We'll talk more about Star Wars on Tuesday - sorry I had to rush my lecture after the screening, I forgot what the run time on Episode IV is (longer than I thought, obviously) - but between now and then, you have some interesting readings to look at. After reading about the Oriental/Eastern influences on the look and feel of Star Wars, and the relationship of the films to U.S. history, and why Star Wars both updates and displaces the Western genre, post your answers to these questions by Monday, 8 October at 5 pm:
1) Star Wars was released in 1977, only 3 years after the cease-fire was declared in Vietnam and only 2 years after the pull-out of the last U.S. troops. Wright attributes the success of Star Wars, and the death of the Western, at least partially to the Vietnam War. What is the connection that Wright makes between Vietnam and Star Wars becoming a huge hit, and do you agree with him? Why or why not?
2) I mentioned (in my very hurried lecture) that Star Wars has fed into right-wing fantasies, first by being taken up by President Reagan as the name of the Strategic Defense Initiative (as well as providing his moniker for the U.S.S.R., the "Evil Empire") and secondly, by offering an American tale of political and military victory that is purely escapist - that has absolutely nothing to do with American (or any earthly nation's) history. However, Star Wars can also be regarded as a useful fantasy for the left-wing. How do you see the film functioning as a tool of both right-wing and left-wing political views (I'm especially talking about the Right and Left as they existed in the late 1970s, but you can also answer this question in relation to the contemporary Right and Left).
3) I mentioned that I feel that Lucas co-opts Asian visual culture without any consideration for how Asian or Asian American audiences might feel about that (a lack of consideration that continued into the prequel trilogy, where Asian visual references became, if anything, even more explicit). What are your thoughts on this issue? Remember, I encourage you to disagree with me, as long as you can articulate the reasons for your differing opinion.
One quick reminder: The TAKE-HOME MIDTERM gets passed out next Tuesday, and is due the following Tuesday at the top of class!!!
18 comments:
(ONE)
Wright’s claim is that “things changed.” Vietnam, Watergate, etc. all the controversy and uncertainty confused the American audience. The “New Western,” Star Wars, brought on a new location far, far away that comforted and brought the audience to a peaceful place where the war would be fixed and scandals were brought down. Wright also mentions that Americans no longer felt a connection with their past and this made Westerns seem outdated and no one could relate. I can see where Wright is coming from, but I do disagree. I think most people picked up on Star Wars and left the Western behind for a while was because it was so interesting. You can play out Westerns for too long. Eventually audiences will get bored. Aside for why people watched the movie in the first place, it seems to me that people could relate to the stories because their problems were blown up, exaggerated, but at the same time simplified. In Star Wars all of the modern and past discussions of war and government arise, but it leaves out racism, small scandals, protests, and the grey area. Star War displays a clean cut good and evil and a clean cut right and wrong. The audience knew their own stance on the war and political issues and could easily support their side of choice without considering collateral damage or smaller more complicated issues.
(TWO)
The counter culturists were the rebels of their time. Just as Leia and Luke fought against a huge superpower, so did the protesters and hippies of the 70’s (minus some laser swords and robots.) I think that a counter culturist would find the idea of blowing up the Death Star extremely relieving, almost like Left Wing “secure horror.” I feel that the politicians of the time simply manipulated popular cinema to arouse feelings of hope and passion towards wars that weren’t so hopeful. It is a rhetorical choice. Although, Star Wars is about the fall of a democracy into a dictatorship and then the fight for democracies return. The U.S. has always been big on bringing its beliefs to the other governments of the world. The Right Wingers could use Star Wars as proof that democracy wins and is necessary for the peace and happiness of the people. This is all reminiscent of today War on Terror that has inevitably leaned from killing terrorists to building a new government, taking down the “Evil Empire” and bringing an organized Senate to power. It’s funny how history truly does repeat itself, over and over and over.
(THREE)
I am apt to think that the reason, if there was one, for Lucus’ avoidance of Asian actors was simply to make his settings seem more alien and more creative. As you said the Asian styles and themes get stronger and stronger and if there were multiple Asian actors, people might realize how Asian it all really was. The audience might realize that it does look extremely similar to samurai fighting. This might take some “originality” out of Lucus’ work and make it seem like Asia in the year 2134, which is not what Lucus wanted.
1) Wright doesn’t just mention Vietnam, but also mentions other events/concepts that caused a riff in our social fabric. Our sense of nationality was rapidly declining after the humiliation we faced in Vietnam. From then on our culture has never quite been the same. People become less praised as an individual, now the individual feels as if they need to defend themselves, their actions, and their interests from countless larger groups (corporations, churches, government, etc.) that have gained a stronghold in America. I think that Wright does make a valid point, but like with most things I think there’s always more to it on a deeper level, though in this case I’m not sure what it is.
2) I’m not sure how the left-wing and right-wing were back in the 70’s, but I do think they could have used it as a fantasy. Democracy itself can be seen as the group of Rebel Alliance, a small group of the all around “good” person fighting for peace and freedom from the tyranny of an oppressive dictator. The Empire can be placed over any of the superpowers of the time that have a strong tie to communism. The government wants to fight this evil “empire” back and triumph in the name of democracy and restore normality to the world (in the case of Star Wars, the galaxy/universe). It’s always a pleasant fantasy if you’re the one winning and beating back the odds.
3) This seems like it happens a lot in American films it seems. I would challenge and ask do other countries do the same to America? There are probably a few films that do, but out of all the Asian cinema I’ve seen, I haven’t seen them use much of America in their films, maybe I’m watching the wrong films though, since I’m more keen to Asian Horror, because it’s done much better than American horror. Majority, if not all of the cast in the first Star Wars, is all white from what I remember, until later when you get Lando among a few others. At times it seems like Lucas just took the visual reference and said “hey! This is cool, lets use it.” Though I would like to believe that this is not fully the case and he had some reason to only use the culture and not the people. It could be the sense of otherness to it where most Americans couldn’t tell that some of the things are from Asian culture, if that is the case then it separates them further from the location of the film and make it more of a fantasy then anything else.
1. Wrights connection between the death of the Western, the success of Star Wars, and the Vietnam War is one of observing a drastic change in the social structure. Wrights argues that the Vietnam War, Watergate, ghetto riots, assassinations, rising unemployment, and other various social events of this nature rendered the messages of the Western movies obsolete. The idea that a strong individual can stand up against the wrongs of the world amidst neutral institutions was no longer relevant. So the idea had to be changed, and the rise of Star Wars brought about that change, or at least displayed it prominently. This change was one of political means; this movie had strong individual heroes standing up against injustice at the hands of a corrupt and evil institution (the Empire). This change brought up the idea that as an individual we are constantly under attack, be it physical danger or emotional danger, or even the endangerment of our freedom by the very institutions that we perceive to be protecting us. An idea that was echoed in the hearts ad minds of the society at that time.
2. This movie fits well with the ideals and agendas of both the right wing and left wing side of politics, both then and now. Both sides can identify with the rebel cause; both feel as if they are fighting a battle against the “Evil Empire”. The Right wing associated the empire with the U.S.S.R, so they (as the rebel cause) had to fight the good fight against the communists and preserve the good and just way of life. The left wing identified with the Rebel cause as well, although the “Evil Empire” for them was the right wing side of the political struggle. Both then and now the left had to fight against the institutionalized right; a fight that they perceived to be fought to preserve the good and just way of life.
3. I think George Lucas was well within his right to borrow visual and thematic elements from Asian culture and society and incorporate them into his movies. It’s not as if he is stealing and cheapening their heritage, he is honoring these elements by presenting them in a modern and artistic way. He is paying homage to the Asian culture by incorporating elements of their culture, history and visual themes that have greatly inspired and influenced him as an artist, into his work. Many great film makers do this; it is a way of showing respect for the things in life that inspire ones behaviors and creations.
1. Write feels the “death” of the western came when American mentality of every day life changed. Before the Vietnam War our culture “was perceived as decent and supportive, and within such an order the individual was free to create his (or her, generally his) own success or failure depending basically on his individual strength and skills.” During this time our society can almost have been called “naive” concerning the truths about the real world. We wanted to believe that good will always over come the issues because they are their own unique person. Write then goes on to say about American society after the Vietnam War, “it became more natural to see one’s individuality – individual freedoms, opportunities, self respect – as under constant threat and attack from powerful, insidious, and pervasive forces, forces which did not represent particular villainous interests, but rather the detached disinterest of anonymous bureaucracies and controlling technology,” or more simply answered, “ the social world no longer responded to individual strength, assertion and skill.” I do agree with his point to an extent. I feel that once American’s experienced the senselessness of the Vietnam War, the fantasy of the western just lost it’s novelty in the movies. My own personal feeling on the western losing its popularity is because the romantic idea of the “Old West” had finally worn out, and viewers suddenly wanted to see either what could presumably be reality or what was so far off from it that the genre was embraced. On the other hand most every action film is about good triumphing over bad, which is good guy using strength, assertion and skill to overcome his foe. This style of story telling is still used for many box office hits. So it may be seen that it depends on how good verses evil is portrayed, whether in sci-fi movies, action/adventure, or western, to tell how the audience will accept it.
2. I think that Star Wars gave the feel of both the right wing and the left wing political views in just the basic outlook of the Empire vs. the Rebellion. The left wing is shown with the little armies of the Rebellion fighting to be freed from the over controlling and powerful hands of the Empire. The Rebellion is a representation of society who wants to break free from dominating control and be free to live peacefully. They, like the anti-war protestors or those who speak out against the government are fewer in number than that of the more powerful (and perhaps for wealthy) Empire. The right wing is represented through the Empire as a strong force with views of control by any means. The Empire creates mass armies to over power anyone who is against them. They also create secret weapons which can bring the opposition to a position where they are threatened to agree with their views on politics. The right wing gives the feel of needing to enforce their views on politics and life without any mercy or intent to back down.
3. I feel the way George Lucas displays culture in the Star Wars movies is not in any way meant to insult or misrepresent any culture he “reinvented” for the story. When looking at a movie like Star Wars I feel a director/storyteller must take inspirations from other cultures to expand on their vision, especially if they are American. America itself is a melting pot of several different cultures and beliefs, and to write a fantasy/science fiction story with inspiration from another culture is common. I do understand there are stories which give a negative effect on foreign cultures and that I do feel are insulting, but Lucas had no intentions to slip any subliminal messages in his trilogies that Asian culture is evil, or poses a threat or is trivial to one nation or another. I personally feel, especially with the costuming, he recreated the traditional and made it his own without being boldly insulting. I feel there is a part of him that admires or even is curious about the Asian culture, not defiant of it. He uses Asian culture in both the “good” side and the “bad” side for his stories. I would understand why Asians would be unsalted if all of the Asian aspects were put into the creation of the villains of this story, but the heroes also have parts of the Asian culture laced into their beliefs and costumes. I feel that part of Lucas’ intentions was to inspire others to think outside the box and get their inspirations from sources that may not usually be used.
1.) I disagree with what Wright said for my thoughts are that most people left the Western behind because Star wars was so interesting and new. It was an entirely new concept that audience members hadnt been exposed to, but they had only dreamed about. To me, this was my first time watching Starwars and it was clear that there was a right and wrong and there seemed to have no "drama" or conflict that are present in what seems like...every movie that is out today. The "New Western" Starwars provided it seems like to me a place where audience members could dream and get away from the war. People in a sense it seems wanted to escape the past and Wright even says in the beginning of his article that "things changed" he also meant things but time had changed.
2.) The right view of the USSR in the 70's and 80's was that it was an evil empire that potentially could encompass all of Europe.
The left view is that we should work out the differences and work with them to make peace.
The star wars reference is that the right wing saw themselves as the rebels trying to defeat the evil empire (communism).
The left wingers could see starwars as could think of the defeat of the government as an allusion towards the new generation defeating the old one. People rising up and demanding a change. When the rebels destroy the deathstar it is representative of the destruction of the old government.
3.) No, i dont really agree that it is a lack of consideration to asia because if you look at asia today and in the past it can be seen that asia is still held as an exotic and foreign land. from their looks to the language and even the food(!) asia is seen as another world. people (especially sci fi film makers) have always made references to asia when exploring a new world. i think that in the starwar films asian cultures but also several others are featured in the look and style for example the jedi knights are there to be respectful and whatnot but also it is featured in european soldier too.
i could be missing some of the main points of starwars just because im not familiar with it but it seems to me that some of the main points are universal and not just confined to asian culture (the battle between light and darkness and the damsel in distress being saved by the hero).
1) He says that America has no sense of the past and the connection with our history is getting cut off and that it made the westerns become 'out of date'. But really that would be most genres of...well anything. After a while the society gets bored of it and moves on. I understand that he might get a little upset about it, but it's something more personal. Some people like certain things that others don't. If a kid grows up with his parents who play westerns constantly, then yes he might not like them at all. Star Wars really reflects the war and pollitics of that time, from what I can understand. The good vs the bad and unknown. The clones as an army of mysterious people that all look very simular compared to the Americans...
2)Well the whole dark side being the right-wing with the nationalist and militarism aspects and the government running everything that everyone does.
3)I thought it was wrong of course. But I don;'t think that it's a problem now a days. The industry really trys to put all races into a movie unless it's neccessary not to (i.e. a movie based in a rural country with one race of people)
1) Wright says that Star Wars was a success because the mindset of America changed. Before Star Wars, the western was the dominant action film. People used to see themselves as individuals with institutions helping people. During the 60's and 70's people began to distrust the government and corporations. Star Wars portrays an individual up against the controlling government in support of personal freedoms. I agree with what Wright is talking about. The western does portray government and other institutions as being helpful to the people and Star Wars portrays them as being against the. The shift in mindset during the 60's and 70's does change the way that people look at the films that they are watching.
2) Star Wars can be used by both the right and left wings of politics. The right used the film to show the parallels of the fight for democracy against dictatorship that was happening in both the real world and the world of Star Wars. The left used the film to show the parallels of people rising up against the oppressive government that was happening at that time in the real world.
3) I do not think that Lucas meant to insult Asians in his use of aspects of their culture. I think that he used Asian influences in his films to create an even more fantasy-like film. Not many people were accustomed to Asian culture and he borrowed pieces of this culture to make his fantasy world seem more foreign. He uses Asian culture when portraying both the good and the bad sides in the film. He could have casted Asian actors in the film but most Asian acted films of the time were exploitative with all of the kung-fu movies. Most people were used to seeing Asian actors in this regard and he may have not casted them in order to make the film more palatable to the general public.
1.)During the Vietnam war, and after it, American Nationalism was declining. Between the lies and scandals going on in our Country, Americans were fed up. They needed to escape. So a sub culture was born. They rejected conformity, and all conformist mythology and entertainment i.e the traditional western. The story the western told was all to common, and Americans could no longer identify with it. Wright points out this and the fact that Westerns could no longer be made relevent. It's obvious that a new sub cultured revolutionary western taking place in space would be a huge success. First off, American audiences had never seen anything like Star Wars, the technology was absolutely mind blowing for that time period. In Star Wars Americans could escape the traditional values of any country or religion, because Star Wars was in space. No real conformity,no real aspects of everyday life here on earth. Only fantasy, a fantasy that a hero would save us all from an oppressive government. I completely agree with Wright's claims.
2.)Star Wars was not only a
cultural phenomenon, but also a very powerful statement. A statement of clearly defined good and evil, and the power it takes to defeat that evil. The US of course took on the role of the good guys, during the 1970's, and everyone else, were the bad guys. The US wanted us to believe that Star Wars was a film about American redemption, and the light of democracy would eventually prevail over all. But the sub culture saw a different meaning to Star Wars. Change, Escape, an unmatched hero who held the fate of the universe in his hands, a fantasy. Star Wars looked good from the President's stand point, because it was an American made movie, where few defeated many. It looked good from the sub cultured stand point, because it gave them a fantasy of change when their reality was changing.To some extent, the Government could be considered the Empire, and the revolutionaries/hippies could be considered the rebels. The rebels were all about escape, and ended up winning in the end. The same can be said about the political views of each. The sub culture wanted out, and the Government wanted conformity.
3.)I feel that Lucas was inspired by Asian cinema, he said so himself.Trying to play it safe and think of every unintentional racist or discrimintory thing in a movie that has little if nothing to with that, is absolutely ridiculous. He has a creative right to his idea. If didn't cast any black people, or asians, or mexicans, that's ultimately his decision. Just because he was inspired by Asian culture does not mean he has to portray their culture correctly. He was inspired by it, he wasn't making a true life story of Asian society. He took Asian's style and put his futuristic twist on it. If anything the Asian culture in Lucas films is celebrated although slightly hidden.
1. Wright suggests that the ending of a reality in which America is a military power that can act alone and in its conscience put an end to a genre that enforced that particular tradition with the American myth of the Old West. The end of one American victory genre, the Western, where tradition portrayed American rogues in their own backyard fighting familiar outlaws, begot another in which history was of little concern, producing what Wright suggests is a purely escapist fantasy. I think the time has long passed since academics rescued Star Wars from its pop culture dustbin designation and relabeled it as being of not only cultural relevance but also a progressive work of moral murkiness where even a vital protagonist escapes his debts from shady dealing by shooting first. To Wright's credit though, the omnipresence of white Americans in space does suggest some nightmare Dr. Strangelove scenario far more disturbing for contemporary America than the exploding of a hereditary monarch's faceless planet by a conglomerate of British authoritarians in SS uniforms with a space laser.
2. The conservative movement in the late 1970's still attached itself conceptually to small government but also was feeling a dark pull from a Christian Right whose interest in the soul of the party seemed to chip at its very core by promising further control over individual rights and freedoms in exchange for a significant voting block. The traditional right had another appealing idea in the form of space exploration, not as a concept as a means of contest with the Soviets but as a fulfillment of manifest destiny and the ability to escape one collapsing world into the expanse of an infinite and mysteriously charged outer space. The Left during the 1970's seemed to be appealing to a late-sleeping populist movement to free mankind from the bureaucracy which had been so disturbing in previous centuries, bowing to some of the demands of the 60's counterculture. In so doing this, the 70's Left had opened themselves to a possibility that all monstrous and clumsy metaphors can eventually stagger to: the consolidation of power into a single monolithic structure that could be collapsed by a small, dedicated outsider force with the resolve to use what freedom to exist they have been promised to undermine the whole order of the system. This Palpatine Democracy/Empire swap more closely resembles certain international triumphs of the will than a local lapse of power, but Lucas beats down the door of political metaphor with corrupt regimes, authoritarians, and a small but dedicated rebel force capable of rebuking an entire empire.
3. Continuing my earlier Dr. Strangelove metaphor, if Episode IV were the only Star Wars film, it would be easier to suggest with some deconstructionist certainty that Lucas was espousing a view of racial exclusion that suggests more about America's future than all the fantasy Western epics ever could. To do this, I would first have to say that when Lucas decides to open the film with the words, “A long time ago,” he is creating the distance and impossibility of a connection with America that liberates his conscience to espouse a rewriting of history on par with the Turner Diaries. It would also place white people in a context where they were the original people, besieged on all sides with strange races with weird habits that may resonate with American racial stereotypes, as well as permitting white people, chronologically, to precede Asian culture and tradition in habit and dress, allowing them to proclaim a personal mysticism and spirituality they now ascribe to Asians, which, in this alternate past, they invented. Of course, I would probably only suggest these things to make fanboys angry.
1.) Wright argues that the western died due to the dramatic change in social climate. He purposes that events and issues such as riots, assassinations, Vietnam and Watergate directly effected people's view on the story and theme of westerns. I agree with him on a lot of his points. The late 60's and 70's were a time of social change and this was greatly effected American Cinema as well. A lot of the films being released at the time dealt with or were related to what was going on in our country. Films became much more serious and dramatic and this is why I think Star Wars became so popular. Amidst all of the films that were clearly social commentaries, at times hitting too close to home forcing the viewer think or at least acknowledge what was happening in their world, came this film which seemed purely fantasy. Star Wars allowed people to escape the problems that plagued their world. Also the fact that the story, setting, character etc. seemed so new to people is why I think it did as well as it did.
1) Ever since Vietnam happened, America hasn't been the same. To be defeated by a technologically lacking enemy, it kind strengthens the term techno-orientalism. Kind of like an anti-hero of orientalism, but at the same time knowing how to use the terrain, climate, knowledge of the orient to defeat a technological giant that lacked experience in other "worlds." It's like the crazy advance death star v.s. a mobile rebel group with limited access to amazing weapons, but at the same time they use their superior network and knowledge to bring down the death star.
2) I believe the right wing used Star Wars ideas mainly because of it's explosive popularity, namely the Toyota company which name their vehicle releases according to a blockbuster hit or a hugely marketed movie, such as the Matrix, the Highlander and soon the Toyota Blade. It's easy for the people to take simplified concepts from movies and apply to what the government was and still is expressing at that time. It doesn't matter what we establish ourselves, we just have to establish that they are the bad guys, the evil empire, and we need to create a defense system that help us survive from missile threats; initiate the star wars program. To me however, as far as the left wing is concerned, the left is more drawn to it's intangible fantastical properties, a dissection of it's humanitarian concepts, which then in turn will produce a small percentage that will rival the rights simple natured interpretation and the rights applications on the ideas of star wars.
3) I feel it's a natural process that ideas not only within cultures but systems get exploited for it's cultural positives, it's aesthetic values, it's resources and it's very own nature. Use of such values usually is presented without the consideration of it's “original creators.” But I feel it's also natural for a culture that to me seems “culture-less” in-itself to take, borrow, steal, to create more o a uniqueness of their own. It's true that Lucas lacked consideration for a possible Asian response, but it's also true that he had enough insight and understanding of aesthetics to appreciate the Asian culture and metaphorically represent it in a film medium. Being Asian, I feel that it's great that Lucas decided to borrow the Japanese culture, it's like have that “seat” with the big boys, that Japan and particularly Asia has as much richness in it's culture as any other European nation.
1) I think that people like fantasy because there is a safety in this new world created just for entertainment. I think that because of all the crap that was going on in the the country. Nixon was caught with Watergate, Vietnam happened and there were new cultural movements on the rise. Star Wars provides this alternate universe where justice prevails and the rogue gets the princess, the warrior comes to terms with his long lost father. It’s the perfect escape.
2) I can see how the right wing might use it as a way for the people of America to relate to the movie in a weird way and feel as though, even though they lost this war, there is a bigger picture, a bigger enemy we need to unite against. However, I can see the how the left wing would be able to also use this film. It would be easy to see the right wing as the evil empire and the left wing as the rebel alliance if you want to make that connection. Especially with the part about the Ewoks and the Vietnam war.
3) I actually really agree with your observation, although I believe Lucas did not mean to be offensive (isn’t imitation the highest form of flattery?) The use of Asian themes make the film more beautiful and a certain amount of elegance that wouldn’t be there without it. And with the lack of Asian actors in this movie goes along with the theory I have about cultures loving the beauty of their own race more than the beauty of other races. Big eyes are pretty in America, not the slanted eyes typically associated with Asians.
1. Wright makes not only the connection between Vietnam, but also other social scandals that have caused quite a commotion. I feel that his examples of how the west use to be and what it is turning into is quite accurate. The way he states that things are changing both socially and politically. I agree with his statement to an extent, but my favorite statement would be from his opening thesis. He explains the exploitative qualities of the world today, but more specifically "... moral but passive women... have disappeared..."
2. I believe that in the early seventies the government could have easily used the star wars terminology to both of their favors. I think that in the 70's you saw a lot of the kids up to people in their mid-twenties become totally wrapped up in the star wars sci-fi genre. Star wars was quite successful and using this medium as a way to interact and grab hold of this "star wars" generation was genius and perfectly integrated into the right and left wings personal agenda's. So of course all these "followers" were easily swayed to any agenda if they were properly enticed. So I think calling the USSR the "evil empire" was incredible. It made sense to do that, in order to get a whole generation not easily contacted by the government. Another way that within our own government I know that the left wing have been stated as the evil empire, and the right wingers are known as the rebellion... and then you the rest of the people who not involved until we have to... kind of like the wookies and ewoks.
3. See im not sure what this question is asking entirely... so im going to re word how I think. I believe you are asking; 1.) How Asian or Asian American audiences might feel about the influence in the films, 2.) How come there wasn't any asain/american actors/actress. Going back to one, I don’t think that the audience should feel any regrets after watching this film. Yeah it was a huge hit but when I think about it, im thinking that this film was supposed to take place thousands of years from now. So when I look at the Asian influence from clothing to vehicles, I just think that it was a great mesh of all cultures into one. I think the bar scene where Luke and Ben Kenobi were looking for a ride was fantastic, All kinds of people and aliens all together in one bar just hanging out together. Yeah there was violence, but that typical... except they killed each other... and I think the droids outside rule is maybe for bombing safety. Because in essence, a droid, could just walk in a bar and detonate itself. And lastly two, I don’t think that there is that much Asian actor/actress talent in the mid 70's. To this date I cant think of an Asian who is that popular. Jackie Chan is probably one of the more popular but he wasn’t around in the 70's. So I think that over time Asian actors have really seen the opportunities that Hollywood offers, but you know its still hard to be a great actor without being able to speak English well in the American movie market. Not saying that there isn't someone like Harrison ford in the Asian film industry, it’s just that maybe they don’t care to make movies in English.
1.) Wright makes a point in his essay that American culture went through a very interesting change in the 60's. The old fantasy that america was the worlds hero and that we were the saviour of the earth was completely trashed because of government scandal and a useless war that could have never been justified. America had cheated it's people. We were no longer heros and I think therefore, the idea of the American cowboy hero lost it's appeal to the american people. Star Wars however, partly takes the concept of the western and brings it to a new and far off place where the troubles and deceit of planet earth have no leverage. Star Wars could relate to anyone. Luke Skywalker and Han Solo could be anyone's hero because nobody could discriminate against their beliefs or nationalities or political affiliations. It was a fresh environment in a time where people needed an escape from the real world.
2.) Star Wars can be interpreted in a modern political context for both left and right wing, but a lot of that has to do with who is interpreting it. For the right wing, you could interpret the rebels as the everlasting, never say die america of the revolutionary war, WW1, and WW2 fighting for good, justice, and freedom against huge systemized evil empires. On the other hand, the rebels could be interpreted as the counter-cultural movement of the 60's, fighting against the deceit and evil of a power-hungry capitalist government.
3.) People have brought this concept to me many times. No, I don't think that George Lucas is a filthy, culture plundering racist. I think that maybe Lucas' reasoning for not hiring all asian actors in a movie that uses asian themes is because he didn't want it to seem like futuristic asia. Instead he incorporates the use of new alien races in the movie to make it seem more otherworldly. Lucas had every right to use asian themes and mythology for star wars and the bottom line is that what makes the movie so magical is that it wasn't made so that people could relate to THEIR race or THEIR culture because it takes place in a fresh environment where the woes of earthly racism, hate, and injustice don't apply. People do this all the time in modern media, and you can bring the concept of culture plundering into alot of movies if you really wanted to make an argument.
1.) Wright explains that Star Wars offered an escape from the pervading influence of controversial events like the Vietnam conflict by returning the sense of the individual and one’s control over their fate. He explains that societies belief in the individuals ability to effect their surroundings had been diminished if not completely removed. This fading belief had previously been reinforced by the Western films of the prvious30 or so years. Events like Watergate and the war detracted heavily from that perspective, leading Americans to develop a passive stance regarding politics, their surroundings, and their fate. Star Wars attacks that new lethargic state of America by returning with classic ideals and a rich new coat of paint. By replacing stage coaches and six guns with star ships and lightsabers, Lucas effectively updated the Western by reatining the moral principles of the genre and dramatically updating its appearance to translate those morals to a new generation.
2.) Politics are a cloudy field. Nothing is taken at face value, its participants all have ulterior motives and all sides presents the others as villains. To truly decipher a logical stance takes an incredible amount of time and effort. But Star Wars doesn’t. You know, before a single character is seen, before a word of dialogue is spoken, who’s good and who’s bad. We know the Rebels are fighting to restore Democracy, the great American Ideal, and the Empire seeks to crush all resistance to it’s totalitarian regime. That’s how we like our politics. And that’s why America’s political parties have sought to incorporate clearly defined pieces of pop culture into their message, to create a clear political message where there isn’t one. Star Wars provides a conflict of two polar opposites that despite the growing voices of extremists just doesn’t exist in our political system. But people crave that easily defined boundary of right versus wrong and so politicians try to translate that difference from Star Wars.
3.)
1.) I do agree with him. Star Wars is a movie that makes you escape. Unfortunately we couldn’t escape from the fact that Vietnam happened or that deaths were caused because of this. I think movies that have the ability to make you escape become even more of a hit. Creating a movie like this allows people to fantasize and to forget the reality of the real world.
2.) I would say the right wing represents the bad “dark side” and the left wing would represent the good side. The movie shows conflicts between the two and how the government controls different aspects. In the real world we have a government that controls both sides, and we as the people either choose the left or the right. It is very easy to make a connection between the two.
3.) I do feel that George Lucas used his own interpretations and his own thoughts on Asian Americans without even looking into it. If you are going to use a culture as a representation for your film at least research it some more. I think the industry is a little better with cultures now a day and they try not to offend as much. If a movie were to offend my culture/background I too would be upset.
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