Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed

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Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed
Narrated by
The History Channel
ReleaseMay 28, 2007 (2007-05-28)

Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed (TLR) is a TV

Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Kevin Burns.[1]

The special focuses on how Star Wars is relevant today and the history that inspired it, and also makes various connections to Greek mythology.[2] It consists of a number of interviews with well-known politicians, journalists and critics, such as John Lyden, professor Chad Stanley, Tom Brokaw, Stephen Colbert and Peter Jackson, along with historical content and clips from all six of the Star Wars movies.[3]

Synopsis

The first main subject of the special discusses the origins of films as they were written in the early 1970s, during a time of social unrest and political upheaval. When Star Wars was released it reaffirmed the notion that there is such a thing as

The Hero With a Thousand Faces
.

In Star Wars, two characters embark on the hero's journey,

Anakin Skywalker and his son Luke. Luke starts out as a nobody much like Dorothy, Harry Potter and King Arthur, and what he needs is a call to adventure. Luke would reject the call as did Moses
, but after the violent murder of his aunt and uncle he resolves to go. The Cantina scene is what Joseph Campbell referred to as the threshold crossing, meaning that you're no longer at home and your journey will be a dangerous one.

Yoda, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn represent the importance of the hero's need for a mentor. They discuss the etymology of the word mentor, coming from the name of Mentor, who watched over Odysseus's son Telemachus. It says that a key element to the mentor is that they give the hero a gift. In Luke Skywalker's case, it is Obi-Wan giving him a lightsaber. The hero gives his life to stop evil. The importance of the Force is another topic, saying that any religious background can associate, and it is basically believing in something higher, and that everything has a purpose. The mentor cannot stay forever, and it is crucial that they do not stay to help. Yet, the mentor is still within. This is shown by Obi-Wan's downfall in the hands of Darth Vader, but Obi-Wan is still there inside of Luke.

The hero relies on the friendship of others. The show includes comparing Jabba the Hutt to a dragon, where he steals the damsel in distress. The planet of Naboo is spoken of in reference of Nabu, the Queen of Wisdom in Babylon. Padmé Amidala, who is from Naboo (pronounced the same as the God), is also said to be "the Queen of Wisdom". Luke and Leia are said to be like Apollo and Artemis.

Another large portion of the special was focused on

Wild West town, where no one cares what happens as long as it is cleaned up. Tom Brokaw describes the series as a "Western
in the future".

There's one part that discusses the need for companions and faithful followers. The comic relief of Star Wars is R2-D2 and C-3PO. The two robots are compared to Abbott and Costello, Laurel and Hardy and Tom and Jerry. Jar Jar Binks, the childlike innocent, grows up throughout the films and gains responsibility, allowing for children to connect to him. They have been influenced by such classic cartoon characters as Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Porky Pig.

The journey of a hero is also of large importance. The hero must undergo tests that will make him stronger, sometimes having to face their worst fears or confront their nightmares. The extent to which Lucas used ideas from mythologist Joseph Campbell is discussed by Jonathan Young of the Campbell Archives.

For every hero, it says, there must be a

Frankenstein's Monster
.

Star Wars also reflects a cycle in our own history, the fall of

gladiatorial combat. Palpatine's story reflects that of Napoleon
. Another big part states that society is in a continual process of construction and self-destruction.

The Legacy Revealed shows many connections between the

German Army's. The Republic also embraced diversity
, while the Empire did not. There are no women in the Empire, showing that there is no purity or life.

According to the show, the Rebels win in the end because of their trust in something else, in themselves, rather than technology. This is illustrated when Luke turns off his targeting computer during the attack on the

pyre, like in The Iliad where Priam burns Hector
's body.

The last scenes of the show feature a few politicians. They talk of people that join together for a common goal and power always belongs to the people. Star Wars is then said that even though there are strong mythological influences in it, it becomes a mythology all its own.

Featured interviews

Reception

The documentary was nominated for 3 Emmy Awards, for Outstanding Non-fiction Special, Outstanding Writing (Non-fiction), and Outstanding Directing (Non-fiction).[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ Vyse, Graham (11 December 2015). "Newt Gingrich Goes Full 'Star Wars' Nerd in 2007 Ken Burns Documentary". Inside Sources. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  2. ^ Pelan, Tim (30 June 2014). "Star Wars The Legacy Revealed Documentary". Cinetropolis. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  3. ^ "Parallels to history, religion, literature make Star Wars great America myth". Times Leader. 12 December 2015. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  4. ^ "Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed". Emmy Awards Database. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2019.

External links

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