“Long ago in a galaxy far, far away…” Perhaps the most recognized opening lines to any film. Star Wars, the famous modern epic, changed the way we created movies. With visual effects and a compelling plot far beyond its day, it pushed the film industry to become more innovative, resulting in the multimillion dollar blockbusters we are so accustomed to today. Where did it all begin? Was it the genius of George Lucas alone or did he receive some help along the way? The answer is a combination of the two: although George Lucas’ Star Wars seemed to be completely unique, the underlying characteristics of the plot and characters have been around for centuries. Looking specifically at the way Anakin Skywalker resembles Aeschylus’ Agamemnon shows
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Why do we see these characters, conceived thousands of years apart act so similarly? Rene Girard’s The Sacrificial Crisis points us in the right direction. Both stories, although vastly different are about justifying sacrifice, however there is a problem with justified sacrifice. Justification is in the eye of the beholder for one it may be justified and pure but to another it is irrational and impure. Rene Girard describes this as the sacrificial crisis. “The sacrificial crisis, that is the disappearance of the sacrifice rites, coincides with the disappearance of the difference between impure violence and purifying violence. When this difference has been effaced, purification is no longer possible and impure, contagious, reciprocal violence spreads throughout the community.” (page 49, Sacrificial Crisis) By committing Hamarita both Anakin and Agamemnon are thrown down a rabbit hole of impure sacrifice, this domino effect as mentioned above was what lead to both of there respective …show more content…
Found throughout the pages of Aristotle's poetics lies the answer. Aristotle shows us how write a Tragedy so that it can be most effective at speaking to the audience. Aristotle proposes that in order for a Tragedy to be successful it must feel relatable yet distant enough to be convincing. “Tragedy is an imitation of persons who are above the common level, the example of good portrait-painters should be followed. They, while reproducing the distinctive form of the original, make likeness which is true to life and yet more beautiful. So too the poet, in representing men who are irascible or indolent, or have other defects of character, should preserve the type and yet ennoble it.” (page 29, Poetics) The best forms of art, performance or other are the ones that found this perfect balance. Convincing the audience that the character/scene is both human yet fiction at the same time. Both Star Wars and Agamemnon execute this idea perfectly. We are all faced with decisions that determine our future. Often times we experience “Hamaria” while on the stage and silver screen it is dramatized resulting the death of others and oneself we all can relate to it in a more rational and specific
Why do we see these characters, conceived thousands of years apart act so similarly? Rene Girard’s The Sacrificial Crisis points us in the right direction. Both stories, although vastly different are about justifying sacrifice, however there is a problem with justified sacrifice. Justification is in the eye of the beholder for one it may be justified and pure but to another it is irrational and impure. Rene Girard describes this as the sacrificial crisis. “The sacrificial crisis, that is the disappearance of the sacrifice rites, coincides with the disappearance of the difference between impure violence and purifying violence. When this difference has been effaced, purification is no longer possible and impure, contagious, reciprocal violence spreads throughout the community.” (page 49, Sacrificial Crisis) By committing Hamarita both Anakin and Agamemnon are thrown down a rabbit hole of impure sacrifice, this domino effect as mentioned above was what lead to both of there respective …show more content…
Found throughout the pages of Aristotle's poetics lies the answer. Aristotle shows us how write a Tragedy so that it can be most effective at speaking to the audience. Aristotle proposes that in order for a Tragedy to be successful it must feel relatable yet distant enough to be convincing. “Tragedy is an imitation of persons who are above the common level, the example of good portrait-painters should be followed. They, while reproducing the distinctive form of the original, make likeness which is true to life and yet more beautiful. So too the poet, in representing men who are irascible or indolent, or have other defects of character, should preserve the type and yet ennoble it.” (page 29, Poetics) The best forms of art, performance or other are the ones that found this perfect balance. Convincing the audience that the character/scene is both human yet fiction at the same time. Both Star Wars and Agamemnon execute this idea perfectly. We are all faced with decisions that determine our future. Often times we experience “Hamaria” while on the stage and silver screen it is dramatized resulting the death of others and oneself we all can relate to it in a more rational and specific