Post-’Avatar’ Depression Hits Thousands of Fans

By on January 14, 2010 in News 7

Brenna Ehrlich writes on Mashable:

Avatar may be one of the biggest grossing movies of all time, but it’s got a lot of fans feeling super blue (pun wholly intended).

CNN just came out with an extremely detailed report on the intense depression that Avatar is causing among a certain segment of fans, fans who psychotherapist Stacy Kaiser describes as “lonely to begin with. They’re seeing Avatar, they’re lonely people, a lot of them don’t have a lot going on in their lives right now… The movie opened up a portal for them to express their depression.”

These fans are turning to online forums — some of which have thousands of posts on how to deal with the cinema-induced sadness — to express their distress. Here’s a few excerpts from the CNN report:

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  • Synapse

    If you're depressed because you saw a movie that was “too awesome” and you can't deal with the world anymore because it's too dull, you need help realizing you're a moron. Try going outside instead of sitting in front of a computer all day. Go out and meet people. It's really not that hard.

  • carlyfreiberg

    It has nothing to do with the fantasy world. It has nothing to do with the fact that Pandora does not exist. If you had half a brain and could pick up the actual message masked by the awesome cg effects you would realize what humanity has become, what America has become especially.
    I watched this film and was left a little upset by it. I have plenty of friends, I don't sit behind my computer all day, I have two jobs and go to school full time. I do sympathize with those who don't get it, because you are the exact type of person that this movie is addressing.
    We have completely lost touch with what life is really about, beyond all material possessions, beyond all the work that we do to acquire these possessions, there is more to life. The Navi in this film have that spiritual connection with their world and with each other that is very pure and natural and honest, something that modern day humans in this society will never be able to grasp, and that is a bit depressing.
    We have become workaholic drones who grow to despise their everyday life because there is no spirit in anything we do anymore, we work to get things that we cant even take with us when we die, and once you realize this you have every reason to question our way of living, and ask ourselves “What is the point?”

    Hope that helps to open your mind beyond that tiny box you have locked yourself in…how does it feel?

  • Steven Mento

    There is a report of people experiencing 'post-Avatar blues' , but the report is misleading in emphasizing the viewers' desire to live in a world of heightened experience (Avatar also depicts a very dangerous world).
    The feelings of loss are driven home by the use of archetypes e.g. garden of eden, loss of innocence, historical realities such as the genocide of Native Americans, the carnage of industrialization and civilization. Don't be confused by surface values – this myth is the story of the human tragedy made even more relevant by recent news as the Supreme Court's 'Radical and Destructive' Decision Hands Over Democracy to the Corporations. The machine is marching on, and it's not interested in renewable energy or sustainable growth.

    ” Under the Court's new rules, progressive list serves won't stand a chance against the resources of new “citizens” such as CNOOC, the China National Offshore Oil Corporation. Maybe UBS (United Bank of Switzerland), which faces U.S. criminal prosecution and a billion-dollar fine for fraud, might be tempted to invest in a few Senate seats. As would XYZ Corporation, whose owners remain hidden by “street names.” '….http://www.alternet.org/politics/

  • Alexander Hamlton

    Avatar furries need to “sleep”.

  • SMiller

    Carlyfreiberg, you took the words out of my mouth. Agreed, this news segment covered the shallow basics of the situation and was quite pointless in my opinion. Why cover a phenomena like this without digging out the truth. I agree that people who actually become physically depressed from watching this are probably already very emotionally vulnerable people, but it’s not because they wish they could be a giant, blue man and find a hot blue chick with braids… A LOT of people reevaluated their life in the grand scheme of nature, saw their personal impacts and began longing for a simpler, more naturally-connected life. Many are probably depressed because a simple, strong bond with the natural world seems so simple (and so easily attainable in the movie), but it so impossible to achieve in this day and age. What we stand for as a country, and what we stand for as the human race is rapidly distancing from nature, and I think THAT is where the true depression arises from.

  • SMiller

    Carlyfreiberg, you took the words out of my mouth. Agreed, this news segment covered the shallow basics of the situation and was quite pointless in my opinion. Why cover a phenomena like this without digging out the truth. I agree that people who actually become physically depressed from watching this are probably already very emotionally vulnerable people, but it's not because they wish they could be a giant, blue man and find a hot blue chick with braids… A LOT of people reevaluated their life in the grand scheme of nature, saw their personal impacts and began longing for a simpler, more naturally-connected life. Many are probably depressed because a simple, strong bond with the natural world seems so simple (and so easily attainable in the movie), but it so impossible to achieve in this day and age. What we stand for as a country, and what we stand for as the human race is rapidly distancing from nature, and I think THAT is where the true depression arises from.

  • PAD

    I was hit with the pad for a few days but I just kept saying it was all fake but most people think those who have pad at nut cases but I think part of it is just people r use to movies with alians are supposed to be scary but instead this movie the aliens were the good guys and very much human like and I don’t even play that many games I usaly play sports or fish so I’m not geeky but some people might just be lonely but if anyone needs h3lp just message unit1658.bv@gmail.com o and any BIG fans James Cameron announced AVATAR 2 check it out on YouTube