• From: London
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Re: #33 - The People vs. The People vs. George Lucas

Matt Vayda wrote:

I've been meaning to post this for a while now, but I keep forgetting.

For a genuine, but humorous take on Star Wars in a courtroom scenario, check out Star Wars on Trial.

Basically a bunch of authors and essayists (many of whom have authored Star Wars related material) got together, chose topics to debate, and presented an argument for and against each, including opening and closing statements.

Thanks for the tip. Bought the book and am reading David Brin's accusation now - that Star Wars is more backward-looking medieval fantasy, rather than science fiction. He doesn't go for all this Princess, Queen, chosen one, destiny, prophecy of the one who will bring balance to the force, stuff. He likes meritocratic storylines where common people collaborate and solve their own problems without the legitimacy of birthright, aristocracies, predestination messiahs, etc.

The universe is atoms & empty space; all else is opinion -Democritus

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  • From: Indiana, USA
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Re: #33 - The People vs. The People vs. George Lucas

avatar wrote:

He likes meritocratic storylines where common people collaborate and solve their own problems without the legitimacy of birthright, aristocracies, predestination messiahs, etc.

brian

Zarban's House of Commentaries

Zarban's Website

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  • Registered: 2010-11-12
  • Posts: 98
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Re: #33 - The People vs. The People vs. George Lucas

avatar wrote:
Matt Vayda wrote:

I've been meaning to post this for a while now, but I keep forgetting.

For a genuine, but humorous take on Star Wars in a courtroom scenario, check out Star Wars on Trial.

Basically a bunch of authors and essayists (many of whom have authored Star Wars related material) got together, chose topics to debate, and presented an argument for and against each, including opening and closing statements.

Thanks for the tip. Bought the book and am reading David Brin's accusation now - that Star Wars is more backward-looking medieval fantasy, rather than science fiction. He doesn't go for all this Princess, Queen, chosen one, destiny, prophecy of the one who will bring balance to the force, stuff. He likes meritocratic storylines where common people collaborate and solve their own problems without the legitimacy of birthright, aristocracies, predestination messiahs, etc.

I have mixed feelings toward this book. Many insightful arguments are made, and there are some genuinely humorous moments, but Brin and co. spew such vitriol against the films. Not just "The Prequels Suck" vitriol—that's the good kind tongue—but hatred toward any kind of heroic fantasy archetypes whatsoever (Brin hates Luke Skywalker and The Lord of the Rings in particular). Brin and some of his witnesses come off as foaming-at-the-mouth rage beasts much of the time. As the defendant, Matthew Stover, notes at the end, all of the witnesses for the defense seem to be just enjoying themselves and having fun, whereas the prosecution seems genuinely enraged that Star Wars is successful. It's rather baffling, and rather pathetic.

Did you know books smell like nutmeg or some spice from a foreign land? I loved to smell them when I was a boy. Lord, we had a lot of lovely books once, before we let them go.

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