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Post by kaska on Dec 5, 2008 16:23:15 GMT -5
Alrighty. Well, a while back when I was in the kitchen heating up some food for myself, thoughts were running through my mind. I'd recently watched Star Wars Episode V, the one where Yoda comes in, and immediately when I thought of a recent Avatar Episode, the one where Jeong Jeong makes his appearance, the similarities struck me. In fact, they struck so hard that it could be no mere coincidence. Let's view the similarities: | Jeong Jeong | Yoda | | Left the Military | Ran from the Military | | Former Great Admiral* | Former Great General* | | Master of Firebending | Master of the Force/Jedi Ways | | Hiding in a Secluded Area | Hiding in a Secluded Area | | The Area is Surrounded by Inhibiting Water | A Freaking Swamp Planet | | Feels guilt for his corrupt student | Feels guilt for Anakin, a corrupt disciple | | Refuses to teach Aang | Refuses to teach Luke | | Convinced by the Spirit of Roku | Convinced by the Force Image of Obi Wan | | Forces Aang to master discipline before bending | Forces Luke to master discipline before force adeptness |
*Contributed by Aden Similarities abound, no? |
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Post by mulaqi on Dec 5, 2008 19:18:14 GMT -5
Actually, Yoda was never technically given a military rank, Anakin was not his disciple and you are ignoring how totally different their personalities are, along with the actual plots they take place in. He doesn't pretend to be a idiot, for example, is kind of a jerk rather than possessing infinite wisdom and kindness, doesn't teach Aang for totally different reasons than Yoda not teaching Luke, and believes his entire mystic discipline (Firebending) is a curse. There are as many differences as similarities.
If anything, he's more of an Obi-Wan. His confrontation with Zhao felt like it was ripped right from A New Hope. However, the character as a whole is more like a typical "strict, cryptic kung fu master" than any specific Star Wars allusion. And this is coming from a Star Wars nerd.
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Post by kaska on Dec 5, 2008 19:52:06 GMT -5
Well, blame Aden for the General thing. ;P
Also, I was making comparisons as to both of the characters' circumstances, rather than their personalities. The reasons for not teaching (readiness as opposed to being too old) don't strike me as immediately important when compared to the strikingly similar ways that their minds were changed (both having the spirits of dead people tell them to).
As for Anakin not being a Disciple, I'd have to disagree with that completely. If it weren't for Yoda, Anakin would never have been a Jedi. And you cannot honestly say that Yoda doesn't feel guilt for his fall. C'mon.
When parodies are made, their difference are to be ignored over the circumstantial similarities. You cannot honestly refute that the similarities are too uncanny to be anything but planned.
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Post by mulaqi on Dec 5, 2008 21:29:28 GMT -5
Yes, I can honestly say that the similarities are not blatant enough to assume they are intentional. Simply because they have somewhat similar circumstances is not reason enough to assume an intentional allusion, especially when the characters themselves are so different. Besides, we're not making a parody, we're assuming that the creators intentionally made a character intended as an allusion to Yoda. Were it a parody, the Rule of Funny applies and if it's funny, no big deal. But with simple analysis, I like to be careful with such claims, is all.  |
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Post by aden on Dec 5, 2008 21:55:07 GMT -5
Just to clarify, I conceded some similarities but my stance has always been that any likenesses were not intentionally there to make a Yoda clone. There are just certain aspects for generic 'mysterious teachers' that make for interesting characters. I'm sure if we tried we could list a fair number of reclusive, cryptic, quirk-ridden characters who were responsible for teaching the main character something important.
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