Star Wars: Sci-Fi or Fantasy - Essay Example

Star Wars: Sci-fi or Fantasy? Introduction Star Wars is a series of films that revolve around aliens and space battles. The films also depict eventsrelated to ghosts and mystical powers. This paper will attempt to explore Star Wars as science fiction, but it does not only rely on a scientific viewpoint, but also a religious one to develop its mythical elements. However, there is much debate on the subject of difference between sci-fi and fantasy. While sci-fi deals with scientific technologies that are considered probable in the future, fantasy talks about stories and events that exist only in the realm of imagination. While it is no doubt Star Wars deals with advanced technology many of which have not yet been established, Star Wars also talk about the existence of Force which is actually a mystical energy field that provides magical energy to Jedi. Considering both scientific elements and mystical power shown in Star Wars, can the films be seen in the genre of both sci-fi and fantasy. Today, science fiction has become a kind of reflection of “mythology of our times” (Sutton & Sutton, 1969, p.230). Myth has been described by Fontenelle as science that has been conceived in the primitive era by observing the causes of events. In the 19th century, Andrew Lang has explained that myth is human being’s effort of understanding the mysteries of the world through the lens of science. It is now no longer possible to assume myth as prescience. According to Levi-Strauss theory, myth and science are two parallel modes of explaining the universe. They are mutually exclusive and two different ways of explaining the same thing. In earlier days, myth was used by man to understand his own origins while science is used as a tool to study destiny (Sutton & Sutton, 1969, p.231). Today science fiction is accepted as mythical exploration of scientific technology, and therefore Levi-Strauss’s theory does not hold good regarding the two concepts as parallel autonomy. There is now a clear intersection of the mythopoeic and scientific modes. According to Thoman C. Sutton and Marilyn Sutton (1969, p.231) “myth and science reflect man’s irrepressible curiosity about his origins and his destiny, they each can be seen as a particular human means of structuring the universe”. The authors consider science fiction as scientific myth more than religious myth in which man holds the major power. Star Wars is a classic story that talks about man turning evil and his son attempting to amend him. Basically it is a story about good and evil and set in another galaxy in another era. In spite of the time set at a previous era, Star Wars is about the future world that blends mythology and science. The films are made of characters ranging from human beings, aliens and robots. However, it becomes difficult to distinguish between the characters with robots portraying emotions and men acting like machines. Although the principle story, i.e. fight between good and evil can be set in any time period, the films portray multiple worlds that are defined by technology. Thus, science takes the form of myth although it has scientific reasoning. Today, scientists believe that science is no longer the conclusive elements derived from the study of reality. The object of scientific observation is not nature by itself but rather nature as is viewed by the questioning eyes of human beings. Therefore, as stated by Sutton & Sutton (1969, p.231), “contemporary science is conscious of its own symbolization”. Although myth and science are both exploration of the untapped mysteries, they differ in the manner of linking the inner reality and outer reality. While myth attempts to view inner reality like conscious desires by symbols of outer reality, science strives to enlighten the inner reality by exploring the outer reality. Myth establishes an independent universe which is accepted as the symbolic reflection of the real world while science establishes a universe which reflects man’s understanding of the objective reality (Sutton & Sutton, 1969, p.232). Both myth and sci-fi deal with the power that exceeds the normal human power. In early ages, myth was used to define semidivine beings which means beings that projected human qualities in their actions while divine qualities in their vision. Such beings generate power from a source that is beyond the understanding of man. In case of science fiction it is man who plays the central role since it is considered as myth of technology. In case of science fiction human, characters are not considered as carrying any kind of divine power generated from an incomprehensible source, but a power generated from superior scientific knowledge since it has been accepted that knowledge is the driving force for technological developments. The robot which is a common element in sci-fi movies, is a thinking machine that depicts the ultimate state of technology. In sci-fi films, very often stories revolve around the relationship that exists between man and the man-made robot. However, this humanoid robot is actually an extension of the scientific knowledge of human beings. Issac Asimov who is a renowned author of sci-fi novels mostly based on humanoid robots has stated that a day will come when human beings will design a computer that will have the ability to design another computer which will be more complex than the one created by man. He has stated that such a moment will be beginning of series in which “not only man-made man is possible, but also man-made superman” (Sutton & Sutton, 1969, p.236). A major portion of Star Wars deals with advanced scientific technology that have not been explored by current scientists. For instance, there is hyperdrive propulsion system shown in the movies that can enable starships to move at a speed faster than light. Although this can be put in the genre of science fiction, in the real world there are unmanned spaceships traveling to other planets in our solar system which is another step forward after sending spaceship with men to the moon. There are few technologies shown in Star Wars that may not be actual fiction in the near future. For instance scientists have already invented miniature devices similar to the light sabers shown in Star Wars. The device is a huge breakthrough in cancer research since the light sabers can reach the exact cancer affected spots to allow chemo drugs to treat only the affected cells. However, such scientific concepts are not the main theme and is just used as backdrop to provide platform for the principle story which is the struggle of Jedi and the Sith where Jedi uses the Force. Therefore, Star Wars is not essentially a sci-fi movie. The myth aspects of the movies are more clearly projected making Star Wars a science myth. When man consciously tries to tap the unexplored realms of science, he is making a myth of scientific narrative thus giving rise to science fiction. It is very common to see that sci-fi authors using early mythological themes as sub plots for their science fiction stories. For instance, in the 1965 novel Dune, the author Frank Herbert forms knowledge of ecology by referring to the myths mentioned in the Old Testament. Similarly, in A Case of Conscience, the author James Blish has mixed creation theology with the echoes of demonism. In this story, a priest-scientist gets to meet an alien world that is in every way perfect but soon realized that is cannot be possible in the theological concept, and therefore eventually he is forced to accept it as a world of demons (Sutton & Sutton, 1969, pp.236-237). Star Wars shows the existence of the Force which is a mystical energy field that provides magical energy to Jedi. This makes the movies more of fantasy than sci-fi since the Force has no scientific basis, and it is regarded more in the religious frame than scientific reasoning. Although the films have attempted to provide a scientific explanation of the Force like there are midi-chlorians or microorganisms in the blood that provide the magical energy, it is not explained logically how human bodies can disappear or become ghosts after death. Sci-fi movie can belong to two subgenres like hard sci-fi and soft sci-fi. In hard sci-fi movies, although the author depicts hypothetical objects, he tries to provide a scientific explanation for the creation. For instance, the working of the Force has been explained by the existence of midi-chlorians in blood. Such explanations are more often than not scientifically inaccurate. Likewise in soft sci-fi movies, the author only portrays hypothetical objects, and their mechanisms are not explained in the story. In Star Wars most of the elements are taken from adventure fiction. The plots and characters are depicted in massive dramatic scale with scientific flavor. There is however a difference between Star Wars and other hard core sci-fi movies. For instance, in the 1979 film Aliens the story is about seven foot tall monster known as Alien, while in the series Star Wars science fiction is actually backdrop for the actual story which is fight between good and evil thus making it less of sci-fi and more of fantasy genre of movie. Star Wars series is actually based on a story of struggle between the good and the evil forms in another galaxy at another time, and the struggle is projected through instruments and technologies that are not yet conceived or invented by modern day scientists. This aspect of the movie definitely forces viewers to regard Star Wars as a sci-fi movie. However, the main plot of the movie is the struggle of Jedi using his mystical energy called the Force to defeat the evil powers. This aspect which is the principal story of the movie is not related in any way with science or technology in spite of the setting. In fact, if the backdrop would have been different like medieval Europe and the light sabers were replaced by long swords and crossbows, then the actual story would have remained the same. Science fiction is used only as embellishment to give the story a more mythical touch, as the story is based on mythical characters in a different galaxy. In short, Star Wars is more about magic than about scientific technologies. Therefore, it can be said that Star Wars is basically a fantasy rather than a sci-fi movie which again stresses my point that it is blend of science and myth. It has already been said in this paper that Star Wars’s main focus is on the mystical energy Force and how it is used by Jedi to overpower the evil forces. The Force is actually an energy field which is being sustained by all the life in the Universe. It is present in every living body and creates a link between all the living entities. The Force can be used in any manner by anyone who is trained to use it like Jedi and his evil foes. This energy field is the source from which Jedi gets all his magical powers. The Force not only provides power to Jedi but is capable of being guidance to Jedi like it helped Jedi to take aim when destroying the Death Star. Although the main projection of the Force has been benign, it also has a negative side. This negative side that includes wrath and hatred is used by the antagonists, the Emperor and his apprentice, Darth Vader. The director George Lucas actually focused on not giving any proper definition to the mystical powers of the Force. All these make the argument even stronger that Star Wars is a fantasy movie. Conclusion Star Wars no doubt has scientific elements most of which is used as a setting for the actual plot which is the struggle of the good and the evil in an imaginary galaxy. The movie can be best fit in a genre of myth blended with science since it blends the science aspects with the major theme of the movie which is no doubt pure fantasy. The presence of spaceships and light sabers only act as props in the movie. Finally, it can be said that the movie is more fantasy than sci-fi since the actually story of Jedi is no way linked with science. Reference Sutton, T.C. & Sutton, M. (1969) Science Fiction as Mythology. Western Folklore, 28(4), 230-37 Read More