In contrast, privilege amongst others can yield to ignorance and disregard for the oppressed.Īvatar Korra’s privilege clashes against the devastating reality of the unjust society in which she lives. The show’s caste system represents the systematic racism of our country established over 400 years ago.
Benders, like many people with privilege, are unwilling to relinquish their higher social standing in order to bring about a more just society. The overarching desire for equality is most prominent with the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement, one of history’s most powerful social movements. Season one’s themes echo today’s fights for social and political equality. For non-benders, their internalized disdain for those they see as less than themselves sparks violent retaliation, ultimately disrupting the power balance even further, changing their purpose from a group against systematic oppression to a hate group. When some lose their bending to Amon, it shows the fear, physically and mentally, of being part of what is constituted as the lower class. For benders, the inborn bending does not only symbolize their higher class but also their individuality and identity. The theme of equality is portrayed on both sides of the spectrum. Amon’s movement grows as he seizes the class struggle and fights for socioeconomic equality. In the Avatar world, most benders are of the elite class on the other hand, the lower, non-bender class is assigned to menial jobs. The injustice caused by the imbalance of physical power stems from non-benders’ hatred and fear.Īlongside populism, Amon’s pseudo-communist ideals guide his mission to reform Republic City’s society. Deemed to achieve equality amongst benders and non-benders, Amon uses his power, said to be bestowed upon by the spirits, to rid bending in benders, especially those who abuse their power.Įssentially an agent of populism - a political ideology appealing to ‘the people’ against the interests of the upper class - Amon’s movement gains publicity and supporters by putting a stop to discrimination and shifting power. The “villain,” Amon, is introduced as the leader of an organization of radical revolutionaries, the Equalists. In season one, the plot is scored by heavy themes of equality and radicalism.
Similar to “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” “Legend of Korra” pushes the standards of a children’s show, with the fictional plotlines derived from extreme political ideologies and themes inspired by the real world. The Avatar, a spirit passed through a reincarnation cycle, holds the power to bend all four elements in order to bring balance and peace to the world.įast-forwarding 70 years after the events of “The Last Airbender,” Korra, a hot-headed, headstrong fighter, and her friends take on four jam-packed seasons of saving the world.Īnalogous to a kind of Industrial Revolution, the world made great technological advancements that create an urbanized backdrop for Korra’s heroic journey. In a world built on the four natural elements - Fire Nation, Air Nomads, Water Tribe, Earth Kingdom - select individuals hold an innate power of “bending” their respective elements. 14.įirst released in 2012, “Legend of Korra” tells the story of the Avatar Korra, who succeeds the original series’ Avatar, Aang. After the well-received re-run of Nickelodeon’s “Avatar: The Last Airbender” on Netflix, the long-awaited sequel show “Legend of Korra” dropped on Netflix on Aug.