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George Lucas Interview

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the stuff-to-read dept.

Stepto writes "Time Magazine has an interesting interview with George "I am myth" Lucas. The topic is the power of myth and sort of an analyzation by Bill Moyers as to the whole global story of the (what will be) six movies. "

6 of 40 comments (clear)

  1. Lucas, Myth, and Joseph Campbell by JoeBuck · · Score: 2

    Joseph Campbell would argue that the themes in the plot are thousands of years older than Freud and appear in most of the ancient myths: the hero's journey, the son overthrowing the father, etc.

    What Lucas did with Star Wars is to read Joseph Campbell to find out what themes are in common to all the great myths, and then use that formula to design the plot, effectively creating a new mythology. Lucas has pretty much admitted this. Tolkein did essentially the same thing with Lord of the Rings (not by reading Campbell, but by doing the same kind of research as Campbell): he was a scholar who had studied all of the old Norse and Celtic stories and used them to construct his own mythology.

    Folks who want to know more should read Campbell's The Hero With a Thousand Faces.

  2. Lucas, Campbell, Moyers, et al. by VValdo · · Score: 2

    Aside from Hero With A Thousand Faces (one of Campbell's books on myth which was an strong influence on Lucas), there is also The Writer's Journey which is a less-technical interpretation of Joseph Campbell applied to writing. The author breaks down Campbell's theories and applies it to film structure. (I just saw the author speak at a Barnes & Noble in Burbank last week)...

    And also check out Bill Moyer's PBS interviews with Joseph Campbell himself, which you'll find at many video stores, usually in the documentary sections. They talk about many of the themes and stories that appear again and again across cultures... I believe the series was called The Power of Myth.

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  3. For Further Reading... by DH1 · · Score: 2

    If you enjoy this sort of look at the paradigms and deeper meaning behind many of the world's myths and philosophies/religions, I would suggest the book 'The Power of Myth', which is done in interview style between Bill Moyers, and an expert in such matters, Joseph Campbell.

    BTW, Lucas and Campbell worked together quite a bit when George was writing the story for Star Wars originally back in the 70's.

    P.S. If the link to the book on Amazon doesn't work, forgive me... for some reason /. is being less than kind with the href.

  4. And stories are the way to ask these questions? by PsychoSpunk · · Score: 2

    One of the questions Moyers asks seems almost too good for Lucas.

    He, in fact, sets up Lucas to be a modern Jesus in a way. Except that Lucas realizes he isn't Son of God, just able to exercise God-like powers, George could have easily answered, "Isn't that the way Jesus taught about heaven and the way to get there?"

    Overall, I have always agreed with Moyers interpretation that SW was simply a method of giving religion to our culture. And considering that it has become nearly as fanatic as many religions, it's a wonder Lucas doesn't have a bigger ego.

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    ALL HAIL BRAK!!!
  5. Couldn't get a better interviewer? by Shadarr · · Score: 2
    I found it interesting how Moyers kept relating Star Wars to Christian myths, and Lucas had to keep pointing out that the myths are not religion-specific.

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    Bite the hand.
  6. WideScreen Trailer Available by nicotine · · Score: 2

    Maybe a bit off topic but apparently they've released a new version of the "A" trailer in widescreen format. Least that's what I've heard, gotta wait till I get to the office to check it out on the T1.

    Here's the URL:
    http://www.apple.com/quicktime/trailers/fox/epis ode-i/trailer3_0.html