Description
Book SynopsisIn 1977, Star Wars blazed across the screen to become one of the highest grossing and most beloved movies of all time, spawning an unprecedented merchandising phenomenon. It was followed by two sequels and three prequels, all of which became blockbusters. Comic books, novels, graphic novels, and magazines devoted to the films added to the mythology of George Lucas's creation. Despite the impact of the franchise on popular culture, however, discussion of the films from a scholarly perspective has not kept pace with the films. In Sex, Politics, and Religion in Star Wars: An Anthology, Douglas Brode and Leah Deyneka have assembled a provocative collection of essays exploring some of the more intriguing aspects of the Star Wars phenomenon. Contributors to the volume tackle such hot topics as race and racism in the Star Wars galaxy, Judeo-Christian and Eastern religious themes, homosexual romance, and philosophical and political implicationsboth earthbound and otherworldly. These essays
Trade ReviewThese titles will be of interest to Star Wars fans and popular culture scholars alike. They provide and interesting and scholarly view of the series and insight into our culture's feelings on politics, religion, media, and gender issues. * American Reference Books Annual *
[T]his volume with 13 essays offers fresh and mostly entertaining content. . . [The] text on the strong rootedness of Jedi wisdom in eastern religions [was enjoyable]. . . Furthermore, the essay on transcendentalism and The Force is very enlightening, too. * Popcultureshelf.com *
[T]his is a very entertaining study of the films. * Filmwerk *
Table of ContentsContents Acknowledgments Introduction, Douglas Brode Chapter 1: A Rocky Road to Star Wars: The Early Life and Career of George Lucas Douglas Brode Chapter 2: Star Wars in Black & White: Race and Racism in a Galaxy Not So Far Away Andrew Howe Chapter 3: Beyond Judeo-Christianity: Star Wars and the Great Eastern Religions Julien Fielding Chapter 4: May the Force Be with JEW: The Jedi-Hebraic Connection Andrew Bank Chapter 5: Star Wars: An Exhibition in Cold War Politics Nick Desloge Chapter 6: Fighting the Evil Empire: Star Wars, the Strategic Defense Initiative and the Politics of Science-Fiction Peter Krämer Chapter 7: Light Sabers, Political Arenas, and Marriages for Princess Leia and Queen Amidala Ray Merlock and Kathy Merlock Jackson Chapter 8: “The Over-Soul of the Force: Emersonian Transcendentalism in the Star Wars Saga” Anne M. Boyd Chapter 9: George Lucas and Freud’s Anal Stage Manifestations of Excretory and Vaginal Fear in THX 1138 and Star Wars Lucy Place Chapter 10: Homosexual Romance & Self-Realization in Star Wars Roger Kaufman Chapter 11: The War for Star Wars Matt Singer Chapter 12: Defining the Jedi Order: Star Wars’ Narrative and the Real World Nick Jamilla Chapter 13: The Empire Strikes Back: Deeper and Darker Andrew Gordon Index About the Contributors About the Editors
