avatar-not-the-movie

The recent special-effects extravaganza, Avatar, struck more than a few chords with box-office audiences. In case you are one of the few who have not yet ventured to see this 3-D science-fiction marvel, here is a quick plot summary: people from earth are hell-bent on mining a precious mineral, “un-obtainium”, from the planet Pandora, no matter what the cost to the local inhabitants or the planet's ecosystem. One of earth's mercenaries, Jake, manages to infiltrate the local Na'vi tribe, fall in love with the chief's daughter, and then lead the rebellion against his fellow earthlings. Avatar is Dances with Wolves, Pocahontas, and The Last Samurai crossed with the best special effects money can buy (and the effects are indeed spectacular).

What I found most interesting, though, was the resonant simpatico this movie established with many of our hopes and fears. The earthlings' military-industrial complex was never more vulgar. The Na'vi's feminine leadership was never more evident and strong. The rift between cultures never more stark. And the connection to nature never more adorned with audiovisuals.

Maybe I take these things too seriously, but my concern with Avatar

is its implied theory of change, which boils down to a mass uprising backed up by primitive weaponry and prayer. No criticism intended, but I think our non-Pandora world also has some pretty compelling options to offer, some of which are featured in this issue of the Oxford Leadership Journal.

For example, you don't need to get romantically tribal to discover a myriad of powerful and practical applications of feminine leadership and women as leaders. Four writers — three women and one man — pick up on four distinct threads of the Feminine.

Corporations are generally not known for their sense of social responsibility, as Avatar is quick to point out. Two case studies in this issue illustrate the responsible potential of corporations — from a multinational giant to a small Canadian biotech company.

The Avatar leadership is bold, compassionate, fierce and very sexy. Maybe, like me, you will also find the kinds of leaders and leadership development described in these articles — the down-to-earth, collaborative, unsexy, real kind — to be even sexier.

Robert Ziegler, Editor