25 May, 1977, Star Wars was released...
Before I begin I must confess, I have only seen Star Wars once, many years ago and have never seen any of the sequels! Now you might say that, I therefore, I have no right to write an article about the series, but it’s the films’ impact on our culture that I want to explore.
25 May, 1977 saw the release of Star Wars and all the proceeding sequels were released in May. Whether this was purposefully done because of the infamous pun 'May the 4th be with you', who knows? But May it was.
Now, having had very little experience of watching the movies and only having watched Episode IV as an adult, I can't discuss any childhood stories of awe and wonder when I first watched them. Also, another confession is that I didn't really enjoy it when I did watch it; it's just not my kind of film. However, what interests me is the fact that it feels as if I know and have experienced the films personally. I am able to paraphrase many scenes, recognise the characters, even relay some of the key storylines and yet I have not seen the films! This just shows the impact that George Lucas and Star Wars have had on the world of cinema.
This is probably unsurprising to Star Wars fans but I can't think of any other films that have made such a mark on culture and society; even without watching the films we are exposed to so many references related to them. It is clear why Jedi is seen to some as a religion, many of the societies and clubs that have come from the franchise could easily be compared to forms of worship. But what is it about these films that have created this faith and following? I am not sure but I certainly admire the fans’ dedication and the film's impact on the world, inside and outside of cinema. Maybe it’s about time that I watched these films and tried my hand at being a Jedi.
Article by Russell Farnham
The fandom around the series is phenomenal, surely there is no other film that has had the same sort of effect on culture or the film community. Having decided to research more about the fans and culture that Star Wars has created, I watched the documentary Jedi Junkies (2010) to see what kind of happenings the movies have influenced. There are numerous conventions, collectors’ markets, fan films, various dedicated websites and an array of clubs dedicated to the love of Star Wars. The film focuses on various collectors and fans, trying to explain the community that has developed from these films. For example, in New York there is a club named New York Jedi that offers lessons on the use of lightsabers. There is a website dedicated to Princess Leia's slave bikini, where women and men alike can enjoy all that is the iconic outfit. There are hundreds of fan films, some of which are very professionally done as homages to the franchise. There are collectors and fanatics of all the merchandise that has been produced, some of which are very valuable. And many fans that go to the extreme to show their dedication and love of the films: one guy even built a life size Death Star is his back yard!
