Although there was some speculation over the new Star Wars: The Force Awakens, with director J.J. Abrams taking over the epic space opera along with Disney, it has put to rest the fears of even the most ardent sceptics. The movie set the box office record for reaching US $1 billion in sales in only 12 days.1 In South Africa, the first country in the world to screen the movie, the film broke the record for the most pre-sold tickets bought.2 The latest instalment of the Star Wars films comes ten years after Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith and 38 years after the first Star Wars film. Over the years, the films have attracted a cult following amongst young and old, some even converting to a Star Wars-based religion – Jediism. Significant media coverage was generated around the release of the latest film. An analysis of the media revealed four main themes within the coverage which are discussed in greater detail below.
Philosophy
Many have pondered the philosophical themes of the Star Wars series (Decker and Eberl, 2005; Stephens, 2005). The space epic is said to point to larger philosophical questions about life and our purpose on this planet. Philosophy is not merely the questioning of reality, it also involves thinking about problems that we face and the need to change ourselves and our environments (Decker and Eberl, 2005: ix). The philosophy found in Star Wars, according to Decker and Eberl (2005), is not always clear to the naked eye, but the characters all battle with external and internal problems that are larger than themselves. “It’s the struggle to understand and overcome deep problems of identity, truth, freedom, and the tragic side of life” that works to define the characters in the films (Decker and Eberl, 2005: x).
The Star Wars epic is based on the quintessential hero’s quest, imagined by the creator, George Lucas. It follows the classic story of an ordinary person who goes on a journey, during which he faces a number of challenges. The hero ultimately survives a “supreme ordeal” imparting some great knowledge or treasure which he takes home to share with his people.3 This story trajectory is something that most people can identify with, specifically in that we all face challenges that we believe will shape our existence.
When Lucas first wrote the Star Wars screenplay, it was during a time when American society was facing hardship: the civil rights movement was recently concluded, antipathy against the Vietnam War was increasing, and the Watergate scandal began to unfold. America needed a fairy tale to remind them that good will overcome evil, according to Patti McCarthy (eNCA, 2015). The new film serves a similar function, for today the world is plagued by economic instability, continuing unrest in the Middle East, and terrorism.
The films raise important philosophical issues, such as the nature of good and evil, free will and determinism, and the prophecy of the chosen one. Many academics have studied Star Wars in relation to themes such as moral ambiguity, father-son relationships, concepts of feminine beauty, and the yearning for something better in life.4 According to opinionist Morgan Bolton, mythology is part of every generation and Star Wars is the legend and myth for our generation. It assists us in exploring the topics of good and evil, morality, and even religion.5
Religion
According to Bryan Stone, quoted by McDowell (2007: xvi), films are not mere representations of the world but create their own worldview, and that in turn plays an instrumental role in shaping what and how we see the world around us. In the creation of Star Wars, George Lucas admits that he intentionally created the story in such a way that there was a lesson to be learnt. It aimed to promote the importance of morality and being morally responsible. He is quoted as saying that 'The Force' embodies “a concept of religion based on the premise[s] that there is a God and [that] there is good and evil”.6
Religion is a intensely explored theme within the Star Wars films, from various angles. Some see the theme of 'good versus evil' that can be found throughout the Star Wars franchise as alluding to general religious beliefs. 'The Force' is also equated to religious concepts such as the Holy Spirit or karma. It could be viewed as a metaphor for all religious faiths, according to Schultes (2003), yet it is something that is universal, testable, and empirically verifiable even to unbelievers.
Another aspect is the rise of Star Wars as a religion in the form of Jediism. Jediism is described by Possamai and Lee (2011: 229) as a mix of religion and popular culture. It is a hyper-real expression of religion which is consumed and individualised (Possamai and Lee, 2011: 229). Jediism is largely an internet-based community of like-minded people who connect via cyberspace. The religion, according to Possamai and Lee (2012), is loosely based on religious beliefs ranging from Buddhism to Catholicism.
According to media coverage, the Jedi church grew with approximately a 1 000 members a day leading up to the release of the new film.7 The religion apparently started as a joke during the 2001 census in Britain when nearly 400 000 Brits named it as their religion. Today, over 250 000 people identify Jediism as their religious denomination. The faith is based on principles and practices in which members work to unite with 'The Force'.
Traditional churches have also embraced the fervour around the release of the new Star Wars instalment, with a church in Berlin hosting a Star Wars-themed service. Pastor-in-training Ulrike Garve said that as they discussed the films “the more parallels we saw with Christian traditions".8 The passage from the Bible, “do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21), served as inspiration for the service.
Women
The Force Awakens is seen as an empowering film for women, both in front of the camera and behind the scenes. The heroine of the film is a woman named Rey. She was abandoned at a young age and survives by collecting scrap in exchange for food. She has no formal training, but she comes to play a key role in fighting against Kylo Ren and the First Order.
In the new film, Princess Leia is now General Leia, leading the resistance in their fight against the First Order. Behind the scenes, women also play a key role in the Lucasfilm franchise. Ten of the 19 top executives are women and Lucasfilm is headed by producer Kathleen Kennedy. Kennedy has also indicated that one day a female will direct a Star Wars film.9
In the Western world, women in the film industry are significantly underrepresented, according to French (2012: 41). A decline in participation is evident from the early 2000s, although a recovery in numbers can be seen. Areas such as technical or camera work are still highly gendered and females are particularly excluded. Women are often overtrained but underpaid in the industry, which is a major concern (French, 2012: 41).
Language
Popular culture influences language, specifically in the expressions that individuals often come to use. Star Wars, in its 30-plus years' existence, has coined many iconic phrases that are widely used by fans and non-fans alike. The expression 'may the force be with you' is widely recognised and used even by people who have never seen any of the Star Wars films. The phrase is often used as a parting greeting by people or in an ironic way to wish someone well. The misquoted 'Luke, I am your father' phrase is often used for humorous effect and 'going over to the dark side' is a common expression used to tempt someone into doing something that is not considered to be above board.10 Star Wars, therefore, has been hugely influential in our common or colloquial language use, even for those who are not fans of the films.
A concluding thought
Love it or hate it, Star Wars has been a (the) force that has hugely impacted popular culture in the West for the last 30 years. Fans of the films have internalised much of the mythical hero discourse that the space opera has been based on, building it into their personal narratives and sometimes even creating their identities around it. Even those who have never seen the films are indirectly influenced by the stories, the language, the marketing, or the fact that women are being promoted by the recent instalment. The media coverage suggests that this is not the end for the franchise and that Disney will continue bringing the epic to fans in the tradition of Lucas. It remains to be seen how much of an influence the films will have in the next 30 years, or if it will become lost to a galaxy far, far away.