In 1977, Star Wars blazed across the screen to become one of the highest grossing and most beloved movies of all time. It was followed by two sequels and three prequels, all of which became blockbusters. Comic books, novels, graphic novels, and magazines devoted to the films have added to the mythology of George Lucas's creation. Despite the impact of the franchise on popular culture, however, discussion of the films from a scholarly perspective has not kept pace with the films.In Myth, Media, and Culture in Star Wars: An Anthology, Douglas Brode and Leah Deyneka have assembled an intriguing collection of essays addressing the influences that shaped the films, as well as the impact the franchise has had on popular culture. Contributors to this volume discuss the Star Wars universe and what its connection to various cultural touchstones-from fairy tales and Joseph Campbell to Disneyland and Marvel comics-mean to viewers.Essays examine the films in the franchise as well as incarnations of the Star Wars universe in video games, comic books, and television programs, including the films' influence on new generations of filmmakers. A companion volume to Sex, Politics, and Culture in Star Wars, Myth, Media, and Culture in Star Wars is a diverse collection of criticism that investigates the dynamic force that Star Wars has become in popular culture, from every imaginable angle.

AcknowledgmentsIntroduction Douglas BrodeChapter 1: "Cowboys in Space": Star Wars and the Western Film Douglas BrodeChapter 2: Is Star Wars a Modernized Fairy Tale? Arthur BergerChapter 3: From Disneyland to Modesto: George Lucas and Walt Disney Craig SvonkinChapter 4: May the Myth Be with You, Always: Archetypes, Mythic Elements and Aspects of Joseph Campbell's Heroic Monomyth in the Original Star Wars Trilogy Leah DeynekaChapter 5: Not so long ago, not so far away: New Variations on Old Themes; Questioning Star Wars' Revival of Heroic Archetypes Dan RubeyChapter 6: From Sky-Walking to Dark Knight of the Soul: George Lucas' Star Wars Turns to Tragic Drama John C. McDowellChapter 7: Under the Influence of Akira Kurosawa: The Visual Style of George Lucas Michael KaminskiChapter 8: Balancing the Force: How Media Created by Star Wars Now Defines the Franchise Crystal Renee WhiteChapter 9: "A Long Time Ago on a Newsstand Far, Far Away: The Mythic Comic Book Hero in Marvel Comics' Star Wars" Jon HoganChapter 10: The Jedi Network: Star Wars' Portrayal and Inspirations on the Small Screen Eric CharlesChapter 11: Gaming in a Galaxy Far, Far Away: Expanded Worlds, Canon Conflicts, and Simplified Morality of Star Wars Video Games Seth SommerfeldChapter 12: "Quentin Tarantino's Star Wars?: Digital Cinema, Media Convergence, and Participatory Culture" Henry JenkinsChapter 13: Star Wars and the Technophobic Imagination Cyrus R. K. PatellIndexAbout the ContributorsAbout the Editors