjoy the arts purely for entertainment’s sake, or have we lost an inherent hope and belief in ourselves and our world that we need to be reminded that good still exists? Does our survival depend on constant entertainment?

Apparently Avatar was only the beginning and we should expect sequels, which will no doubt cost more and gross more. By the last installment we will probably be renting virtual headsets for the bargain price of $19.99 (on top of an inflated movie ticket price of $25). I’m hoping by that time my dreams of winning a beauty pageant are realized, my faith in society has improved, and I won’t feel a need to see the movie; because let’s face it, $19.99 buys many bags of chips, and if I feel like it I may even give a bag to the homeless and hungry guy waving the sign on the corner.