A Postcolonial Analysis of Hegemony and Resistance in Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)

Abstract

This study explores Antonio Gramsci's Hegemony theory and Homi K. Bhabha's Mimicry theory within postcolonialism, focusing on their examination of power, culture, and resistance post-colonial rule. Gramsci’s theory sheds light on power dynamics and class conflict, while Bhabha’s theory discusses how the colonized mimic dominant cultures as a form of resistance. Using the film Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) directed by James Cameron, this research analyzes the themes of hegemony and resistance portrayed through Jake Sully's struggle against the "Sky People." The analysis involves linguistic and visual elements to uncover symbols and metaphors related to these themes. The research draws on Gramsci's "Prison Notebooks" and Bhabha's "The Location of Culture," using postcolonial criticism to interpret key sequences, dialogues, and visual components from the film.
Keywords: Hegemony, Resistance, Mimicry.