{"product_id":"the-empire-triumphant-race-religion-and-rebellion-in-the-star-wars-films-9780786422197","title":"The Empire Triumphant: Race, Religion and Rebellion in the Star Wars Films","description":"\u003cp\u003e George Lucas's first Star Wars trilogy shows the influences of its era; Cold War tension is evident in its theme of rebellion against totalitarianism. Recent entries in the Star Wars saga--\u003ci\u003eThe Phantom Menace\u003c\/i\u003e (1999) and \u003ci\u003eAttack of the Clones\u003c\/i\u003e (2002)--are much more concerned with evil corporations, terrorists, and the corruption of the political process. Each film is influenced by the times in which it was released, but also by cultural subtexts and by other films that had direct and indirect effects on Lucas as writer, producer, and director.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e This work focuses on all six \u003ci\u003eStar Wars\u003c\/i\u003e films. The first topic of this multifaceted examination is how the films use the language of colonialism (\"The\" Rebellion, \"The\" Empire) to emphasize the idea of imperialism. Next the author looks at how Asian influences--including religious undertones from Taoism and Buddhism and the works of Kurosawa and other Asian filmmakers--provide a subtext for much of the action. Next the discussion turns to the representation of people of color in the \u003ci\u003eStar Wars\u003c\/i\u003e universe, and how other ethnicities are represented overall, particularly through the literalization of the word \"aliens.\" These topics of discussion provide for penetrating conclusions about Lucas's films and how they represent race, religion, and rebellion.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eKevin J. Wetmore, Jr., \u003c\/b\u003e is a professional actor and director whose previous books have covered topics ranging from \u003ci\u003eStar Wars\u003c\/i\u003e to Renaissance faires. He is a professor and chair of the theater department at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"McFarland \u0026 Company","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51175042449682,"sku":"9780786422197","price":32.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_9a5f39e8-fbcb-48fc-9b94-9a70e3d1243b.jpg?v=1744282713","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-empire-triumphant-race-religion-and-rebellion-in-the-star-wars-films-9780786422197","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}