Hollywood Parts the Amazon
19th April 2010
The New York Times offers this idolizing article over James Cameron’s recent trip to the Amazon river to meet with local tribes about the impending doom of a planned dam.
They came from the far reaches of the Amazon, traveling in small boats and canoes for up to three days to discuss their fate. James Cameron, the Hollywood titan, stood before them with orange warrior streaks painted on his face, comparing the threats on their lands to a snake eating its prey.
You should check out the audio slide show the Times provides. Great shots of the white haired Cameron in jeans and white Nikes. And, orange streaks on his face to mark his warrior status.
In the 15 years since he wrote the script for “Avatar,” his epic tale of greed versus nature, Mr. Cameron said, he had become an avid environmentalist. But he said that until his trip to the Brazilian Amazon last month, his advocacy was mostly limited to the environmentally responsible way he tried to live his life: solar and wind energy power his Santa Barbara home, he said, and he and his wife drive hybrid vehicles and do their own organic gardening.
This story is so transparently over the top, it must have been written by Cameron’s mother or at least his press agent. Consider that Cameron has been working on Avatar, the ultimate epic story of greed against the environment, for over 15 years. Hey, this is a guy who’s looked into the evil eye of greed and seen the Devil. He knows the Truth and lives the Truth, the Green Truth. Yeah, baby. Cameron’s got a Prius, a solar panel on a roof, and an organic garden Someone Else certainly tends.
As a persuasion wizard I must question Mr. Cameron’s sincerity here. No sincere person would permit such a buffed up piece of puffery to appear in the Times – the brazen hagiography undermines even the appearance of sincerity. No sincere person would merely buy the symbolism of Green – a Prius, no less – to represent sincere Green.
And, this.
Now, Mr. Cameron said, he has been spurred to action, to speak out against the looming environmental destruction endangering indigenous groups around the world — a cause that is fueling his inner rage and inspiring his work on an “Avatar” sequel.
A sequel. To a movie that has done $2.7 billion to date. Oh.
Please realize that I do not doubt that Mr. Cameron may hold Green beliefs, but I don’t think he’s a Green Warrior. He’s a Hollywood Warrior who understands,
All Bad Persuasion Is Sincere.
I streak my face with orange in persuasion admiration and offer a Peithos Award to him for an Outstanding Persuasion Performance by a Hollywood Titan for Parting the Amazon.
