I was thinking about Star Wars as just one cultural touchstone in my life and decided to make a timeline of those first films that drew me into the universe.
When I was 22: I worked a straight job during the day, living with a collective in the East Village, renovating buildings, supporting street people in various kinds of need.
As a science fiction fantasy lover, I loved the epic story, the rakishly beautiful humans, the idea that we could follow a long-term story. I could find my place in the Star Wars universe, thrilled at Carrie’s power, and made even happier when I saw Lando.
I saw ‘The Phantom Menace’ in a theater in New York’s West Village when it debuted in 1999. Overall I thought the acting was wooden; Jar Jar Binks made me cringe because he felt like such a racially-tinged parody, and the audience reaction mirrored mine: disappointment. The subsequent episodes in that trilogy didn’t raise my estimation of the series. By 2005, when ‘Revenge of the Sith’ came out, I dutifully went to see it, and I was disappointed once again.
My love of the original experience of Star Wars had been in stasis, with the enjoyment far in the past.
So I’m happy to report that seeing ‘The Force Awakens’ in Tokyo in 2015 reignited my love of the series. I was able to suspend disbelief, I was interested in the characters, I began looking forward to seeing the story unfold. The same for ‘The Last Jedi’ (2017 in Japan). And now, ‘The Rise of Skywalker’ which I saw for the first time just yesterday, 1/3/20 in Tokyo).
I love the fact that there are all kinds of humans and beings in the last three movies, on both sides of the conflict.
Look, I’m not a trained cultural critic or political scientist. As I slide up to 62, there are quite a few American cultural changes that have me baffled and needing to learn more. That work is my responsibility, and I will be about it.
But one thing I have learned from Star Wars’ launch, devolution and evolution that is also true in my own life: diversity is not just a buzzword. It is enormously empowering to see yourself, along with other selves, interacting, disagreeing and finding ways forward, on the big screen. When lives on are stake, it’s possible to agree to disagree, to come together, and when you call for help, good beings will heed the call.
When I get into arguments with political opponents, I ask them to check in with their friends and relatives who look like me, who are my age. If they’re mainstream Americans, the response is usually — — silence. I don’t want people to only get befriended for argument fodder, so I can’t suggest ways to remedy this problem. But I do think it is a problem. It’s not just major corporations who are figuring out that diversity gives an edge to projects, and people. It’s clear to anyone looking for better ways to navigate the world in a positive fashion, here at home, or in a galaxy far, far away.
I love the ‘Here’s to the crazy ones‘ video. Gives me goosebumps to hear Steve’s voice stating something that he lived and believed, in his own way.
I have always felt like I’m supposed to contribute like a ‘crazy one’ but when I look back at the arc of my life, I think my serial lack of discipline has, up to now, kept me from achieving big wonderful things.
So I am rededicating myself to letting out my ‘crazy’. I do take steps in those directions: with the music I’m making with my band(s), with writing…but what’s missing is finishing one level completely, and moving to the next.
I need to navigate my musts: connecting with loved ones far and near, a very busy job, monitoring and working on my health, improving my Japanese skills, taking care of other obligations, and incorporate the creative work I need to do.
With all of this in mind, I pulled out Chris Guillebeau’s ‘Annual Life Review‘. And in my down time this week, I’ll get started and share whatever might be helpful.