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Avatar: New or Old?

       In taking his lead from the past as well as the present, James Cameron draws
us into his world and it's concerns. The attractive fantasies of our past are updated
and refreshed but still pull at the heart of our subconscious to create an intimate
connection.
       The flying dragon-like creature reminds us of dinosaurs but are sleek and new,
nothing like the scaled fire breathing dragons of ancient times. They have their
roots in the artwork of Roger Dean who designed album covers for the band
Yes but that's where the similarity ends.These creatures and others in the
movie are based on race car designs to give them super slick aerodynamic looks of
the future as well as sea creatures to give them a basis in reality.
       Roger Dean also had a fondness for floating islands which fit in with the low gravity of Pandora whose islands are informed by the karst limestone formations in China, Thailand and Venezuela.
       The symbology of the trees on Pandora relates to the Druid belief that trees provide a powerful spiritual presence . They were believed to be filled with the
essence and energy of the elementals and mother earth. Those beings who are in
total balance and harmony are able to see this aura of power. James Cameron in
Avatar showes us how far we have digressed from our essential life-giving values
by destroying the great tree that shelters the Na'vi. His movie illustrates certain
social trends and gives us Avatar as a warning.