• @banneryear1868
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    9 months ago

    Star Wars is literally space conservatives rebelling against the galactic communist (1970s US propagandized version of invented communism-fascist aesthetic*) empire…

    Firefly is to an even greater degree, like libertarian Browncoats rebelling. I love the fan fic take that the Alliance were the “good guys.”

    • katy ✨OP
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      739 months ago

      ok but the empire were literally fascists trying to rule the imperial senate with absolute authority…

      • @banneryear1868
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        9 months ago

        Yeah it’s not actual communism but more like a reflection of the fears of communism in pop culture from the time when it was written in the late 70s. Comment was a bit inprecise but amended.

        • @[email protected]
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          249 months ago

          Even the empire’s uniforms were pretty obviously based on nazi uniforms, what makes you think the empire is supposed to represent communism?

          • @banneryear1868
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            29 months ago

            George Lucas said Vietnam inspired the writing, and communism in American pop culture was synonymous with basically every “bad” thing.

        • NoSpiritAnimal
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          119 months ago

          Why are you spreading this around like it’s true? Also, this is you:

          Very interesting! I knew the Vietnam thing but I’m not into Star Wars.

          • @banneryear1868
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            9 months ago
            1. George Lucas mentions Vietnam as an influence

            2. Fascism is clearly represented as well

            3. Star Wars is not a politically consistent universe or critique

            4. It’s a typical story arc where the antagonist is an amalgamation of things that were considered bad at the time

            5. It’s Star Wars so I ultimately don’t care that much

          • @banneryear1868
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            69 months ago

            It’s just based on what other’s have said about the Vietnam allegory but it’s also whatever, I’m sure Lucas’ wasn’t thinking of it as a primarily political mission to produce Star Wars, since it’s very much a standard plot with your usual archetype characters and roles.

            There’s a similar fan take on Lord of the Rings too which is interesting.

          • @banneryear1868
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            29 months ago

            Space Nazi aesthetic is definitely key to Star Wars.

    • @[email protected]
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      9 months ago

      George Lucas has said that it was the Vietnam War that inspired the conflict in Star Wars, with the Empire representing the US, but also the rebels could represent the US against the British Empire from the Revolutionary War.

      • @[email protected]
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        69 months ago

        I don’t recall reading that anywhere. I do remember seeing WW2 referenced, especially with respect to the dogfights.

      • @banneryear1868
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        49 months ago

        Very interesting! I knew the Vietnam thing but I’m not into Star Wars.

      • @Duamerthrax
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        119 months ago

        It’s also heavily Nazi coded with the uniforms and marching formations. And you know, Stormtroopers.

    • Cowbee [he/him]
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      9 months ago

      The Empire was in no way representative of Communism, it’s a fascist Empire with literal “Stormtroopers.” Lucas has shown more antifascist sentiment, and no anti-socialist sentiment. Lucas said the Empire represents the US, and the rebels the Viet Cong, in inspiration.

      One time, he even said despite the censorship in the USSR, he felt that move directors and writers were more free to make what they wanted without the profit motive getting in the way, specifically citing artistic freedom being higher (in his words).

    • @[email protected]
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      9 months ago

      You know, it’s totally possible that George Lucas has no fucking clue about history and just said “it was a metaphor for Vietnam” to sound smart. There is no version of Star Wars where the Empire does communism. Fanfic take that the Alliance were the good guys? Did we watch different movies? One side literally makes all their decisions based on the whims of an ancient evil wizard, and the other side are trying to stop the evil wizards from destroying planets.

      • @Gabu
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        19 months ago

        Palpatine isn’t ancient, although you could argue he represents the apex of the rule of two thus dating back to at least Darth Bane.

      • @banneryear1868
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        19 months ago

        That’s where I got this view from but I’m not personally into Star Wars, I just know this very timely Vietnam influence but Lucas could be bullshitting who knows.