t-shirt issue 52:
Reality Bytes

For many people, movies are a form of escapism. We go to the cinema to be entertained, to stir up our emotions and to temporarily forget about our real lives as we’re transported into another world. When the theater lights go on, we simply return to our normal lives.

While there are movies that have certainly had a profound effect on their audiences, few have had the kind of effect James Cameron’s latest spectacle, and highest grossing film of all time, Avatar, has.

Touted as a breakthrough in filmmaking technology for its development of 3D viewing and stereoscopic filmmaking, Cameron’s completely immersive experience may have been too real for some.

According to CNN, many fans are experiencing depression and suicidal thoughts after seeing the film “because they long to enjoy the beauty of the alien world Pandora”.

Avatar Forums are popping up all over the internet to help thousands of people cope with reality and the fact that they can’t experience what the Na’vi did in the film. Some fans have even expressed feelings of disgust with the human race and disengagement with reality, too.

One could argue that this type of reaction is a good thing. Participant Media (An Inconvenient Truth; Syriana; Good Night, and Good Luck), for example, believes in entertaining audiences, then inviting them to participate in making a positive difference in the world.

While it’s unlikely that this was Cameron’s intention, perhaps his portrayal of a dying world is really a call to action. 

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Fans are experiencing depression and suicidal thoughts after seeing the movie Avatar - because they long to enjoy the beauty of the alien world Pandora.

But if that action is to simply check out and crave a virtual world that only exists on the big screen, from behind a pair of 3D glasses, then we could all be in big trouble.

The farther technology advances and the closer we are to creating reality, the more consequences society is likely to face. Could virtual reality be the next substitute for mind-altering drugs with similar consequences? Much like the future portrayed in Avatar, will people choose to live their entire life online instead of real life?

While you ponder these questions and more, we’ll be outside. For reals.

C.R.

Check out previous issues

designed by:
Wilmer Murillo

Illustrator and character designer Wilmer Murillo was born in 1987 in Tegucigalpa, Honduras and grew up drawing and reading astronomy books.

He began studying graphic design in 2005 but quickly realized that he wanted to devote himself to illustration. And we, for one, are glad that he did.

Wilmer is a lover of coffee, dogs, traditional toys, children’s books, and sad songs. He prefers movies like Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain to movies like Avatar.

“I wasn’t very excited when I went to the cinema to watch (Avatar), but then it gave me a new view and more love and respect for nature. I must admit I was shocked. It produced a positive and deep effect in myself.”

For Wilmer’s graphic interpretation, he focused on the idea of people living out the biggest part of their lives in a virtual world, making important decisions that could change things forever.

While things like social injustice and tragic love stories are more likely to depress Wilmer, you can make him happy by visiting wilmermurillo.com

 C.R.

 

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Comments (4)Add Comment
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written by republique, July 06, 2010
Hi! I'm from Poland and I want get this t-shirt for my sister's birthday. Do you know where I can get it?
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written by SangSong Lee, July 02, 2010
I like this design. How can I purchase your T-shirts?
paticularly, I live in Korea.
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written by Shady IIV, March 25, 2010
The T-Shirt Color is totally different to the one on the pictures.. : D
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written by Jason MDC, March 11, 2010
Although Avatar is a great science-fiction film, its just that, a film... people who are taking this as serious as thinking about suicide and actually getting deppresed, I say they misinterpreted the message and instead of changing theyr views and considering nature more, or disagree with expansionist colonial imperialist actions, interiorize it, and feel as much a part of the problem and not realizing that they can be a part of the solution.

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