Entertainment Blogging Scholarship

One of the best shows to ever grace our television screens was a kid’s show. Avatar: The Last Airbender, and subsequently its sequel, the Legend of Korra, has presented valuable lessons in a way that is both easy for kids to understand, and enjoyable for those of all ages.

Avatar, as it is commonly known, is the story of a young boy named Aang who was trapped in an iceberg for 100 years. Aang is the Avatar, the master of all four elements: air, water, fire, and earth. In his world, many can bend, but only Aang can bend all four elements. He is also the only airbender left, as the fire nation decimated their population.

The lessons Avatar incorporates are important, but often subtle. Kids learn about other cultures, thus becoming more accepting of others. The creators borrowed heavily from Eastern cultures, something that many here in the Western world would not have the occasion to know about. For instance, the airbenders are based on Buddhist monks.

As the Avatar and hero, Aang is the one kids look up to and is a great role model. Aang has a strict sense of morals, which is shown in the finale. In his final face-off with Fire Lord Ozai, Aang is pressured to kill him. However, being true to his culture, Aang finds a nonviolent way to stop Ozai. This serves to show children that violence is not necessary to achieve the desired outcome. This leads to more people talking out their problems, instead of resorting to violence. It also urges kids not to give in to peer pressure, because it is not always right.

Redemption and forgiveness are also major lessons. Zuko is Ozai’s son, who was cast out for speaking out of turn. He would be allowed to return, if he would catch the Avatar. Zuko is single-minded in his quest, but as the series goes on, he begins to see that maybe his father is not right after all. Eventually, Zuko realizes that he cannot continue on this path, and turns away from his family. He joins Aang and his friends, and his story arc is one of hope. It gives the message that it is never too late to do the right thing, or to make amends to those you have wronged. Kids may be quicker to ask for forgiveness, due to these characters.

Avatar also breaks down stereotypes. Katara and Sokka are two main characters in the series, and they are also people of color. This is important, as not many important characters are those of color. It is important for children to see that, no matter what ethnicity, all can be important. And indeed, Aang and Katara end up together. The Legend of Korra breaks stereotypes too, with woman of color as the lead character. She is not traditionally feminine, but rather rash and violent. Kids are taught to be themselves. Avatar emphasizes being who you are, thus making pride rise in the upcoming generations.

This scholarship is sponsored by USDish.com