B)

Hi, first of all thank you so much for your interest in learning more, I really appreciate your curiosity and compassion! I’m going to basically break down your question as if I’m going to write a paper on this topic to show you resources that explain in depth how a character like Aang is an orientalist caricature of Tibetan spirituality.

Its a little difficult to explain the theory of orientalism, as its an extremely extensive subject with academics all over the world contributing to the constantly-evolving conversation surrounding it. The theory was born from Palestinan professor Edward Said, who was mostly analyzing how the Western World projected their desires onto the Middle East. His book is the very foundation of the theory, but I’ll warn you that its extremely dense and full of academic jargon. There is a boatload of comprehensive guides and summaries online though!

From Said, academics from nations beyond the Middle East were able to utilize his theory of orientalism and apply it to how the West views and represents their respective culture. To narrow it down to how contemporary Western media like Avatar the Last Airbender participates in orientalism in regards to East Asia, I would say Jane Iwamura, a leading academic in the field of Asian Relgious Studies, is the woman for the job. Virtual Orientalism: Asian Religions and American Popular Culture is a great read for understanding the Western World’s fascination and fetishization of Eastern religions. Her book is also significantly shorter and easier to read then Said, haha!

In her book, Jane Iwamura coined the term “Oriental Monk” to explain how the West romanticized Eastern spirituality into a character trope. Aang and the Airbenders are a very significant manifestation of this trope, as they completely misrepresent Tibetan religion while also appropriating cultural traditions without understanding the weight of its significance (ex. the “Avatar selection process” and the Dalai Lama reincarnation tradition). Iwamura also has the essay "The Oriental Monk in American Popular Culture" which delves even further into its analysis.

I already mentioned this in my post, but in relation to Tibet specifically, Prisoners of Shangri-La by Donald S Lopez is an essential work in Tibetan Studies that connects how orientalist depictions of Tibet by the West negatively impacts Tibetan politics and the fight for autonomy.

I googled Jane Iwamura and Avatar and found some people who already discussed this topic!

Heres a fansite who discuss how orientalism contributes to creating the specific atmosphere of the show:

https://sites.google.com/a/mun.ca/the-zen-of-avatar-the-last-airbender/-asian-stylization

Here’s a students short paper, its goes a little off topic in some parts but I appreciate the effort:

Can you explain what are some of the main visual elements of a Zuko? I'm wondering if the bangs are making his face shape look different, or if I'm being thrown off by the insane muscles.

I...might have gone a bit overload.

Extra Zukos + character design comparison between ATLA Zuko and Movie Zuko + long ramble about the danger of beauty conventions under the cut!

They are BEST. FRIENDS.

I haven’t watched the leaked AtLA movie, and there are plenty of reasons why people might decide to wait to watch the new movie until when it officially releases in October. Me? Well, from the screencaps and gif sets I’ve seen, I’ve noticed something incredibly important is missing - Zuko’s lightning scar! There have been claims that the leaked version isn’t 100% complete, so obviously if I wait until October to watch it the final version of the movie will have Zuko’s lightning scar in its full glory, right? …right?

But seriously where is Zuko’s lightning scar? At best, it was a careless mistake, but at worst it was a purposeful decision to erase the physical representation of the culmination of Zuko’s character arc. Why would you choose to erase Zuko’s big hero moment??

After all, from pictures, I know adult Aang still has his lightning scar, and his scar was treated with Spirit Water (!!) and weeks of intensive healing by Katara. If Aang still has his lightning scar after all that, then adult Zuko should absolutely have his too. Aang and Zuko are supposed to be lightning scar buddies!

But hey, the leaked version isn’t the final version supposedly. Zuko’s lightning scar will definitely be there in the final release (a girl can dream…). In the mean time, I’ll be enjoying all the wonderful new fanart available, where luckily many artists do remember Zuko’s lightning scar.

(Disclaimer: I did not draw the Zuko here, it’s official art) #WhereIsZukosLightningScar

Because Aang didn't learn anything

The fact that his team ended up dead was a consequence of not listening to them, but as the movie progresses, there isn't really a moral lesson that lets us know that Aang learned from his mistake and won't... trust a complete stranger again.

If people love Zuko, it's not because of his cruel acts, but because he stopped being cruel and learned from them.

Something that Aang lacks in this movie.

In Book 1, Chapter 12, something similar to the movie happens, but with Zuko. It turns out that at the beginning, Iroh warned Zuko to change the ship's course from north to south because a storm was approaching.

Zuko doesn't listen, he insists on continuing on the same course because it's known that the Avatar is flying around there. Iroh insists it's for the crew's safety, and Zuko directly tells him that he doesn't care about their safety.

What's happening? Indeed, just as Iroh said, there's a storm and they're in danger now.

The first difference comes here: his crew doesn't feign ignorance even though they already know the reason why Zuko insists so much on capturing the Avatar, because that doesn't excuse him from putting their lives at risk, they claim Zuko every time it is necessary, and with that, Zuko realizes his mistake. Something that the Avatar team does not do, they confronted him once and when Aang insists, they resign themselves to helping him because it is something that he needs even if he pays for it with their lives.

And then comes the second difference: when they manage to get to safety, Zuko does something that Aang did NOT do in the movie—he apologizes. Can you imagine?! Book 1 Zuko actually showing remorse and character growth?! Amazing, never seen before.

And then the third difference! In the midst of the storm, Aang appears with Appa and Katara because they need to rescue Sokka. Zuko sees them and knows he has a new opportunity to capture him and thus be accepted back home. Yun asks him, "What do you want to do, Sir?" Zuko knows that any order will be obeyed, he knows that the moment he shouts "Chase him!" his crew will have no choice but to obey.

Which brings us to the cherry on the cake: Zuko, having made up his mind, simply says, "Let him go. We need to get this ship to safety." He immediately knew he had to learn from his mistake, he couldn't risk the lives of his crew again. He put aside his own desire to capture Aang in order to keep those who support him safe. Even when capturing him could represent a significant change in his life AND HIS NATION.

Maynard Dixon