The Empire Triumphant

Race, Religion and Rebellion in the Star Wars Films

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by Kevin J. Wetmore Jr.

Type

Studies

Subject

One Film > Star Wars

Keywords

George Lucas, Star Wars, ideology

Publishing date

2005

Publisher

McFarland & Co

Language

English

Relative size

Physical desc.

Paperback • 224 pages
6 x 9 inches (15 x 23 cm)

ISBN-10
ISBN-13

0-7864-2219-X
978-0-7864-2219-7

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Book Presentation:
George Lucas’s first Star Wars trilogy shows the influences of its era; Cold War tension is evident in its theme of rebellion against totalitarianism. Recent entries in the Star Wars saga—The Phantom Menace (1999) and Attack of the Clones (2002)—are much more concerned with evil corporations, terrorists, and the corruption of the political process. Each film is influenced by the times in which it was released, but also by cultural subtexts and by other films that had direct and indirect effects on Lucas as writer, producer, and director.

This work focuses on all six Star Wars films. The first topic of this multifaceted examination is how the films use the language of colonialism (“The” Rebellion, “The” Empire) to emphasize the idea of imperialism. Next the author looks at how Asian influences—including religious undertones from Taoism and Buddhism and the works of Kurosawa and other Asian filmmakers—provide a subtext for much of the action. Next the discussion turns to the representation of people of color in the Star Wars universe, and how other ethnicities are represented overall, particularly through the literalization of the word “aliens.” These topics of discussion provide for penetrating conclusions about Lucas’s films and how they represent race, religion, and rebellion.

About the Author:
Kevin J. Wetmore, Jr., is a professional actor and director whose previous books have covered topics ranging from Star Wars to Renaissance faires. He is a professor and chair of the theater department at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California.

Press Reviews:
"shows the influences of its era…theme of rebellion against totalitarianism…evil corporations, terrorists, and the corruption of the political process…the discussion turns to the representation of people of color in the Star Wars universe, and how other ethnicities are represented overall, particularly through the literalization of the word ‘aliens’…penetrating conclusions about Lucas’s films"—SFRevu
"looks at elements of colonialism and imperialism in the two trilogies and pinpoints Asian influences, including Taoism, Buddhism, and the works of Akira Kurosawa"—South Dade News Leader
"George Lucas has been making a galaxy far, far away safe for white people…primarily about perceptions of the films as seriously marred by racism, colonialism and improper culture appropriation"—Fort Worth Star-Telegram

See the publisher website: McFarland & Co

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