Star wars: The portrayal of minority and female characters
January 17, 2016 at 1:17 am
(This post was last modified: January 17, 2016 at 1:17 am by Lemonvariable72.
Edit Reason: Spelling
)
First, please forgive me if this comes off as a drunk post, I was having a few drinks and watching the star wars prequels.
This inspired me to make a post because of how social justice warriors have been attacking star wars for the last while. I will limit this post to the original trilogy and wont mention the new movies.
Now many attack princess leia as being a typical damsel in distress trope. While on the surface this may seem true, if you pay attention she is captured by the empire in the 4th movie because of the information she holds. Her being royalty is arguably one of the reasons they don't torture her to death. Despite this they do torture her using experimental techniques to acquire the information she has. Despite this, she does not break until the empire threatens her home world with total annihilation. This to me signifies a strong character with a admirable and deep set since of loyalty. We see this side of her character displayed again in return of the jedi, where instead of asking for luke's help, she decides to take matters in her own hands to save the man she loves. Now do to her underestimating jubba the hutt, she is taken prisoner by him and is forced to call on luke and his force abilities for help. She then proceeds to choke the male that enslaved her with the very chains he used to bind her. A very empowering message to women, if you ask me.
Next is another favorite of mine in the series, lando calraissian. He is arguably the only black character in the series, but instead of being a token black guy, he is morally complex. He understands that the empire is horrid, and calls han solo a friend. None the less he is forced to make the choice between protecting the people of cloud city, whom he is in charge of, or his personal loyalty. He makes the choice to betray han, not out of malice, a desire to protect his people. He later realizes that the ultimate safety of cloud city is best acheived via the restoration of the republic and joins the rebellion.
Now I would like to contrast that with two facts. first although it is somewhat glossed over in the movies ( because their about luke skywalker not the rebellion) the leader of the rebellion is a woman. Secondly is that the two major villians of the series, are old white men(now obviously there is more too them then that, and that makes star wars great).
Your thoughts? Can you thing of a complex and interesting movie from the same time frame that portrays minorities and women in such a interesting light?
This inspired me to make a post because of how social justice warriors have been attacking star wars for the last while. I will limit this post to the original trilogy and wont mention the new movies.
Now many attack princess leia as being a typical damsel in distress trope. While on the surface this may seem true, if you pay attention she is captured by the empire in the 4th movie because of the information she holds. Her being royalty is arguably one of the reasons they don't torture her to death. Despite this they do torture her using experimental techniques to acquire the information she has. Despite this, she does not break until the empire threatens her home world with total annihilation. This to me signifies a strong character with a admirable and deep set since of loyalty. We see this side of her character displayed again in return of the jedi, where instead of asking for luke's help, she decides to take matters in her own hands to save the man she loves. Now do to her underestimating jubba the hutt, she is taken prisoner by him and is forced to call on luke and his force abilities for help. She then proceeds to choke the male that enslaved her with the very chains he used to bind her. A very empowering message to women, if you ask me.
Next is another favorite of mine in the series, lando calraissian. He is arguably the only black character in the series, but instead of being a token black guy, he is morally complex. He understands that the empire is horrid, and calls han solo a friend. None the less he is forced to make the choice between protecting the people of cloud city, whom he is in charge of, or his personal loyalty. He makes the choice to betray han, not out of malice, a desire to protect his people. He later realizes that the ultimate safety of cloud city is best acheived via the restoration of the republic and joins the rebellion.
Now I would like to contrast that with two facts. first although it is somewhat glossed over in the movies ( because their about luke skywalker not the rebellion) the leader of the rebellion is a woman. Secondly is that the two major villians of the series, are old white men(now obviously there is more too them then that, and that makes star wars great).
Your thoughts? Can you thing of a complex and interesting movie from the same time frame that portrays minorities and women in such a interesting light?
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
