Culture, Identities and Technology in the Star Wars Films: Essays on the Two Trilogies

Critical Explorations in Science Fiction and Fantasy #3

by Carl Silvio (Editor), Tony M. Vinci (Editor)

Released in May 1977, the original Star Wars movie inaugurated the age of the movie blockbuster. It also redefined the use of cinematic special effects, creating a new textual universe that now stretches through three decades, two trilogies and generations of fascinated viewers. The body of critical analysis that has developed from this epic focuses primarily on the Star Wars universe as a contemporary myth. However, like any fiction, it must also be viewed--and consequently analyzed--as a product of the culture which created it. The essays in this book analyze the Star Wars trilogies as a culturally and historically specific phenomenon. Moving away from the traditional myth-based criticism of the films, the essayists employ a cultural studies model to examine how this phenomenon intersects with social formations such as economics, technology, race and gender. Critical approaches are varied and include political and economic analysis informed by feminism, contemporary race theory, Marxism, new media studies and post-humanism. Among the topics covered are the connections between the trilogies and our own cultural landscape; the problematic issues of race and gender; and the thematic implications of Lucas' presentation of technology. Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

Genres: Star Wars, Nonfiction

243 pages, Paperback

First published January 10, 2007

Reviews

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would recommend "Culture, Identities and Technology in the Star Wars Films" to fans of the series as well as to teachers. The book covers a wide range of topics within the Star Wars universe, from capitalism to race to feminism - there's even a chapter on the fetishization of objects. Most essays discuss all six films, though several focus on only one or two, and though this could cause the chapters to veer in too many directions, the writing in each remains focused and clear.

The highlight of the collection is the essay "Feminism and the Force: Empowerment and Disillusionment in a Galaxy Far, Far Away," which compares the surprising feminine strength of Princess Leia with Padme Amidala's "weepy stereotype of a woman coming undone." The essay goes on to defend Padme and to draw parallels between her and modern victims of domestic abuse, but the real heart of the article is the section on Leia.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book united the inner Star Wars geek and academic, film theory nerd within me.
The essays focus on approaching Star Wars as a cultural product, as opposed to viewing it in terms of its mythic, universal messaging, as most scholarly work on it so far has done.
As such, the critiques expressed in the book vary markedly in both stance and subject. My favourite was probably Carl Silvio’s essay on Star Wars and Global Capitalism.
This book was also released in 2007, so makes no mention of the release of subsequent episodes and spin-offs.
Overall, I really loved this. I’ve read a bit of film criticism and theory for uni and for my own extra-curricular studies, but this is the first time I’ve read a collection of essays on just one movie. It’s a really great format, and it allows me to hone in on one work that I’m already deeply familiar with, and whose images already have a personal resonance for me. The variety of topics touched on is enlightening as well, giving me, the reader, plenty of potential avenues to go down. Perhaps I could look more into the ideas expressed in the capitalist essay, or perhaps the definitions raised in the two feminist essays, or maybe the Walter Benjamin essay on technological reproduction and “aura” that provides the foundation for a reading of the dreaded special editions.
Also decided to write in my book this time. I don’t usually do this, but I left a lot of marginalia in this one. Whilst I wouldn’t do this for fiction, as it disrupts the immersive experience too much, I did get something out of engaging with the text more actively. It slowed my reading a bit more but deepened my experience. Might do it again when reading academic or non-fictional work.