The end of Star Wars

 

This is an interesting analysis of “Star Wars” and “Dune”, arguing that the “Star Wars” franchise having essentially run its course due to deep changes in the Zeitgeist. Instead, “Dune” will become the archetypical myth of the coming period. The video was recently uploaded on the YouTube channel Formscapes which discusses topics related to Whitehead, Jung, Sheldrake and esotericism.

Formscapes points out that the original “Star Wars” trilogy was “liberal” in character and could be seen as an attempt to “save” the liberal project from skepticism and criticism in the wake of the Vietnam War, the civil rights movement and other events which showed that US liberal democracy wasn´t the Utopia it promised to be. In “Star Wars”, the Empire isn´t American-style, but rather Nazi-style, while the rebels are a motley band of free individuals modelled on an idealized conception of the American Revolution. Formscapes doesn´t say so explicitly, but it´s interesting to note that the rebels are multi-ethnic and even somewhat “hippie”. I admit that this never struck me before! Darth Vader is a “dark” version of the Jovian sky father. Thus, “Star Wars” could be seen as a super-idealized form of US liberalism, still fighting for freedom against forces of tyranny, environmental destruction and racism.

All this is questioned in the second trilogy, which coincided with 9/11 and the Bush years. The similarities between Senator Palpatine and Bush were noticed already at the time. Formscapes points out that while the rebels in the first trilogy (who supposedly fight for the re-establishment of the Republic) seem to lack obvious hierarchy and structure, the Republic in the three later films is depicted as a vast and intricate bureaucratic structure. Palpatine manages to transform the Republic into the evil Empire *not* by overthrowing its institutions, but rather by *using* them. But if so, liberal democracy (US style) has once again been put on trial – this time by George Lucas himself! For what guarantees do we have that our “good” republic can´t be similarly transmogrified (almost over night) into an empire, simply by the very nature of things? Another trait of the second trilogy, not mentioned by Formscapes, is that the moral failings of Anakin Skywalker are also relativized. The choice between the Jedi and the dark side turns out to be grey-grey rather than black-and-white.

The later “Star Wars” films, featuring Rey and an old Luke Skywalker, are dissed by Formscapes as failed attempts to resolve the contradictions introduced by the second trilogy. The Zeitgeist has become even more critical and cynical than around 9/11, making it essentially impossible for Walt Disney to “solve” the problems revealed in the prequel films (if they even think in those terms at all).

But what is the new paradigm waiting in the wings? Formscapes believes that it´s “Dune”. I´ve only seen David Lynch´s film and the first of the two recent films, and I never read the novels, so I can´t really judge this. Note also that the recent films only cover Frank Herbert´s first novel, not the subsequent ones, which are apparently integral to Herbert´s vision. Since most people will never read the novels, it could be somewhat risky to assume that “Dune” will become the next archetypal myth based on films not yet made. That being said…

Formscapes points out that the “Dune” saga is much more openly pessimistic than “Star Wars” ever was. The Messiah figure, Paul Atreides, becomes a new tyrant as his righteous revolution against the Empire turns into a fanaticized “holy war” engulfing the whole galaxy, eventually turning into a new empire. Sounds familiar? The reason isn´t any moral failing on Atreides´ part, rather he is simply caught up into an ancient dialectic between power and freedom typical of human history. On the other hand, however, somewhere in the “Dune” novels, there is nevertheless a solution of sorts to this predicament. At least according to our man Formscapes! However, the solution isn´t democratic or utopian-anarchic, as in the first “Star Wars” trilogy, but rather monarchic. Atreides and/or his successors on the throne must heroically and fearlessly transform themselves into something radically new. Atreides arises above the common herd and becomes a true human, indeed, a true manly hero. Fear is the worst sin in the Duneverse. Herbert apparently said that a democracy was possible, but only if each human overcomes his fear of a radical personal transformation.

Not sure if I even understand any of this. Perhaps it *is* too difficult for the commoners (including common HBO viewers) to understand. One thing that struck me when watching the 2021 “Dune” movie is that you might just as well give it a Woke angle. Atreides is the privileged scion of an aristocratic family who sides with the Muslim-like desert tribes to defeat the evil imperialists. Sounds familiar? It´s not difficult to reinterpret this as a Woke White activist siding with the Palestinians against Trump or whatever. As for becoming Messiah and unleashing a bloody jihad across the galaxy, what makes you think the future little terrorists in the audience will see this as a *bad* thing?

With that little reflection, I end this introduction to the video clip above!