Thematically Analyzing the Original Star Wars Trilogy
Thematically Analyzing the Original Star Wars Trilogy
It is no secret that produces George Lucas, and his Star Wars trilogy, have achieved worldwide success. The trilogy has created an entire universe and continues to influence pop culture in many aspects. What is not as often discussed is the cultural and spiritual themes explored in the original Star Wars films.
A Hero’s Journey
In the Star Wars trilogy, Lucas drew on an archetypal narrative form widely known as the hero’s journey. This narrative form had been described by scholars such as Joseph Campbell, who described in detail the common stages in a heroic journey. We can see many of these stages in the development of the characters of Luke Skywalker and Anakin Skywalker.
The Force
A core thematic element of the Star Wars trilogy is the concept of the Force. This metaphysical element, described as “an energy field created by all living things”, has been used as a metaphor for various cultural phenomena.
Lucas has used the idea of the Force to explore the idea of the balance between good and evil in our lives. The light and dark sides of the Force represent these two dualistic polarities. It reflects how in life we all have choices to make, and how our decisions can influence our destiny.
Religion
The Force has been used as an allegory to describe various religious themes. We can see similarities between the Force and the concept of Taoism in Eastern philosophy, which sees balance and harmony between the two opposite and complementary forces of the universe.
We can draw comparisons between the Force and the concept of Yin and Yang. In this dualistic philosophy, good and evil are seen as two polarities that exist in harmony, though a balance must be maintained.
Conclusion
The original Star Wars trilogy is a classic example of how cinema can transcend genre boundaries and explore complex themes and ideas. George Lucas has used the classic hero’s journey narrative to explore themes of morality, religion, and spirituality. He has also used the Force as a metaphor for the balance between good and evil, and the idea of Yin and Yang.
The Star Wars trilogy is an entertaining and thought-provoking exploration of cultural themes and ideas that will continue to influence pop culture for many years to come.