Map of the earth kingdom series#
Map of the earth kingdom tv#

ThereвЂ™s the blatant stereotypes of eating вЂњstinkyвЂќ food, speaking broken English, being good at math and the all вЂњAsians are ChineseвЂќ stigma plus, thereвЂ™s always kids who pull the corners of their eyes to look вЂAsianвЂ™ or yell вЂњching chongвЂќ at every Asian they see. Growing up as an Asian American kid in a primarily white country isnвЂ™t always easy.

Map of the earth kingdom series#

The series breaks this paradigm, being an American-produced show released all the way back in 2005, when there was no unified movement for racial equality, and therefore little to no representation of Eastern culture. For decades, people have complained about the lack of diversity in American entertainment.

The reason we think the creators of ATLA decided to put such a heavy topic in a made-for-kids television show is the famous phrase вЂњhistory tends to repeat itself.вЂќ By putting these historical events in a negative light, it teaches children from a young age that governments who use fear as a tool of oppression are capable of becoming corrupt and dangerous.ДЄnother great aspect of ATLA is the Asian representation in American media.

Here, Aang finds out the ugly truth of the glimmering city - all those who oppose the king and the Dai LiвЂ™s orders get thrown into re-education camps and brainwashed into submission. In the second season of ATLA, Aang and his вЂgaangвЂ™ take a visit to the esteemed city of Ba Sing Se, often called the вЂњImpenetrable Kingdom,вЂќ most likely referring to Beijing, China. Clearly, the Fire Nation invading the other states is a nod to Japan invading multiple Asian countries during the early 1900s, including China, Korea, the Philippines, and Vietnam.Д«ut the historical references donвЂ™t stop there. When you pass the first layer of fun animation and jokes, we can see the four nations each represent a specific aspect of Asian culture: the Fire Nation represents imperial Japan, the Earth Kingdom represents Communist China, the Northern and Southern Water Tribes represent indigenous people, and the Air Nomads represent the Buddhist monks and those of Tibetan heritage. Besides the amazing character development, thrilling plot and beautiful visuals, ATLA conveys a more serious tone about Asian history and cultural tolerance. Now, you may think that this is merely a kidsвЂ™ show, but we urge you to reconsider. ATLA features an overarching plot, in which Aang must defeat the Fire Lord, as well as mini plots per episode that make the viewer laugh, cry, or both (and also feature unforgettable songs such as вЂњSecret TunnelвЂќ). We know that you will become way too emotionally attached to the characters and captivated by a never-boring storyline. The Avatar is responsible for maintaining peace and balance in this world with his ability to bend all four elements and connect with the spirit world, but things go wrong when Aang, the twelve-year-old Avatar, mysteriously vanishes in the midst of the fire nationвЂ™s conquest of the other nations.

The iconic intro describes a world where citizens have the special ability to вЂbendвЂ™ elements - fire, air, water, earth - and are divided into four nations based on these abilities. Then, everything changed when the fire nation attacked.вЂќ вЂњLong ago, the four nations lived together in harmony.

Map of the earth kingdom tv#

This hollow feeling youвЂ™re experiencing is most likely because ATLA is the best TV show of all time. Just finished вЂњAvatar: The Last AirbenderвЂќ and feel empty? Yeah, us too. Mina Jung and Lucy Anne Heine-Van Fossen | SeptemMina Jung/Talon