More "Post Modernism?" It is wrong to compare movies to movies, but relevant to bring other, unrelated fields into play? You certainly seem to have an amusing and creative way of looking at things.

I'm pretty sure that Cameron's research was to find a plausible and amusing story in which he could show off this world he created. Characters were chosen to be as accessible and familiar as possible to a broad audience. As someone else on this thread has pointed out, it probably owes more to the writers of "Dances with Wolves" or Disney's "Pocahontas" than to any of the anthropologists you have mentioned.

I haven't seen any hint of racism in any of Cameron's films before this. I have no doubt that none was intended in Avatar. Why isn't this film instead being praised for featuring a disabled character?