I used to consider Star Wars movies as escapism. Simple plots: good guys defeating bad guys, futuristic action, supernatural stuff, and a little romance. Not a bad place to kill a few hours now and then.
One of my internet channels was playing Star Wars movies throughout the holidays. Life circumstances allowed me to re-watch more Star Wars movies than I’ve re-watched in the past five years.
For some reason, I am starting to see the more complex plotlines in the prequel trilogy: The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith.
Senator Palpatine is an interesting character in this trilogy. He is initially cast on the side of democracy, liberty, and justice. He befriends the obvious good guys: the Jedi Order and the Naboo people. They help him increase his political influence. As the trilogy moves forward, we find that Palpatine has secretly incited a separatist movement to which he is publicly working to defeat. He acquires more political power. He has his main ally Count Dooku, the commander of the separatist movement, summarily executed. In time, we find that Palpatine is the evil Sith Lord. He has been plotting on destroying the Republic for a long time to replace it as an Empire, with him in total control. His plans have worked out.
The Demise of Democracy
The Phantom Menace was released in 1999. Methinks that the story arc of Palpatine was worked out a few years before that. Let’s say 1995.
In 1995, the world had witnessed the demise of communist and authoritarian rule. The triumph of democracy and capitalism was complete. Influential political scientists were claiming liberal democracy was firmly entrenched in world affairs. There would be no looking back.
The writers of the prequel trilogy were counter to the popular vision of the democracy in that time. This prequel trilogy should have been spurned by the public, given the mood at the time.
So what pulled the saga into popularity?
Who is Really in Control?
In his long-term manipulations of the Galactic Republic, Palpatine secretly financed a clone army. That army was to go to the separatists — but with the republic’s money. But the Jedi discovered this plot, they took the army under its own control.
However, Palpatine had programmed this army in advance. When the time was right, he secretly contacted the leaders of the army and gave them “Code 66.” The army immediately turned on their Jedi overseers, killing most of them. Even when Palpatine had no control of the clone army, he still had control of the clone army.
With the Jedi out of the way, Palpatine was able to assume the position of “Emperor” of the Galactic Empire. The Republic was no more.
Do we have clones ready to do the emperor’s bidding today?
Mental Illness
Another interesting story arc was the slide of Anakin Skywalker into Darth Vader. We can see the slow transformation of Anakin as he descends into his mental illness. While this arc is still a bit Hollywoody, this descent could be a useful life lesson into mental illnesses.
What happens to a nation when many of its citizens are declining in their mental well being?
Saving the Republic
The Jedi are clearly on the side of the Republic. While they acknowledge the faults of the Republic, they see their position as keeping the balance, even though they are not officially in politics.
Yet, with all their powers, the Jedi failed to see Palpatine for what he was. In other words, even the wise were fooled.
Do we have political commentators who believe their musings are helping keep our current democracies in balance?
The Cycle of History
My last observation of the Star Wars saga comes from a thought-provoking book I read a few months back. Before I introduce this book, I will just bring back the original movie. It was called “Star Wars” in 1977; now it is called “Star Wars IV, A New Hope.”
Let’s face it. “Star Wars” was a B movie. The actors were amateurish. The plot was corny. The technical conclusions were hokey. Even the movie makers were expecting the movie and their career to bomb.
The natural result for this movie should have been summarized in this fictitious clip from the movie’s executives in the back rooms: “Whew, we managed some profit from this rotten movie. Let’s not do that again.” In other words, there should have been no 63-year-old men rewatching this movie and its saga many years after.
We can claim good marketing, but that can only go so far. There has to be another force to keep us captivated with this saga.
And that Force is:
“The Yugas” talks about a cycle humanity has gone through several times. At the top of this cycle, we have enhanced mental abilities. At the bottom, most of those abilities are lost. We are about 2000 years from the bottom of that cycle and are working up again. Here is my review of this book:
I won't get in many details here, but late in this book, the authors talk about “magic” as a means to accomplish many things when humanity is in its higher state. Construction, medicine, travel, etc. will all be different. Indeed, their high level of mental ability might appear as magic to us today.
The Jedi of Star Wars might be analogous to that magic of the yugas. And connecting us with our long past and our long future may be the reason for the long-term popularity of the Star War saga.
Maybe we instinctually know the Jedi are not that far-fetched.
Conclusion
Methinks the writers of the Star Wars were advanced thinkers for their day. There is more to this story than just another space western to keep our entertainment neurons stimulated. Better science fiction books and movies have been relegated to obscurity when Star Wars remains popular.
The Jedi have kept the Star Wars going. The Jedi could be our past — and our future.
I wonder if the Star Wars writers knew about the yugas. Or did they just get lucky?
Published on Medium 2023
