Happy Star Wars Day!

In honor of this major holiday, I post a round-up of my writings, interviews, and talks about one of the world's most popular science fiction franchises.

Today is Star Wars Day! In honor of this exciting event from a galaxy far, far away, here are some links to various writings and speeches I have done on the politics of this immensely popular science fiction franchise.

Much of this is copied from my 2018 Star Wars Day post, because I - unfortunately - have not had much chance to write about the most recent Star Wars series. But I hope to remedy that when time allows. Until then - may the Force be with you - even if you don't have a high Midichlorian count!

Rogue One and the Politics of Star Wars (my take on political themes in the best Star Wars movie since the original trilogy). This is probably my personal favorite among my Star Wars-related pieces. Among other things, it discusses why it's important to think about what the Rebels are fighting for, as well as what they are against, and why, they, like many of the American Founding Fathers, are "simultaneously freedom fighters and slave owners."

The Politics of The Last Jedi (the politics of one of the most recent Star Wars movies)

Star Wars, Science Fiction, and the Constitution (an analysis of Cass Sunstein's well-known book The World According to Star Wars).

The World According to Star Wars (video of Cato Institute panel on Cass Sunstein's book of the same name, featuring the author and commentary by Michael Cannon (Cato Institute) and myself.

The Politics of Star Wars (audio of my December 2015 Libertarianism.org podcast on the politics of the Star Wars franchise - produced just before the release of The Force Awakens, so it only covers the development of the franchise up to just before that point).

More recently, I have written informal Facebook commentary on "The Book of Boba Fett," and "The Mandalorian." If the opportunity arises, I hope to turn these into more developed writings.

Comments

[Krychek_2]

The original Star Wars trilogy describes our politics. In the original movie, the good and benevolent denizens enact social security, medicare, medicaid, reproductive rights, end Jim Crow, all the good stuff that brings a better life to people.

Then the empire struck back. Darth Vaders Nixon, Gingrich, Reagan, Bushes Pere and Fils, and Trump went to battle stations to return the country to the dark, evil, cold rule in which the forces of the evil empire sought to return the country to those days when individuals had few rights and fewer protections.

Someday the Jedi will return. Maybe not for a while, but they'll come back.

[AmosArch]

Its a shame the two dominant sci fi franchises are the product of rather poor writers. Neither the star wars or star trek are constructed anywhere in the same league as the Tolkienverse or even the Potterverse or countless better less known stories. No matter how many good future writers you get to try rescue them they're bogged down by their heritage. And of course they're going in the opposite direction of wokenizing them instead of improving them for both. So many fans of crap franchises. So much wasted energy and love. The world deserves better.

[Queen Amalthea]

"of course they're going in the opposite direction of wokenizing them"

Amos liked it better when everyone but one of the heroes were white dudes.

"or even the Potterverse"

Cool story, bro!

[SRG]

In defence of Star Trek, the writing of individual episodes can be pretty damn good indeed. and the Prime Directive is an excellent invention. Of course there are issues, because SF writers are not generally political, economic or legal experts. Tolkien was an expert in the field on which he based his LotR universe.

You can't put the boot into ST the way say that David Brin did into Star Wars.

[Darth Buckeye]

I find your lack of references to season one of THE MANDELORIAN...disturbing.

[Adrian Smith]

What do modern manufacturers of missiles and other missile elements do? One of the main priorities is the search for the optimal solution for the shortest achievement of the low orbit of the Earth, rocket launch sites. Significant success in this direction has been achieved by many companies that make their launches from the British islands, which are relatively not far to achieve the orbit.

[SRG]

Why aren't droids living? Just because they're silicon not organic? Who is to say that above a certain degree of computational complexity a droid isn't "alive" - or conscious.

Possession of a soul is a different matter. Your god can always endow droids with souls if he wants, no?