Star Wars After Lucas : A Critical Guide to the Future of the Galaxy

Politics, craft, and cultural nostalgia in the remaking of Star Wars for a new age A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away--way back in the twenty-first century's first decade-- Star Wars seemed finished. Then in 2012 George Lucas shocked the entertainment world by selling the franchise, along with Lucasfilm, to Disney. This is the story of how, over the next five years, Star Wars went from near-certain extinction to what Wired magazine would call "the forever franchise," with more films in the works than its first four decades had produced. Focusing on The Force Awakens (2015), Rogue One (2016), The Last Jedi (2017), and the television series Rebels (2014-18), Dan Golding explores the significance of pop culture nostalgia in overcoming the skepticism, if not downright hostility, that greeted the Star Wars relaunch. At the same time he shows how Disney, even as it tapped a backward-looking obsession, was nonetheless creating genuinely new and contemporary entries in the Star Wars universe. A host of cultural factors and forces propelled the Disney-engineered Star Wars renaissance, and all figure in Golding's deeply informed analysis: from John Williams's music in The Force Awakens to Peter Cushing's CGI face in Rogue One , to Carrie Fisher's passing, to the rapidly changing audience demographic. Star Wars after Lucas delves into the various responses and political uses of the new Star Wars in a wider context, as in reaction videos on YouTube and hate-filled, misogynistic online rants. In its granular textual readings, broad cultural scope, and insights into the complexities of the multimedia galaxy, this book is as entertaining as it is enlightening, an apt reflection of the enduring power of the Star Wars franchise.

Politics, craft, and cultural nostalgia in the remaking ofStar Warsfor a new age

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away-way back in the twenty-first century's first decade-Star Warsseemed finished. Then in 2012 George Lucas shocked the entertainment world by selling the franchise, along with Lucasfilm, to Disney. This is the story of how, over the next five years,Star Warswent from near-certain extinction to what Wired magazine would call "the forever franchise," with more films in the works than its first four decades had produced.

Focusing onThe Force Awakens(2015),Rogue One(2016),The Last Jedi(2017), and the television seriesRebels(2014-18), Dan Golding explores the significance of pop culture nostalgia in overcoming the skepticism, if not downright hostility, that greeted theStar Warsrelaunch. At the same time he shows how Disney, even as it tapped a backward-looking obsession, was nonetheless creating genuinely new and contemporary entries in theStar Warsuniverse.

A host of cultural factors and forces propelled the Disney-engineeredStar Warsrenaissance, and all figure in Golding's deeply informed analysis: from John Williams's music inThe Force Awakensto Peter Cushing's CGI face inRogue One, to Carrie Fisher's passing, to the rapidly changing audience demographic.Star Wars after Lucasdelves into the various responses and political uses of the newStar Warsin a wider context, as in reaction videos on YouTube and hate-filled, misogynistic online rants. In its granular textual readings, broad cultural scope, and insights into the complexities of the multimedia galaxy, this book is as entertaining as it is enlightening, an apt reflection of the enduring power of theStar Warsfranchise Introduction: Star Wars And The History Of Nostalgia -- Before The Empire: The Politics Of George Lucas And The Critique Of The Original Trilogy -- It Calls To You: Selling Star Wars In 2015 -- Look How Old You've Become: The Force Awakens As Legacy Film -- An Awakening: Diversity As The Politics Of The Force Awakens -- Just Like Old Times?: Music, Seriality, And The Fugue Of The Force Awakens -- You Have To Start Somewhere: Contrasting Nostalgias In The Force Awakens And Rogue One -- You Think Anybody's Listening?: Fighting Fascism In Rogue One And Rebels -- I've Always Hated Watching You Leave: Death, Han Solo, And Carrie Fisher -- I Will Finish What You Started: Star Wars From The Last Jedi And Beyond. Dan Golding. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Electronic Reproduction. Baltimore, Md Available Via World Wide Web. Contents Introduction. Star Wars and the History of Nostalgia 1. Before the Empire 2. It Calls to You 3. Look How Old You’ve Become 4. An Awakening 5. Just Like Old Times? 6. You Have to Start Somewhere 7. You Think Anybody’s Listening? 8. I’ve Always Hated Watching You Leave 9. I Will Finish What You Started Acknowledgments Notes Index