Star Wars in Context

Star Wars in Context PDF Author: Nader Elhefnawy
Publisher: Nader Elhefnawy
ISBN: 1718637322
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 222

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Book Description
We often hear about the inspirations for and impact of Star Wars, but most of the discussion tends to be vague, cursory--and ill-informed. STAR WARS IN CONTEXT aims to do better, explaining and in cases debunking what others tend to just assume. This second edition of the book, over twice the length of the original, not only updates the discussion but expands on it, covering such questions as: * How did George Lucas's earlier films (THX 1138, American Graffiti) lead to Star Wars? * In what ways did Akira Kurosawa's films, Joseph Campbell, Bruno Bettelheim, Carlos Castaneda and the James Bond movies actually influence the films' creation? * Where did the idea of the Force come from, and why does it seem so vague and slippery? (As it happens, Castaneda had a lot to do with it.) * Why did fans react so strongly against the prequels, and then become so much more accepting of them later? * What part did Star Wars actually play in creating the movie blockbuster and film market as we now know it? Going from Modernism to the globalization of the entertainment industry, from New Age mysticism to journalistic poptimism in its search for the answers, STAR WARS IN CONTEXT sets the record straight on all this, and much more.

Star Wars in Context

Star Wars in Context PDF Author: Nader Elhefnawy
Publisher: Nader Elhefnawy
ISBN: 1718637322
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 222

Get Book Here

Book Description
We often hear about the inspirations for and impact of Star Wars, but most of the discussion tends to be vague, cursory--and ill-informed. STAR WARS IN CONTEXT aims to do better, explaining and in cases debunking what others tend to just assume. This second edition of the book, over twice the length of the original, not only updates the discussion but expands on it, covering such questions as: * How did George Lucas's earlier films (THX 1138, American Graffiti) lead to Star Wars? * In what ways did Akira Kurosawa's films, Joseph Campbell, Bruno Bettelheim, Carlos Castaneda and the James Bond movies actually influence the films' creation? * Where did the idea of the Force come from, and why does it seem so vague and slippery? (As it happens, Castaneda had a lot to do with it.) * Why did fans react so strongly against the prequels, and then become so much more accepting of them later? * What part did Star Wars actually play in creating the movie blockbuster and film market as we now know it? Going from Modernism to the globalization of the entertainment industry, from New Age mysticism to journalistic poptimism in its search for the answers, STAR WARS IN CONTEXT sets the record straight on all this, and much more.

Way Out There In the Blue

Way Out There In the Blue PDF Author: Frances FitzGerald
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 0743203771
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 588

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Book Description
Way Out There in the Blue is a major work of history by the Pulitzer Prize­winning author of Fire in the Lake. Using the Star Wars missile defense program as a magnifying glass on his presidency, Frances FitzGerald gives us a wholly original portrait of Ronald Reagan, the most puzzling president of the last half of the twentieth century. Reagan's presidency and the man himself have always been difficult to fathom. His influence was enormous, and the few powerful ideas he espoused remain with us still -- yet he seemed nothing more than a charming, simple-minded, inattentive actor. FitzGerald shows us a Reagan far more complex than the man we thought we knew. A master of the American language and of self-presentation, the greatest storyteller ever to occupy the Oval Office, Reagan created a compelling public persona that bore little relationship to himself. The real Ronald Reagan -- the Reagan who emerges from FitzGerald's book -- was a gifted politician with a deep understanding of the American national psyche and at the same time an executive almost totally disengaged from the policies of his administration and from the people who surrounded him. The idea that America should have an impregnable shield against nuclear weapons was Reagan's invention. His famous Star Wars speech, in which he promised us such a shield and called upon scientists to produce it, gave rise to the Strategic Defense Initiative. Reagan used his sure understanding of American mythology, history and politics to persuade the country that a perfect defense against Soviet nuclear weapons would be possible, even though the technology did not exist and was not remotely feasible. His idea turned into a multibillion-dollar research program. SDI played a central role in U.S.-Soviet relations at a crucial juncture in the Cold War, and in a different form it survives to this day. Drawing on prodigious research, including interviews with the participants, FitzGerald offers new insights into American foreign policy in the Reagan era. She gives us revealing portraits of major players in Reagan's administration, including George Shultz, Caspar Weinberger, Donald Regan and Paul Nitze, and she provides a radically new view of what happened at the Reagan-Gorbachev summits in Geneva, Reykjavik, Washington and Moscow. FitzGerald describes the fierce battles among Reagan's advisers and the frightening increase of Cold War tensions during Reagan's first term. She shows how the president who presided over the greatest peacetime military buildup came to espouse the elimination of nuclear weapons, and how the man who insisted that the Soviet Union was an "evil empire" came to embrace the Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, and to proclaim an end to the Cold War long before most in Washington understood that it had ended. Way Out There in the Blue is a ground-breaking history of the American side of the end of the Cold War. Both appalling and funny, it is a black comedy in which Reagan, playing the role he wrote for himself, is the hero.

Star Wars and History

Star Wars and History PDF Author: Lucasfilm
Publisher: Wiley
ISBN: 9780470602003
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 344

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Book Description
At last—an analysis of the historical patterns that influenced the creation and storyline of the Star Wars saga Star Wars took place long ago in a galaxy far, far away, but its epic stories are based on our own history. From Ancient Egypt and the Roman Empire to the French Revolution and the Vietnam War, Star Wars and History explores the major historical turning points, heroes, and villains in human history and their impact on the creation of the Star Wars saga. Star Wars and History shows how the atomic and hydrogen bombs led to the Death Star; how Princess Leia's leadership in the Rebel Alliance resembled the daring work of intrepid women in the French Resistance during World War II and the Mexican Revolution; historical parallels between the Jedi Code and Bushido as well as those linking the Jedi culture with that of the Templar Knights and other warrior monks; and all of the history that underlies the Star Wars galaxy. Read how our own civilization's civil wars, slavery, international corporation states, and teenage queens were transformed into the epic Star Wars history and discover how Tatooine reflects the lawless frontiers of the past and Coruscant our own history of glittering and greedy capitals. The first book devoted to analyzing the actual historical events in our past that influenced the creation of the space fantasy, Star Wars Features 11 essays by a wise "council" of history scholars, written in close collaboration with George Lucas and Lucasfilm Gives new insights into central Star Wars characters and historical figures who helped inspire them (including Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Darth Vader, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Queen Amidala, Yoda, Jabba the Hutt, Lando Calrissian, Emperor Palpatine, and others) Includes both stunning photos from the Lucasfilm Image Archives and historical photos that demonstrate the parallels between both worlds Filled with fascinating historical comparisons and background that will take your experience of the Star Wars saga to a new level, Star Wars and History is an essential companion for every Star Wars fan.

Strategy Strikes Back

Strategy Strikes Back PDF Author: Max Brooks
Publisher: U of Nebraska Press
ISBN: 1640120793
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 306

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Book Description
The most successful film franchise of all time, Star Wars thrillingly depicts an epic multigenerational conflict fought a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. But the Star Wars saga has as much to say about successful strategies and real-life warfare waged in our own time and place. Strategy Strikes Back brings together over thirty of today's top military and strategic experts, including generals, policy advisors, seasoned diplomats, counterinsurgency strategists, science fiction writers, war journalists, and ground‑level military officers, to explain the strategy and the art of war by way of the Star Wars films. Each chapter of Strategy Strikes Back provides a relatable, outside‑the‑box way to simplify and clarify the complexities of modern military conflict. A chapter on the case for planet building on the forest moon of Endor by World War Z author Max Brooks offers a unique way to understand our own sustained engagement in war-ravaged societies such as Afghanistan. Another chapter on the counterinsurgency waged by Darth Vader against the Rebellion sheds light on the logic behind past military incursions in Iraq. Whether using the destruction of Alderaan as a means to explore the political implications of targeting civilians, examining the pivotal decisions made by Yoda and the Jedi Council to differentiate strategic leadership in theory and in practice, or considering the ruthlessness of Imperial leaders to explain the toxicity of top-down leadership in times of war and battle, Strategy Strikes Back gives fans of Star Wars and aspiring military minds alike an inspiring and entertaining means of understanding many facets of modern warfare. It is a book as captivating and enthralling as Star Wars itself.

The Strategic Defense Initiative

The Strategic Defense Initiative PDF Author: United States. President (1981-1989 : Reagan)
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Military art and science
Languages : en
Pages : 8

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Book Description


Star Wars I Love You. I Know.

Star Wars I Love You. I Know. PDF Author: Amy Richau
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 0744040965
Category : Family & Relationships
Languages : en
Pages : 66

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Book Description
What’s more romantic than saying ‘I Love You’ from a galaxy far, far away? Relationships can be complex - your dad could have turned to the dark side, your partner could be a princess, or your best friend might speak in more than 7 million forms of communication and never stop talking! Whether romantic or platonic, relationships can sometimes feel like a one-way battle on another planet, with nothing but meteors crashing down to derail you from your path. Don’t worry, DK has got you covered! Introducing Star Wars™: I Love You. I Know - a fun-filled guide of lessons in relationships, friendships and more. Learn the true meaning of the powerful force of love with this light-hearted guide to love, complete with classic quotes, key characters, moving moments and more. Come fly with us, and explore: • Iconic images from the film, plus stylized illustrations and typography • Real life advice is generously sprinkled with Star Wars™ quips and tongue-in-cheek references • Covers fan favorite Star Wars™ relationships from Han and Leia, Luke and Darth Vader to Poe and Finn. This unique Star Wars™ title addresses a gap in the market, as the only book focusing on love, relationship and friendships, brought to you by all of your fan-favorite Star Wars™ characters! Proving the ideal Valentine’s Day gift for the Star Wars™ lover in your life, why not show them how much they mean to you with this all-encompassing relationship guide. © and (TM) 2020 Lucasfilm LTD.

Disney's Star Wars

Disney's Star Wars PDF Author: William Proctor
Publisher: University of Iowa Press
ISBN: 1609386442
Category : Performing Arts
Languages : en
Pages : 409

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Book Description
In 2012, Disney purchased Lucasfilm, which meant it also inherited the beloved Star Wars franchise. This corporate marriage sent media critics and fans into a frenzy of speculation about what would happen next with the hugely popular series. Disney’s Star Wars gathers twenty-one noted fan and media studies scholars from around the world to examine Disney’s revival of the franchise. Covering the period from Disney’s purchase through the release of The Force Awakens, the book reveals how fans anticipated, interpreted, and responded to the steady stream of production stories, gossip, marketing materials, merchandise, and other sources in the build-up to the movie’s release. From fears that Princess Leia would be turned into a “Disney princess” to collaborative brand management, the authors explore the shifting relationship between fans, texts, and media industries in the context of a crucial rebranding campaign. The result is a fascinating examination of a critical moment in the iconic series’ history.

Star Wars ABC.

Star Wars ABC. PDF Author: Scholastic
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
ISBN: 0545227380
Category : Juvenile Nonfiction
Languages : en
Pages : 15

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Book Description
From Anakin, Boba Fett, and C-3PO to X-Wings, Yoda, and Zam Wesell, no one can do the ABC's like STAR WARS Star Wars: ABC is an alphabetical adventure through the imaginative and intergalactic world of Star Wars featuring the names and images of the most popular characters, droids, spaceships, and creatures in this galaxy far, far away. With artistic alliterative text that describes each image and emphasizes each letter, Star Wars: ABC is a completely new way to learn about the legendary story of Star Wars.

The Essential Guide to Warfare: Star Wars

The Essential Guide to Warfare: Star Wars PDF Author: Jason Fry
Publisher: Random House Worlds
ISBN: 0345542746
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 258

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Book Description
THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO THE ULTIMATE INTERGALACTIC BATTLEFIELD Like many a great epic, Star Wars is rooted in a rich history of armed conflict. Now, for the first time, the facts, figures, and fascinating backstories of major clashes and combatants in the vast Star Wars universe have been documented in one fully illustrated volume. Extensively researched and inventively written, Star Wars: The Essential Guide to Warfare combines action-filled narrative with encyclopedic knowledge that: • explores notable military units and groups • traces the development of significant armaments and technologies • profiles key warship classes, ground units, and manufacturers • provides capsule biographies of great military leaders • presents eyewitness troopers’ accounts of combat • plus—enough additional profiles, intel, history, and lore to span the cosmos! Encompassing all of the Star Wars media, including the legendary films, the hit TV series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the bestselling books, comics, and videogames, and packed with original artwork, Star Wars: The Essential Guide to Warfare is a conquering achievement.

Finding the Force of the Star Wars Franchise

Finding the Force of the Star Wars Franchise PDF Author: Matthew Kapell
Publisher: Peter Lang
ISBN: 9780820463339
Category : Performing Arts
Languages : en
Pages : 332

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Book Description
Textbook