Star Wars: Why does it take over the mind of young boys?
Emily Bazelon writes in Slate:
How does the Lucas-world accomplish this mind control? My kids have other loyalties. They swear by various superheroes, will listen over and over again to Greek myths, can tell you the story of David and Goliath, and love The Hobbit. But nothing, nothing, exerts the irresistible pull of the Star Wars galaxy. Maybe it’s the combination of simplicity and multilayered detail, good vs. evil in a world of interdependent yet rival creatures. Maybe it all comes down to Darth Vader, with his fearsome helmet and the voice of James Earl Jones. Or maybe the magic element is the open void of outer space as a backdrop.
It could be the relentless co-branding, of course, but there’s more to it. I think the story itself is based on the stuff that males have always liked — whether it was called The Epic of Gilgamesh or Beowulf or The Odyssey or Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter or The Matrix or even a grown-up boys tale like Lonesome Dove. These are questing stories where the hero and his faithful companions travel far and wide, fighting to overcome evil (better yet — battling a specific monster), and securing a priceless treasure.
OK, but that only explains what Star Wars is, not why it affects boys like it does.
I think the genre has survived so long because it gives meaning to the confusing world that young boys find themselves growing up in. In these stories, the hero is often someone who feels powerless in the beginning, denies that they are “the one,” resists taking the challenge being thrust on him, is confused by the difference between right and wrong. In other words, the hero is someone just like themselves. And with all due respect to gender equality (and recognizing the near-lone exception of Little Red Riding Hood), stories of this sort simply do not resonate with young girls because they’re socialized differently. Be honest: women of your acquaintance rarely profess their undying thrall and loyalty to any of the books or movies mentioned in this post.
Anyway, that’s how I see it and I’ve helped raise three young boys, all of whom (at different times) leaned forward on the edge of their seats at that climactic moment when Darth Vader cuts off Luke’s hand and declares himself to be his father.
And, in the interest of full disclosure, I leaned forward every time too.
