Reconstructing the Death Star: Myth and Memory in the Star Wars Franchise
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Abilene Christian University Digital Commons @ ACU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Electronic Theses and Dissertations Spring 5-2018 Reconstructing the Death Star: Myth and Memory in the Star Wars Franchise Taylor Hamilton Arthur Katz [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/etd Recommended Citation Katz, Taylor Hamilton Arthur, "Reconstructing the Death Star: Myth and Memory in the Star Wars Franchise" (2018). Digital Commons @ ACU, Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 91. This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Electronic Theses and Dissertations at Digital Commons @ ACU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ ACU. ABSTRACT Mythic narratives exert a powerful influence over societies, and few mythic narratives carry as much weight in modern culture as the Star Wars franchise. Disney’s 2012 purchase of Lucasfilm opened the door for new films in the franchise. 2016’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the second of these films, takes place in the fictional hours and minutes leading up to the events portrayed in 1977’s Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. Changes to the fundamental myths underpinning the Star Wars narrative and the unique connection between these film have created important implications for the public memory of the original film. I examine these changes using Campbell’s hero’s journey and Lawrence and Jewett’s American monomyth. In this thesis I argue that Rogue One: A Star Wars Story was likely conceived as a means of updating the public memory of the original 1977 film. Disney’s choice to maintain the original film as the canonical basis for their ongoing storytelling makes updating the public memory of the 1977 film essential given distinct differences between the rhetorical contexts of 1977 and 2016. Additionally, Disney’s decisions have significant ramifications for the passionate fans of the franchise. Reconstructing the Death Star: Myth and Memory in the Star Wars Franchise A Thesis Presented to The Faculty of the Graduate School Abilene Christian University In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts By Taylor Hamilton Arthur Katz May 2018 To the family, friends, and mentors who motivated me to continue my academic journey at a time when I thought it was over. More specifically, to my parents, who’ve walked with me through every step of that journey. And last but by no means least, to my professors, who’ve made that journey possible and propelled me onward towards the next step. TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION The Star Wars Franchise ..............................................................................2 Rhetorical Situation .....................................................................................3 Academic Context of the Star Wars Franchise ................................4 Cultural Context of the Star Wars Franchise ...................................5 Popular culture .....................................................................5 Financial value .....................................................................6 Expanded Universe context .................................................6 Rhetors .............................................................................................7 George Lucas .......................................................................7 Kathleen Kennedy ................................................................8 Gareth Edwards ....................................................................9 Fandom and Canon ....................................................................................10 Passionate fandoms ........................................................................11 Canonicity ......................................................................................12 Importance to fans ..............................................................12 Negotiation of canonicity ...................................................12 Theoretical Framework ..............................................................................14 Myth ...............................................................................................14 Defining myth ....................................................................14 History of mythic scholarship ............................................15 Functions of myth ..............................................................16 Contexts of myth ................................................................17 Applicability of myth to film .............................................18 The Hero’s Journey ........................................................................20 Examples of the hero’s journey .........................................20 Departure ............................................................................21 The American Monomyth ..............................................................22 Hero ....................................................................................23 Violence .............................................................................25 Failure of institutions .........................................................27 Paradise ..............................................................................27 Frontier ...............................................................................28 Evil .....................................................................................30 Conclusion .................................................................................................31 II. MYTH IN STAR WARS – EPISODE IV: A NEW HOPE Audience of A New Hope ...........................................................................33 Star Wars – Episode IV: A New Hope .......................................................35 Methodology ..............................................................................................36 Analysis......................................................................................................37 Hero’s journey: departure ..............................................................38 The call to adventure ..........................................................38 Refusal of the call ..............................................................40 Supernatural aid .................................................................41 The crossing of the first threshold .....................................43 The belly of the whale ........................................................44 Hero’s journey summary ....................................................45 The American Monomyth ..............................................................45 Violence .............................................................................45 The failure of institutions ...................................................49 Paradise ..............................................................................52 Frontier ...............................................................................53 Evil .....................................................................................55 Conclusion .................................................................................................58 III. HISTORY OF THE STAR WARS FRANCHISE The Original Trilogy ..................................................................................60 The Prequels ...............................................................................................61 EU Novels ..................................................................................................62 Computer and Video Games ......................................................................65 Television Series ........................................................................................67 Fan Culture .................................................................................................68 The New Canon .........................................................................................69 Conclusion .................................................................................................69 IV. MYTH AND MEMORY IN ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY Rhetorical Situation of Rogue One ............................................................70 Postmodernism ...............................................................................70 September 11’s influence ...............................................................71 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Synopsis ...................................................74 Public Memory ...........................................................................................76 Memory Scholarship ......................................................................77 Defining public memory ....................................................78 History of public memory scholarship ...............................79 Rhetorical functions of public memory .............................80 Public memory in film .......................................................81 Public Memory, Myth, and Fandom ..............................................83 Transforming Myth ....................................................................................83 Problematic Aspects of the American Monomyth ........................84 Representation of the hero .................................................85 Portrayals of violence ........................................................86