In a cinema in Boras, 17-year-old Ivar Hill watched the first movie Avatar in 2010. With the rainforest-like nature of the planet Pandora and the Na’vi people, blue-skinned humanoid creatures, who live in tribal communities close to nature.
Outside the darkness of cinema, his thoughts entered the gray and dreary world in which he himself lived – far from the enchanted world of Pandora.
– It was a feeling of hopelessness and emptiness, says Ivar Hill.
“Post Avatar depression” has become a term
He was one of many who wrote about this feeling on internet forums about the movie. One of the threads of discussion was how to deal with depression caused by the lack of the planet Pandora. The topic has received more than 1,000 posts.
American television company CNN reported in this discussion that people developed depression and even suicidal thoughts after watching the movie.
The Avatar community changed Ivar’s life
For Ivar Hill, the community in the forums has been a positive experience.
– It was almost exhilarating, a sense of happiness and belonging. He says I wasn’t the only one who felt this way.
Society led him to meet his wife and move to the United States where he now works as a computer game developer.
In this feature, you’ll hear more about Ivar’s experiences. Also a bookseller and literary researcher in the meaning of escapism. And how reality can affect fantasy – and also vice versa.
“Lifelong food practitioner. Zombie geek. Explorer. Reader. Subtly charming gamer. Entrepreneur. Devoted analyst.”
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