Aristotle on Avatar: Considering the Characters

"Character holds the second place. A similar fact is seen in painting. The most beautiful colours, laid on confusedly, will not give as much pleasure as the chalk outline of a portrait. Thus Tragedy is the imitation of an action, and of the agents mainly with a view to the action." Aristotle, Poetics Book VI

In Book XV, Aristotle gives four criteria for good characters:

1. Goodness
2. Propriety
3. True to life
4. Consistent

The main characters (Ang and allies) are morally good. Out of the many different themes and messages of the Avatar series, the one that most thoroughly pervades the show is balance. Not between good and evil (which is an insidious philosophy) but between goods. This chord truly strikes harmonious with the teachings of Aristotle. 

Aristotle on Avatar: Plotting the Traits

Aristotle says further on plots that they need to be of proper length."The limit as fixed by the nature of the drama itself is this: the greater the length, the more beautiful will the piece be by reason of its size, provided that the whole be perspicuous." ~ Aristotle Poetics Book VII

What the Philosopher means by this and further explains in the book is that the whole poem must be long enough to be beautiful but short enough to be

Aristotle on Avatar: Soul's Construction

"The Plot, then, is the first principle, and, as it were, the soul of a tragedy."
               ~ Aristotle, Poetics, Book VI.

Therefore, as the plot is primary in importance, according to Aristotle, it shall be first in our analysis. To the plot then we first turn our gaze.
SPOILER! SPOILER! SPOILER! SPOILER!
The following analysis contains elements that may ruin surprises, and hinder enjoyment of the show if you have not already seen it and I highly recommend seeing it.

The Avatar and The Philosopher

Separated by thousands of years (and the small gap between the actual and potential) Avatar Ang follows the ways of the Philosopher, Aristotle, in the telling of his story. The strangely profound and delightful anime style cartoon follows many of the standards set up by Aristotle in his work titled the Poetics. I claim that this is why the cartoon is so enjoyable and deep: not because it meets the personal preferences of Aristotle, but because they follow what is natural and true, as exposed by Aristotle, which makes any story, that's a good story, good.

Because of the more spontaneous nature of blogging, I offer a general plan for this perhaps overwhelming excursion but I don't