Critical Analysis with Avatar: The Last Airbender! TV Show

Does your learner love the show Avatar: The Last Airbender?  Do they need people to talk to about it?  And do you want them to learn to analyze television with a critical lens?  Together, we will work with this cartoon to learn to use critical analysis to enjoy TV even more!

Each week, we will discuss 3 episodes (with a few exceptions) of Avatar: The Last Airbender in order to critically analyze it and discuss as a group.  Students are asked to review a synopsis or watch the episodes for the week before class using Netflix or another legal site.  If they don't have time to do so, they can still join us for discussion!

Each session will begin with a short synopsis of the episodes to be discussed so everyone is on the same page.  Each class is considered standalone - students can leave and join for episodes as they would like.  We will avoid spoilers for episodes we haven't reached in our class yet.

In each session, we will talk about the following elements for those episodes: plot, characters, imagery, message, relationship to the real world, culture, world-building, etc.  Students will be asked to critically analyze various parts of the show in a fun, relaxed way.  We will also discuss the various cultures that influenced the scenery, philosophy, characters, outfits, and much more on the show!

FALL 2021 SCHEDULE:
BOOK ONE: WATER
Week 1 (Week of July 12th): Episodes 1-3 (The Boy in the Iceberg, The Avatar Returns, & The Southern Air Temple) Part II
Week 2 (Week of July 19th): Episodes 4-6 (The Warriors of Kyoshi, The King of Omashu, & Imprisoned)
Week 3 (Week of July 26th): Episodes 7-9 (The Spirit World & Avatar Roku) 
Week 4 (Week of August 2nd): Episodes 10-12 (The Waterbending Scroll, Jet, & The Great Divide)
Week 5 (Week of August 9th): Episodes 13-15 (The Storm, The Blue Spirit & The Fortuneteller)
Week 6 (Week of August 16th): Episodes 16-17 (Bato of the Water Tribe & The Deserter)
Week 7 (Week of August 23rd): Episodes 18 & 19 (The Northern Air Temple & The Waterbending Master)
Week 8 (Week of August 30th): Episodes 20 & 21 (The Siege of the North Parts 1 and 2)

BOOK TWO: EARTH
Week 9 (Week of September 6th): Episodes 1-3 (The Avatar State, The Cave of Two Lovers, & Return to Omashu)
Week 10 (Week of September 13th): Episodes 4-6 (The Swamp, Avatar Day, & The Blind Bandit)
Week 11 (Week of September 20th): Episodes 7-9 (Zuko Alone, The Chase, & Bitter Work)
Week 12 (Week of September 27th): Episodes 10-12 (The Library, The Desert, & The Serpent's Pass)
Week 13 (Week of October 4th): Episodes 13-15 (The Drill, City of Walls and Secrets, & The Tales of Ba Sing Se
Week 14 (Week of October 11th): Episodes 16-18 (Appa's Lost Days, Lake Laogai, & The Earth King)
Week 15 (Week of October 18th): Episodes 19 & 20 (The Guru & The Crossroads of Destiny)

BOOK THREE: FIRE
Week 16 (Week of October 25th): Episodes 1-3 (The Awakening, The Headband, & The Painted Lady)
Week 17 (Week of November 1st):  Episodes 4-6 (Sokka's Master, The Beach, & The Avatar and The Firelord)
Week 18 (Week of November 8th): Episodes 7-9  (The Runaway, The Puppetmaster & Nightmares and Daydreams)
Week 19 (Week of November 15th): Episodes 10-11 (The Day of Black Sun) 
Week 20 (Week of November 22nd): NO CLASS
Week 21 (Week of November 29th): Episodes 12-13 (The Western Air Temple & The Firebending Masters) 
Week 22 (Week of December 6th): Episodes 14-16 (The Boiling Rock Part I & II)
Week 23 (Week of December 13th): Episodes 16-17 (The Southern Raiders & Ember Island Players)
Week 24 (Week of December 20th): Episode 18-21 (Sozin's Comet Parts I-IV)
Week 25 (Week of December 27th): Bonus Week! We will discuss the overarching themes of the show, have a goodbye party, and students can come in costumes from the show! We will play trivia games as well.

Siblings outside the intended age range are welcome to attend as long as they enroll separately, are aware of the intended age group, and respectful of the class rules!

This class is very long - please reach out if you have financial difficulties around this class, I would love to help!  I do offer discounts/reduced rates for regular students.  I will make it work for both of us 99% of the time!

Disclaimer: This class is in no way affiliated with the creators of Avatar: The Last Airbender.  It is only being used as a learning tool.  Students are encouraged to view the show on Netflix or other legal means before class.