I used to be a musician, and one of the frequent ideological debates I would engage in with other musicians was based around the concept of static or dynamic art.
Many of them felt that once a song was done, it was done! No more revisions, this is the song in its final form. Why? If I happen to think of a better way for the rythymn to groove behind a riff, who cares if it was one year after the song was originally written.
Ultimately we all fall into one of two camps: those who believe art is static, and those who believe it is (or can be) dynamic.
I think the reason most people are so upset with Lucas' revisionism is because they feel that he is messing with the mythology of their childhoods. But I have news for those people: the release of Episodes I & II has already done that.
Sadly, STAR WARS now belong in a category with Highlander and the Matrix: the first movies (first 3 in the case of star wars) exist on their own (as the masterpieces that they are), with the subsequent sequels existing in an alternate reality.
I guess it would surprise you to learn that the words "liberal" and "big gov't" are not inextricably linked. They *have been linked* by anti-liberal spin doctors.
This is part of the problem with having political discussions: the terms/jargon are so loaded with mythology, spin, etc. - in short 'baggage' - that having a proper discussion becomes almost impossible unless you define all of the terms at the outset. Otherwise you just end up shouting dogma back and forth - and gee, isn't that productive.
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I used to be a musician, and one of the frequent ideological debates I would engage in with other musicians was based around the concept of static or dynamic art. Many of them felt that once a song was done, it was done! No more revisions, this is the song in its final form. Why? If I happen to think of a better way for the rythymn to groove behind a riff, who cares if it was one year after the song was originally written. Ultimately we all fall into one of two camps: those who believe art is static, and those who believe it is (or can be) dynamic. I think the reason most people are so upset with Lucas' revisionism is because they feel that he is messing with the mythology of their childhoods. But I have news for those people: the release of Episodes I & II has already done that. Sadly, STAR WARS now belong in a category with Highlander and the Matrix: the first movies (first 3 in the case of star wars) exist on their own (as the masterpieces that they are), with the subsequent sequels existing in an alternate reality.
I guess it would surprise you to learn that the words "liberal" and "big gov't" are not inextricably linked. They *have been linked* by anti-liberal spin doctors. This is part of the problem with having political discussions: the terms/jargon are so loaded with mythology, spin, etc. - in short 'baggage' - that having a proper discussion becomes almost impossible unless you define all of the terms at the outset. Otherwise you just end up shouting dogma back and forth - and gee, isn't that productive.