Expert Article- Star Wars
Pack Your Bags- We’re Blasting Off to a Galaxy Far, Far Away
A Light-Speed Exploration of Star Wars for Anyone Who Has Been Living Under A Rock
By Daniel Leung
If you have not seen one of the three original Star Wars movies yet, I am so sorry for your loss. Having gone this far in life without seeing some of the greatest films of all time is a true tragedy. Now, I’m not shaming you for not having seen these masterpieces, but I’m also not saying it’s 100% okay either. If you feel excluded, don’t worry- this article will change that. Today I am going to pilot you through an overview of the original movies, explore their impact on society, and explain the purpose behind writing this article. So without further ado, let's take off!
The Legendary Trilogy That Made History
George Lucas was the visionary that created the “original trilogy” of Star Wars films. The first one, released in 1977, is called A New Hope. The second movie in this trilogy is called The Empire Strikes Back and the final movie is called Return of the Jedi. Below is a brief summary of what happens in the trilogy.
We begin with an evil Empire that rules the galaxy. The main bad guys are the Emperor and a man called Darth Vader. Both are space wizards that have access to magic called the Force. The Emperor is super old and cranky. Darth Vader is a goth cyborg who dresses in all black, wields a laser sword, and has breathing problems. Also, he’s down on his luck because he accidentally killed his wife a few decades ago (oops). Overall, the Empire sounds pretty nefarious… who will defeat them?
Darth Vader In All His Moody Glory
Enter a farm boy called Luke Skywalker who realizes he is also a space wizard and gets a laser sword. Luke meets a scoundrel called Han Solo and saves a princess called Leia from a planet-destroying battle station called the Death Star. Together they end up destroying the Death Star. However, the Empire strikes back and attacks the Rebels. Luke fights Darth Vader but loses. Darth Vader chops off Luke’s hand and then reveals that he is his father as any good dad would do. Luke is shocked, but escapes.
Luke Skywalker Looking Very Heroic
Luke then gets a new hand, trains up, and then comes back and fights his dad again- this time in front of the Emperor. Luke has been meditating (and probably free-write journaling), and he thinks that his father is still good. He ends up convincing Darth Vader to overthrow the Emperor. They succeed, but Darth Vader dies in the process and Luke is sad about it. The trilogy concludes there with the heroes winning!
How a Galaxy Far, Far Away Has Rocked Our World
We have summarized what happened in the original Star Wars films. Now, let’s look at how these stories have transformed our society.
One of the greatest areas of Star Wars influence was in the entertainment industry. Following these movies in the late 1900s, the film industry evolved drastically. The franchise “fundamentally changed Hollywood filmmaking at the… narrative level” (Bigsby 387) and started a wave of new expensive blockbuster movies that were packed with special effects. Theatergoers wanted simple, eye-catching spectacles. As a result, features that were slower-paced and more intimate were phased out. We can see this legacy even in modern Hollywood! Franchises like Marvel, Transformers, John Wick, and more are all simple to understand but filled to the brim with action and adventure.
The Star Wars movie magic not only took people out to the theaters in droves, but it also captured their hearts and minds. Today, it has united hundreds of millions of people. Popular phrases such as “may the force be with you” and “Luke, I am your father” are ingrained in our culture. There is a Star Wars Celebration Day on May 4th (May The 4th Be With You) that is celebrated by fans all around the globe. They dress up as various Star Wars characters and get together. They share their artwork, videos, and costumes that they have made. Bonding over their common love of Star Wars, various political, socio-economical, and geographical barriers are overcome.
Fans During Star Wars Celebration Day
There are references to Star Wars all throughout our society. In media, in merchandise, and even in everyday conversation! A vital part of human society is comedy. Here, we can find that Star Wars has a large presence. Those who have watched the films can appreciate humor like the image below and bond with their fellow humans. If you want to make friends with many people, watching Star Wars movies can help.
A few individuals have fallen in love with Star Wars so much that they have done things that are quite bizarre. Although these fans are a minority, you can see the passion in this community! Some people started a religion called Jediism which is a fully 501(c)(3) nonprofit and a recognized global ministry. Feel free to peruse their website- it’s quite intriguing. Other fans have held Star Wars-themed weddings and have even named their kids after movie characters!
Fashionable Groomsmen On Their Way
To A Wedding Ceremony
I Have A New Hope For You
Hopefully, now you understand how impactful Star Wars has been on our society. I wrote this article to help you appreciate this revolutionary trilogy and inspire you to watch these films. The franchise has built a passionate community around it and has cemented itself as an important part of our culture. By familiarizing yourself with Star Wars, you can better bond with hundreds of millions if not billions of people around the world. You don’t know what you’re missing until you open your eyes and see these movies. Go now and change your life, and “may the force be with you”.
Me Wishing You The Best!
Works Cited
Bigsby, Christopher. The Cambridge Companion to Modern American Culture, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2006, pp. 386–387.
Klein, Christopher. “The Real History That Inspired 'Star Wars' - History.” History.com, 4 May 2022, https://www.history.com/news/the-real-history-that-inspired-star-wars.
Seastrom, Lucas. “May the 4th Be with You: A Cultural History.” StarWars.com, Star Wars , 2 May 2022, https://www.starwars.com/news/may-the-4th-be-with-you-cultural-history.
“Star Wars.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/topic/Star-Wars-film-series.
“Temple of The Jedi Order.” Home, https://www.templeofthejediorder.org/.
Weitekamp, Margaret. How Star Wars Revolutionized Entertainment. National Air and Space Museum: Smithsonian , 19 Dec. 2019, https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/how-star-wars-revolutionized-entertainment.
Walt Disney Company, Form 8-K, Current Report, Filing Date Oct 30, 2012
Hi Daniel, I loved your intro. paragraph, your personality really shined through! This was fun and interesting to read. The way you explained the story was easy to digest which I appreciated!
ReplyDeleteDaniel,
ReplyDeleteI really loved the opening. I have actually not seen any of the Star Wars movies, so it was funny and relatable to read the opening and it made me excited to read the rest of the the article.
Daniel, I have tried to watch Star Wars several times and I never thought it was for me. However, after reading this I am motivated to try again. I especially loved your intro paragraph that got me hooked into wanted to read the rest and try again with Star Wars.
ReplyDeleteI am a huge Star Wars fan and this has to be the best most chaotically good summary of A New Hope I have ever read! This is definitely the kind of article I would send to my friends who have never seen Star Wars. I will also be referring to Jedi as space wizards from now on.
ReplyDeleteI'm a huge star wars fan and think you made a good choice by only sticking to the original films. Your introduction was very approachable so even if the person reading wasn't as familiar with Star Wars they could still follow along.
ReplyDelete