To be a wise old man or not to be?

The stereotype of the wise old man is in different places such as carton and movies.  Although most shows or films show the wise old man as the leader and some that is charge of nation or people, Avatar that Last Airbender changes that image for the better. The reason for this is that Iroh has the option to be a wise old man with out being a main character. Iroh crowned prince and first born son of the fire lord Azulon. Iroh had the potential to be a great leader or a wise old man but due to the death of his only son, Iroh retired and focused on his nephew and tried teach him than he can make his own destiny. Iroh is a perfect example and the has characteristic of a stereotypical wise old man but creators of Avatar the Last Airbender  Michael Dante Dimartino and Bryan Konietzko decided to take this character in a different direction rather than reusing the typical Asian wise old man.

This is what writer and direct need to do more often. Rather than adding more fuel to the Asian wise old man stereo types by constantly recycling this cliche stereotype, they should be more creative and create a new image for old wise old man rather than some old guy that speaks broken English, wears funny looking robe, or speaks as if he is a future cookie. Sure Iroh has some of these characteristic himself but he not seen as the wise old man. Iroh is more of compassionate, caring and someone that knows differences between good and bad such as when Iroh helps the hero of the story even though he is the enemy and knowing that there will be serious consequences for his actions such as him being branded as a traitor and hunted down by his own people. Basically this mean that Iroh is not like any other old wise man that has been introduce before, he is something new and the direction that old Asian wise old man should take.

work cited 

Dante DiMartino, Michael, writ. Avatar: The Last Airbender. Writ. Bryan Konietzko. (2005–2008). Film. 28 Feb 2013. <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0417299/>.