"Star Wars Rocks" needs to find more PT Fans!

[lazypadawan]

I've started reading this book about SW and popular culture--yes, the same time as I'm reading "Allegiance"--and already it's driving me batty. God help me, I'm going to have to write my own book. Maybe it's because the first couple of essays are "Allnutting"* at their very best. I'm sorely tempted to prove you can spin any sort of political/social viewpoint in SW through a piece on why the worst thing to ever happen to the GFFA isn't the Sith, it's big government ;).

You know what else drove me batty? The interview with comedian/VH1 resident snarkster Hal Sparks in the most recent installment of starwars.com's "Star Wars Rocks." If you don't know anything about it, this feature has interviews with actors, celebrities, and especially musicians about their love for SW. It's always great to read about people whose work you admire outing themselves as fellow geeks. But Sparks's interview highlighted a quibble I've always had with the series. Sparks pretty much logged in the usual fanboy verbiage on what's kewl in the OT and tossed in his digs at the PT because he hates Vader and CGI. (According to the interview, his current gf has an Amidala tattoo on her leg, so they probably argue a lot.) Sparks is of course entitled to his opinions. But this is typical for these interviews. They're usually with 39 year old indie rockers whose love for the saga stops with TESB. If they ever bring up the PT at all, it's often to say they a) didn't like it b) didn't like it as much as the OT or c) thought ROTS "was the best one." Again, they're entitled to their views. So what's the problem? This is starwars.com, the Official Voice of Star Wars Fandom, right from The Horse's Mouth. Maybe from one perspective it's nice Lucasfilm's folks have a big tent attitude toward people's opinions on the saga, but I also think it's self-defeating--and a bit troubling--for Lucasfilm to actively drive the idea that half the saga--its own movies--is something less than worthwhile. I've written before that I think there's no advocate of the PT among this crew. It isn't to say nobody there likes it, but I'm not convinced anyone working there loves it in their hearts of hearts and brains of brains the way I'm sure all of them do the OT. There are plenty of people who do, and not all of them are 20 years old either. I'm 37 and I love the PT as much as I love the OT. I'm no celebrity or indie rocker, but I know I'm not alone either.

*"Allnut"--n., v.., lazypadawan slang 1) noun The last name of author Frank Allnut, who wrote the first book to analyze Star Wars, the "Force of Star Wars," in 1978 from a very conservative evangelical Christian perspective. 2) verb The act of twisting Star Wars to fit and/or promote an author's social/political/religious/personal agenda.

Comments

[laariii.livejournal.com]

You should write your own book on SW & the fandom. You could always self publish on the internet.

[lazypadawan.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking about it more and more, but I need to find the right angle and the drive to write it.

[matril.livejournal.com]

I agree, it's very self-defeating to have people badmouthing the PT on the official site, for heaven's sake! Why don't they just interview me; I'd be glad to heap glowing praises upon all six movies. :P

[lazypadawan.livejournal.com]

Are you semi-famous or in an obscure indie band ;)?

[matril.livejournal.com]

Erm....not yet? :P

[jawajames.livejournal.com]

have you thought about actually bringing this concern to Bonnie who does the interviews and writes the articles? she always wants feedback. while it might be hard to find celebrity fans who would rather talk about the prequels than the OT (simply because most celebrities tend to be slightly older, and thus probably grew up with the OT), she could at least cut out bits where the prequels are put down by the interviewer, unless it tells a larger story (like the tattoo thing)

(and there is nothing wrong with stating that someone stating that ROTS is the best of the PT in their opinion - i wouldn't count that as slamming the PT - is saying that ROTJ is the best of the OT a slam on the OT?)

anyway, let Bonnie know your concerns. If you know of a celebrity who is a PT fan, let Bonnie know that, so she can interview him/her/them.

[may-child.livejournal.com]

(and there is nothing wrong with stating that someone stating that ROTS is the best of the PT in their opinion - i wouldn't count that as slamming the PT - is saying that ROTJ is the best of the OT a slam on the OT?)

I think lp meant that there's a spoken or unspoken implication that ROTS is not just "the best," but the only "good" PT movie.

[lazypadawan.livejournal.com]

Exactly. I realize there are many SW fans who enjoyed the PT and thought ROTS was the best. One of these days I'll do a post on why I think ROTS has a good argument for being the best SW film on an artistic level. But I took "ROTS was the best" as code words for "I thought TPM and AOTC stunk." Maybe it's not what they intended in every case, but I guess I've become a hard-bitten cynic.

[lazypadawan.livejournal.com]

I have considered posting about this on my starwars.com blog. Otherwise, I don't know Bonnie and she doesn't know me, so I can never be sure how people are going to take criticism.

[jawajames.livejournal.com]

well, you can either get to know her and then risk criticizing a friend's work, or you can send your opinion to her as an unknown SW fan and not worry whether she takes it personally or not. either way, your message of her articles alienating prequel fans will have gotten through to her. maybe she will heed it, maybe she won't. something tells me that she is open to feedback about her articles. maybe because her LJ posts about her articles often ask for feedback.

the people who get their voices heard are the people who are willing to speak up. if you really want to make a change, you must be willing to speak up and be heard by those who you are trying to change.