I'm not the biggest fan of Star Wars, but it has an unavoidable presence in popular culture. Especially now that Disney has commandeered it...
There are countless occasions in the television animation programs I know and love where it has been referenced both directly and indirectly, from the odd allusion to a character, phrase or event to a virtually shot-for-shot, line-for-line comic recreation. (Looking at you, "Family Guy").
And, of course, if it didn't exist, then neither would Mel Brooks' magisterial parody of the franchise, "Spaceballs"- and that would be a shame...
I love how Star Wars quotes can immediately connect two people who didn't even realize they had something in common. It's the same with Dungeons & Dragons. There's just this shared language that connects you in this little subculture of cool and nerdy people.
I'm typically the forever DM, but I like to be scheming rogues when I get the chance. Which I just realized is maybe my way of trying to control the game when I'm not the DM. 🫠
This thread has been a wonderful bit of randomness for me. I'm constantly making D&D references and generally evangelizing the game in my newsletter. It's rare that anyone bites. And then you make a throwaway comment and here we are. Substack is awesome. 🤘🏻
Haha yes. We typically finish a "campaign" and then just figure out a reason for our characters to go right into another one. We're doing Descent into Avernus right now. My favorite character was an Aarakocra Monk, followed closely by a Genasi Sorceress. I usually play chaotic neutral characters. And for DMing everyone takes turns.
Substack is awesome, I love how you can connect with other people similar to the "golden" days of the internet. Scheming Rogues sound like a blast to play when you're not the DM and your comment about controlling the game through those kinds of characters made me chuckle.
I love this! I do a lot of cinema culture and people’s memories on my substack. An amazing story. Thanks for sharing!
I spent a lot of time reminiscing last weekend as I watched episode 1’s re-release. I remember queueing outside to get in for hours before the prequels came out. Before that my mum took me to see the re-released originals in the 90s. I saw there in awe every time the Lucasfilm title faded to black. Great memories.
May the 4th is my bday. With the 25th anniversary release, my kiddo booked an afternoon viewing. I work nights so getting up at 11am to drive 40 mins to the theatre, watch the 2+hour movie, then home for a nap before work was all worth it. People crap on the episode because of Jar Jar but I don't mind it. In fact, of all the lightsaber duals, none match the ones with Darth Maul.
To me, unlike the MCU avalanche of movies, some okay, most not very good, the Star Wars franchise doesn't disappoint.
The only one I didn't thoroughly enjoy was the Boba Fett series, but the others, Andor, The Mandalorian etc were fantastic. I'm looking forward to the Acolyte!
That was a great read, Eric. I love the constant presence of Star Wars. It's been something I've been a fan of for most of my life. My interest level can ebb and flow, but it's like comfort food. I can always turn on a movie or (now) a tv show or pick up a book and it's just going to make my day better.
Plus I love how it brings people together. I love all the substack friends I've made just from talking about our favorite galaxy.
I was the target age when Star Wars came out. My friends saw it first, and I remember them talking about Darth Vader bursting through the door at the opening. The only point of reference I had was King King breaking through the giant fence.
I saw the originals for the very first time the right way--in a theater--when they rereleased ahead of those god-forsaken prequels. I couldn't believe how good Star Wars was! After all the hype, that a film from the 70s could still deliver on the cusp of the 21st century was astounding. Now, sharing Star Wars with my own kids is what's made them especially special. They just rock.
I only saw A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back when they were re-released as the Special Editions and it was a moment! Thanks for sharing your memories!
I consider myself a more casual SW fan. For me, the best things to come out of it were really the paratexts - the discourses, the parodies, the essays, articles and books.
Michael Kaminski's The Secret History of Star Wars is one of my favorite books of all time, for the simple fact that it tracks the evolution of the original trilogy and the prequel trilogy by combing through years of interviews, scripts, and other sources. It's been a huge influence on my approach to research and film criticism.
Eric, what I like about this piece is that you get across how much loving certain fantasy/sci-fi movies or books can influence the people we become. I saw the very first Stars Wars movie in a theater - more than once - when it first came out in the 1970s, when it was a true phenom - I loved it, as I did “The Empire Strikes Back” (saw that at a drive-in with friends packed in a car, if you can believe it). But I was not so thrilled by “The Return of the Jedi,” possibly in more of the mode of your dad. The Prequels were so bad I avoided them until many years later, when my son briefly got into Star Wars.
Anyway, my true fan nerdom was reserved for Star Trek, though even that has become disappointing of late, which I’ve written about in some linked essays on my stack. Live long and prosper 😉
I'm not the biggest fan of Star Wars, but it has an unavoidable presence in popular culture. Especially now that Disney has commandeered it...
There are countless occasions in the television animation programs I know and love where it has been referenced both directly and indirectly, from the odd allusion to a character, phrase or event to a virtually shot-for-shot, line-for-line comic recreation. (Looking at you, "Family Guy").
And, of course, if it didn't exist, then neither would Mel Brooks' magisterial parody of the franchise, "Spaceballs"- and that would be a shame...
I love how Star Wars quotes can immediately connect two people who didn't even realize they had something in common. It's the same with Dungeons & Dragons. There's just this shared language that connects you in this little subculture of cool and nerdy people.
Yes!! But let's not skip over something important you just said--do you play D&D!? 🤓
I sure do. :)
😀 I'll restrain myself from asking lots of questions, just know that I want to.
I started playing when I was about 10. It's been a lifelong hobby and is my favorite thing to do.
Always great to meet a fellow adventurer. Our current campaign has been going strong for 4+ years, though I did reroll my character a few times. 😂
That's a long campaign! Fav class?
I'm typically the forever DM, but I like to be scheming rogues when I get the chance. Which I just realized is maybe my way of trying to control the game when I'm not the DM. 🫠
This thread has been a wonderful bit of randomness for me. I'm constantly making D&D references and generally evangelizing the game in my newsletter. It's rare that anyone bites. And then you make a throwaway comment and here we are. Substack is awesome. 🤘🏻
Haha yes. We typically finish a "campaign" and then just figure out a reason for our characters to go right into another one. We're doing Descent into Avernus right now. My favorite character was an Aarakocra Monk, followed closely by a Genasi Sorceress. I usually play chaotic neutral characters. And for DMing everyone takes turns.
Substack is awesome, I love how you can connect with other people similar to the "golden" days of the internet. Scheming Rogues sound like a blast to play when you're not the DM and your comment about controlling the game through those kinds of characters made me chuckle.
I love this! I do a lot of cinema culture and people’s memories on my substack. An amazing story. Thanks for sharing!
I spent a lot of time reminiscing last weekend as I watched episode 1’s re-release. I remember queueing outside to get in for hours before the prequels came out. Before that my mum took me to see the re-released originals in the 90s. I saw there in awe every time the Lucasfilm title faded to black. Great memories.
Thanks Gareth! Great memories, thanks for sharing!
I really enjoyed this. Watched Empire last night and mourned that I couldn’t see it as an 8 year old again.
Thanks Sam! I agree, Empire is sooooo good.
I turned to my wife when Luke’s hand got soldered on and the credits rolled and just said “Wow. Can you imagine being 10 when that came out?”
Can you imagine waiting 3 years to find out if Vader was telling the truth? 😵
Search your feelings. You know it to be true!
May the 4th is my bday. With the 25th anniversary release, my kiddo booked an afternoon viewing. I work nights so getting up at 11am to drive 40 mins to the theatre, watch the 2+hour movie, then home for a nap before work was all worth it. People crap on the episode because of Jar Jar but I don't mind it. In fact, of all the lightsaber duals, none match the ones with Darth Maul.
To me, unlike the MCU avalanche of movies, some okay, most not very good, the Star Wars franchise doesn't disappoint.
The only one I didn't thoroughly enjoy was the Boba Fett series, but the others, Andor, The Mandalorian etc were fantastic. I'm looking forward to the Acolyte!
Happy belated birthday! That sounds like a great way to spend the day. And I agree, it's better than the hate would leae you to believe.
I took my 20 year-old son to see it. Had a great time.
That was a great read, Eric. I love the constant presence of Star Wars. It's been something I've been a fan of for most of my life. My interest level can ebb and flow, but it's like comfort food. I can always turn on a movie or (now) a tv show or pick up a book and it's just going to make my day better.
Plus I love how it brings people together. I love all the substack friends I've made just from talking about our favorite galaxy.
Thanks so much! I really appreciate that.
I completely agree -- our little Star Wars corner on Substack is my favorite internet hang. Great people, good discussions, very chill vibe.
I was the target age when Star Wars came out. My friends saw it first, and I remember them talking about Darth Vader bursting through the door at the opening. The only point of reference I had was King King breaking through the giant fence.
It's so wild to think about how word of mouth was king back then.
I saw the originals for the very first time the right way--in a theater--when they rereleased ahead of those god-forsaken prequels. I couldn't believe how good Star Wars was! After all the hype, that a film from the 70s could still deliver on the cusp of the 21st century was astounding. Now, sharing Star Wars with my own kids is what's made them especially special. They just rock.
I only saw A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back when they were re-released as the Special Editions and it was a moment! Thanks for sharing your memories!
I’m torn on the Disney + shows. I love the Mandalorian and Andor…. But Boba Fett, it felt off. So I vote the original series
The Mandalorian and Andor are amazing, the others not so much.
I consider myself a more casual SW fan. For me, the best things to come out of it were really the paratexts - the discourses, the parodies, the essays, articles and books.
Michael Kaminski's The Secret History of Star Wars is one of my favorite books of all time, for the simple fact that it tracks the evolution of the original trilogy and the prequel trilogy by combing through years of interviews, scripts, and other sources. It's been a huge influence on my approach to research and film criticism.
Going to look for that book! Sounds fascinating.
Oh yeah, it's pretty awesome. If you're interested you should also check out the author's website, where there are plenty of secondary articles and essays: http://fd.noneinc.com/secrethistoryofstarwarscom/secrethistoryofstarwars.com/index.html
It hasn't been updated in years, but the archive is still amazing, imo.
Hi Eric, may the fourth be with you!
Right back at you my friend!
Eric, what I like about this piece is that you get across how much loving certain fantasy/sci-fi movies or books can influence the people we become. I saw the very first Stars Wars movie in a theater - more than once - when it first came out in the 1970s, when it was a true phenom - I loved it, as I did “The Empire Strikes Back” (saw that at a drive-in with friends packed in a car, if you can believe it). But I was not so thrilled by “The Return of the Jedi,” possibly in more of the mode of your dad. The Prequels were so bad I avoided them until many years later, when my son briefly got into Star Wars.
Anyway, my true fan nerdom was reserved for Star Trek, though even that has become disappointing of late, which I’ve written about in some linked essays on my stack. Live long and prosper 😉
I miss drive-in movies! Was always so much fun catching a double feature.
Thanks for sharing your Star Wars memories. 🤓
Why do you know what the devils butthole tastes like?
🤣🤣🤣
I'm assuming it tastes like black licorice
That's sad because I like black licorice but now I will always think of it as the devils butthole!
You're welcome? 😅
Sorry about that! I'll consider the collateral damage next time.
It's all good! A friend of mine used to say, "May the force be with you, my friend" when he signed of emails.
May the force be with you, my friend.
And also with you! 🤘🏻
May the Fourth and Force be with you!
I do enjoy Star Wars to some extent but not nearly as much as some people.