do you teach avatar?

Regarding a little slice of entertainment playing at the nickelodeon, Avatar, io9.com's editor in chief, Annalee Newitz, notes that:

the fantastical elements of [science fiction] works offer a place of “narrative safety” to contemplate real-life issues like environmental decay, totalitarianism and torture.*

Do Language Arts classrooms offer up cozy "narrative safety" spots to discuss the aforementioned issues?

And why do movies get all the credit?


*Source: You Saw What in 'Avatar'? Pass Those Glasses!