That, I think, is what Avatar suffers from most: the themes are adult, very adult, but the execution is child-appropriate.
That, I think, nails the entire problem on its head. BANG, baby. Even if we take as truth the story-line that stands on the net, as propagated by Nickelodeon, that they were the first and only to talk to the creators and were right in line all the time and planned every minute of its massive success, it still doesn't change the fact that the story shows every indication of being created and written by two (or more) minds who were not instinctively and immediately in simpatico with a usual child-appropriate storyline.
The resolution you wanted would leave me not satisfied, it would mean a major concession for Azula's agency - to be rescued by her brother (which I think is as bad as or worse than Zuko defeating her, since it carries so much more humiliation).
Your other points are solid and definitely an important part of the whole Azula issue. Where I trip is in this particular application of agency.
Normally when we discuss "agency," we do mean in a gender-split, and I know that's one way to take the Zuko/Azula conflict -- but underneath that, they're also siblings, and that puts a completely different spin on things, because he is, after all, her older brother. If there is any one situation in which a young adult could, maybe even should, rely on another of the opposite gender, it'd be between younger and older siblings. Like I said above, there's no one else (no matter whether Zuko is boy or girl) who has any inkling of what Azula grew up with. He's not just the only one who can explain how he got free (and say it without patronizing, because he does have experience equal to hers, in many ways), he's also the only one left who can forgive her, too.
After all, there are points in the story where Katara has to come to grips with things, and it's Sokka who helps her through those points, and I haven't seen anyone questioning Katara's agency. Only reference I've seen is that it demonstrates the connection and importance of siblings -- so I fail to see why it wouldn't also be important/useful/redemptive in this sibling-set, as well.
I think they solved the dilemma well only insofar as they're trapped inside the story's limitations and that overwhelming priority of remaining child-appropriate. I suspect any true showdown between the siblings (even if it did lead to forgiveness, or at least the start of it) would've been a bit much for Nickelodeon to believe a kid could handle. Which, I think, is ridiculous, but whatever. They are the suits, after all.
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Date: 30 Mar 2010 05:02 am (UTC)That, I think, is what Avatar suffers from most: the themes are adult, very adult, but the execution is child-appropriate.
That, I think, nails the entire problem on its head. BANG, baby. Even if we take as truth the story-line that stands on the net, as propagated by Nickelodeon, that they were the first and only to talk to the creators and were right in line all the time and planned every minute of its massive success, it still doesn't change the fact that the story shows every indication of being created and written by two (or more) minds who were not instinctively and immediately in simpatico with a usual child-appropriate storyline.
The resolution you wanted would leave me not satisfied, it would mean a major concession for Azula's agency - to be rescued by her brother (which I think is as bad as or worse than Zuko defeating her, since it carries so much more humiliation).
Your other points are solid and definitely an important part of the whole Azula issue. Where I trip is in this particular application of agency.
Normally when we discuss "agency," we do mean in a gender-split, and I know that's one way to take the Zuko/Azula conflict -- but underneath that, they're also siblings, and that puts a completely different spin on things, because he is, after all, her older brother. If there is any one situation in which a young adult could, maybe even should, rely on another of the opposite gender, it'd be between younger and older siblings. Like I said above, there's no one else (no matter whether Zuko is boy or girl) who has any inkling of what Azula grew up with. He's not just the only one who can explain how he got free (and say it without patronizing, because he does have experience equal to hers, in many ways), he's also the only one left who can forgive her, too.
After all, there are points in the story where Katara has to come to grips with things, and it's Sokka who helps her through those points, and I haven't seen anyone questioning Katara's agency. Only reference I've seen is that it demonstrates the connection and importance of siblings -- so I fail to see why it wouldn't also be important/useful/redemptive in this sibling-set, as well.
I think they solved the dilemma well only insofar as they're trapped inside the story's limitations and that overwhelming priority of remaining child-appropriate. I suspect any true showdown between the siblings (even if it did lead to forgiveness, or at least the start of it) would've been a bit much for Nickelodeon to believe a kid could handle. Which, I think, is ridiculous, but whatever. They are the suits, after all.