Avatar (2009)

[Monte Davis]

There's a minor tradition behind it: "unobtainium" has been around for
decades in SF and speculative engineering discussions as shorthand for
materials that would make otherwise impossible inventions (e.g. a space
elevator) work. I don't know why Cameron chose to include that wink to a
segment of the audience, but FWIW he didn't make it up.


-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pynchon-l at waste.org [mailto:owner-pynchon-l at waste.org] On Behalf
Of Joe Allonby
Sent: Saturday, December 26, 2009 10:26 AM
To: Otto
Cc: Dave Monroe; pynchon -l
Subject: Re: Avatar (2009)

I'm mostly bummed out about the substance being called "unobtainium".

Why not "canthavethisium"?

On Fri, Dec 25, 2009 at 6:00 AM, Otto <ottosell at googlemail.com> wrote:
> 2009/12/25 Dave Monroe <against.the.dave at gmail.com>:
>>
http://io9.com/5422666/when-will-white-people-stop-making-movies-like-avatar
>>
>>
http://wearerespectablenegroes.blogspot.com/2009/12/avatar-is-like-beautiful
-woman-who-you.html
>>
>
> Annalee Newitz ist coloured?
>
> If not, what is said in this commentary goes for me too:
>
> "I have to agree with the people who say there's as much "white guilt"
> in this analysis as there was in "Avatar."
>