Star Wars, Star Wars, and American Political Culture

Meyer, David S. "Star Wars, Star Wars, and American Political Culture."  JPC 26.2 (Fall 1992): 99-115.

Contrasts the confidence in massive technology underlying the "Star Wars" idea of Ronald Reagan et al. ("the Strategic Defense Initiative") with the way the [STAR WARS]] films (q.v under Drama) "explicitly and implicitly criticize faith in technology at every possible turn (106 f., quoting 106). Excellent comments on Luke Skywalker's Rotwangian black mechanical hand (110, 112; see DR. STRANGELOVE and METROPOLIS), the "essential funkiness" of The Millenium Falcon (107), the significance of the Ewoks' primitive weaponry (107-8), and how Luke fights with weapons progressively lower in technological sophistication, finally "triumphing by not fighting" (113). (RDE, 28/02/93)