A Thanksgiving Conversation With My Wifeâs Uncle
Uncle Gary: You know what was really slick about Harry Potter? Those movies were fun, and they were for kids, and they had magic and wizards and goblins, and they just went all out with that stuff. But it was really about family and friendship and love and sacrifice. And I really admire it for that.
Me: Exactly. And a lot of people kind of miss that sort of thing. Like how a bunch of people somehow donât get that Star Wars is about hope and belonging and redemption.
Uncle Gary: No, no, Star Wars, to me, is just big and awesome and itâs about being in space and fighting a war against the bad guys, and itâs just super cool. I donât think itâs supposed to be anything other than that.
Me: But, I mean, the exact same principle you were talking about with Harry Potter applies to Star Wars.
Uncle Gary: You know what other movie I like? John Wick.
Me:
I had this conversation with my brother in law. When I said I loved how deep SW was, he laughed and said âno itâs notâ. I was like âsure it is, itâs myth retold for a modern audience, based on the heroes journey and the works of Joseph Campbell, and is steeped in symbolism. Thereâs so many layers!â and he was like ânah SW is my childhoodâ and laughed at me like I was an idiot.
âNah, Star Wars is my childhood.â
That. That is the root of all the problems in the wider SW fandom: to a massive number of people, it embodies an extremely personal, subjective experience that can only ever represent what the movies meant to them when they were ten years old.
I think youâve nailed it @postedbygaslight! I was so dumbfounded by his response.
And perfect line @safetythirst! Iâll file it away for next time.
