American exceptionalism in Revenge of the Sith

• Main Authors: Lim, Lance Gervin Chua, Talattad, Jed Timothy
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2009
• Subjects: American Dream; Star Wars, episode III, Revenge of the Sith (Motion picture); National characteristics, American; American Film Studies; Film and Media Studies
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/4985
• Institution: De La Salle University

The thesis is all about studying the film Revenge of the Sith in an American exceptionalist point of view. First of all, the original context of the Star Wars franchise has all been set back in to the 70s where in the United States, they are pushing into a near utopian kind of society. Religious backgrounds became too diverse with an emphasis on Eastern Religions forming the New Age movement another mixed religion1. Fascination of UFO and aliens became rampant in the United States2. People assumed that these beings are another race from outer space and our brothers in case they were proven true. Democracy is popular because the said decades have a lot of war to be endured from Vietnam War, Cold War and other Central American rebel problem3. Wartime presidents are loved and at the same time critiqued creating suspicion from the masses4. Many liberal thinkers advocated peace such as prominent singers like the Beatles and other local stars5. George Lucas intention of creating Star Wars is to reflect the culture of that era and beyond. He wanted to create a story which preceding science fiction makers failed to do. The previous science fictions are craps as he said and he will use morality, religious righteousness, democracy and some repackaging to do it right. Lucas in terms of political beliefs he's planning to install democracy at the same time repeating the cycle of vanishing democracy and reinstalling it again. He also modeled tyrannical figures from the past to make his ideal villain or dictator. Whether this is American tyranny or not, Lucas has one thing in mind: freedom! Lucas although he planned Star Wars to make it a more fulfilled epic comparing other crappy alien movies, he also use Star Wars for consumerism like merchandise. Star Wars may be centered on pure entertainment and merchandise but seeing the movie and its contents will delve the critical thinker audience into what messages the author Lucas wanted to convey. As the book Skywalking gave hints on Episode 3's initial drafts, the researchers are fascinated by the autobiography and wanted to interpret this into an American Exceptionalist point of view. To summarize the initial motives of Lucas are consumerism or earning cash, making it as an epic movie like no other else, moral upbringing, heroism and political lesson in democracy. American Exceptionalism is the theorem to be used in studying the film. A term popularized by Toqueville and eventually James Wilson of 2006. In his article of American Exceptionalism there are aspects to be covered in the film. Religious pluralism is where America is a country where religions coexisted with each other and gained equal validity. Diversity is something unique in America not only tribes that made it diverse but also various nationals came to America for a better life and eventually settled there. One notable example is the state of California which is also known as Asian's favorite state due to the climate. Freedom is an extension of American politics where democracy is spread as America's Manifest destiny to promote and spread democracy to the world. The political world of the United States as stated by Wilson boasted on its separation of powers or check and balances. Finally, the American dream gives hope to people who wanted a new life. American dream is founded on freedom, diversity and hard work which made a promise for Americans that once they had these qualities success is imminent. Actually, in the article children are conditioned to work hard in order to beat the top competitors someday. In Revenge of the Sith, Religious pluralism in US is compared to the force doctrine that everyone of the SW race are part of the force regardless of belief and culture. To Simplify various SW cultures are different as the Force is interpreted differently. It is all valid as long it is good. Diversity in the United States is analyzed in Revenge of the Sith where in the movie the races in Star Wars coexisted with each other. There is a planet in the film where there are no fixed races but different diverse entities living there. Humans, aliens and many more coexisted with each other. Political exceptionalism in the US is compared in Revenge of the Sith where the executive is the galactic chancellor, the senators are the legislatures. The Jedi wield political power and limits the chancellor and senator's powers in case of crisis. The Jedi has its own judgment in case a suspicious chancellor has connections with the Sith Lord. The senators also has the power to disapprove the chancellor's other policies and may even kick him out in case of incompetence or threat. The branches of government in the film are equal and mutually connected to each other. Freedom or democracy in Revenge of the Sith is compared to America's tireless use of media and means to end tyranny. It is an extension of political power where as various troops promoting democracy dispatched even to the most inhospitable worlds to end tyranny and Separatists. Democracy is used by Padme as a clear conscience while the galactic senate is crumbling into corruption. Obi Wan attempted to hype the final battle by trying to convince Anakin to align with democracy fueling the hatred of the former friends. It is also the American dream of Padme and other strong willed senators until they formed the rebel alliance dispatching Palpatine in the last episode thus forming a new democratic government again. The American dream in the film is the story of heroic Anakin from a slave to a master Jedi. Not only Lucas unleashed heroism within us all and to remind us that American dream must be in the right track as let alone greed overcomes the aspirants. Do this to help the society. Democracy wishing by Padme was fulfilled in Episode 6. Lastly, Lucas managed to fulfill his American dream by trying his best to write which is not his thing but able to catch up with other top writers. To Voytilla page 273, Star Wars became too far from what it is. It is a modern myth with many paraphernalia extending to comics, books, toys and many more.