Sunday, 30 November 2014

Final Post

Ian Porter
Professor Megan Bertagnolli
ARTH 101
30 November 2014
Star Wars as a Myth and Greek Influences Towards its Success
If one has grown up with Star Wars, it may be hard to imagine that it may be one of today’s most prevalent myths, and could serve as the lasting epic of the 2nd millennia, however Star Wars should be considered nothing less. It would not have achieved its legendary status without using the formula for what creates a lasting and appealing myth, as was pioneered and perfected by the Greeks with their expansive mythos. With the help of Joseph Campbell and Greek influence, George Lucas created one of the most popular pop culture marvels of today, and his success is why Greek mythology is highly relevant to contemporary contexts, in the case of mythology. Greek mythology is one of the most interesting aspects of history, and just as it flourished among the peoples of Greece who crafted it over a period of centuries, and used it as an influential tool of their society, today it stands to captivate people through the numerous and varying artistic works that are attributed to it. To better understand the contexts of art in Ancient Greece, one must have a basic understanding of Greek mythos itself.
            The most integral part of most mythologies, and especially in the case of the Ancient Greeks, is the presence and influence of deities. The Greeks chose to worship a wide variety of gods, and most are often depicted in the human form. The most influential gods, the Olympians, lived atop Mount Olympus and maintained many individual traits and titles, as well as trademark weapons and beliefs. For example, Zeus was King of the Gods, and as the god of the sky his trademark power was the ability to throw thunderbolts (Atsma). Among other well known gods were Hades, god of the underworld, Athena, the goddess of war, and Dionysus, the god of wine. In order to live good lives, the Greeks believed they had to please the gods for their respective blessings. For example, a woman with a son going to battle might make an offering to Athena at one of her respective temples, such as the Parthenon (Stokstad and Cothren, 128). In the eyes of the Greeks, pleasing their gods with sacrificial acts and ceremonies would ensure the continuation of their life as it were, and served as a way for them to understand their universe and give themselves purpose.  What one may find fascinating about Greek mythos was the ability for most citizens to contribute and expand the myths, and as such myth was embodied in a vast majority of artwork and literature.
Greek mythology consists of a collection of stories and narratives that were manifested in various forms of art; plays/dramas, and more traditional notions of art like paintings, statues, and pottery. Homer’s epics are widely considered some of the most contributive, that tell of the heroes Achilles, Hector, Odysseus, among many more, as well as terrible monsters, the politics of gods, and the decade long Trojan War. Numerous other playwrights and writers used elegant story telling to expand and add depth to their mythos; among the most famous are Herodotus, Sophocles, and Euripides. Perhaps more famous and intriguing to those familiar with the artistic prowess of the Greeks are the ever lifelike statues that depicted gods, heroes, and famous leaders. Unlike much of the literature from the time, countless statues still exist for people to marvel and behold. These statues went hand in hand with the temples that held them for worship, although many are currently in a state of disrepair. Much of the artwork from the Ancient Greeks that exists today can be found on fired clay pottery, in which stylish depictions of famous (or infamous) mythological events, or day-to-day activities of the Greeks, such as a woman’s daily trip to a communal well (Stokstad and Cothren, 138). In these depictions of the human form, the Greeks are commonly nude or scantily clad, which serves to highlight the natural form of gods and average citizens alike, many of which embody an ideal physique, fit and strong.
            The relationship between the mythology, artwork, and literature of the Ancient Greeks is highly connected and reliant on one another for contextual value.  Consider a statue of Achilles. Undoubtedly it would be an impressive and lifelike depiction of the late hero, however without the colorful story and background that Homer has provided, and thus the context in which it was created, the statue does not reach its full potential in the eyes of the beholder. In the same vain, one may find the clay pottery with a depiction of the Sky Gods fighting the Titans very beautiful, but it is equally important to understand the contexts of the mythological beliefs of its original creators and its true purposes of making sense of the world, its origins, and their purpose to fully appreciate the artwork.  This perspective provides some clarification as to why Star Wars became the cultural phenomenon that it is today and how similar the two are when one views Star Wars as the modern day myth it is visually and culturally.
            Mythos in today’s society is quite separate in beliefs and practices from any ancient civilization due to the unprecedented growth of technology and science. It is not to say that mythos plays no role in modern culture, but it certainly does not strongly emphasize gods and other religious followings that maintained in the past as a way for people to develop understanding of their world, which were far from today’s scientific values and globalized views. Instead, society looks favorably towards things such as film and literature, specifically that of science fiction to allow it to gain insight into what future society will look like, as well as the problems that will inevitably follow.  This is why George Lucas' Star Wars has become nothing less than a modern day myth with its varying characters, adventures, and tragedy, many of which contain a great deal of influence from those who produced work to further the depth and expand Greek mythos such as Homer, Sophocles, and Herodotus.
            Greek mythology is relevant in contemporary art because it has created a basis on which mythology is focused. What this means is that certain elements that allowed Greek mythology to flourish may be recycled and turned modern, and the epitome of this realization is Star Wars. Some of the most significant aspects of Greek mythology that laid the foundation for successful myths today are the hero archetype, fantastical, exotic and, imaginative creatures, captivating relationships, and a way of story telling that allows societies to interact with the myths to make them their own.
            A most common feature of myths in any society is the presence of heroes, and Greek mythologies as well as Star Wars are loaded with such figures.  These figures embody traits and ideals that their societies values; like bravery and wisdom, however Joseph Campbell argues that none of these are original “for the heroes of all time have gone before us” (18). His monomyth theory states that heroes of all-time share a similar pattern in their journey to becoming a hero, and these steps are certainly followed in the cases of many Greeks, such as Hercules, Odysseus, Hector, Achilles, Oedipus Rex, and Theseus. The famed heroes of Greek mythos are hardly different embodied in Luke and Anakin, as one would expect seeing as how George Lucas and Joseph Campbell were good friends. George’s ambition to create (or rather, recreate) a myth in the form of Star Wars made it a logical conclusion for his heroes to follow the tried and tested path of the compelling heroes before them (Wagner). In this process they start with humble beginnings, are mentored by someone wise, face a number of challenges, and ultimately undergo an internal struggle and are changed in the end of the journey, or end up dead. In order for the heroes to achieve their status, they face many a perilous challenge, and these are commonly represented as monsters, in both Greek and Star Wars myths.
            Both Greek and Star Wars as mythologies contained a great deal of strange and exotic beings, not unlike other mythologies, however the monsters are well drawn out, very memorable and the sheer variety demonstrate that the people of both societies dared to dream a little. Perhaps what drove both myths to create and flesh out creatures of such wild imagination is their sense of unknown, seen in the widely unexplored outer space in today’s society and the surrounding area of Greece, both land and sea wise, for the Greeks. Both their heroes had to be created and worshipped to make the unknown less terrifying and safeguard the societies who created them. As for the monsters themselves, in Ancient Greece there existed the Minotaur, who Theseus was famed for slaying, the Hydra, Cerberus, the three headed guard dog for the underworld, the Sirens, the Harpies, the Cyclopes, and the Nemean Lion, which was one of Heracles’ biggest challenges, to name a few (Atsma). Star Wars contains a great deal of monsters as well, ranging from the man eating Rancor underneath Jabba’s Palace, the Wampa of Hoth, the Dianoga trash monster aboard Death Star I, and many more. It is the monsters that may initially bring in the interest of the peoples to mythologies, for fear of unknown or another reason, but it is the hero’s triumph over the beasts that will make believers. Just as George Lucas has taken inspiration from the Greeks like Homer for creating captivating creatures, he also sought to use aspects of Greek relationships in mythology.
            One of the primary themes in Star Wars was the relationship between father and son, however this was also central to Greek myth as well. In Star Wars, fatherly relationships are dynamic but central to every film. In Episode I, Qui Gon Jinn is a fatherly figure to Obi-Wan, and in Episode II Obi-Wan mentors Anakin. In the Original Trilogy, Ben Kenobi mentors Luke in his Jedi training, and in the most turbulent father-son dynamic, Luke manages to convert his father back to the light side, and they overthrow the Emperor. In one of the better-known mythological stories by Sophocles, Oedipus Rex unknowingly kills his father and marries his mother, self-fulfilling his prophesy and undergoing a tragic downfall. On a happier note, Odysseus maintains a healthy and fruitful relationship with his son, and when they are finally reunited they kill the suitors who plotted to marry Odysseus’ wife (Atsma). Another common factor of Greek heroes is that they were typically offspring of the gods, from Heracles to Perseus, and as such became demi-gods through the completion of their challenges. The same could be said for the heroes of Star Wars, as it is said for Anakin that there was simply no father. A Jedi’s death allowed them to become one with the force, which is nothing less than deification. This happens to Yoda, Kenobi, and Anakin as they are seen in spirit at the end of Episode VI. Also seen earlier in Oedipus Rex, incestuous relationships were not uncommon and provided another source of interest to Greek myth. In fact, many gods also commit to incestuous relationships, most notably Zeus and his sister/wife Hera. Star Wars only contains miniscule amounts of incest, due to its taboo nature in modern society, as seen in Luke kissing Leia a few separate times. Past those few illicit acts it is up to the viewer to decide how extensive their brother-sister relationship stemmed.
            The beauty of Greek mythology and Star Wars is that each person has the ability to make it their own, and had the ability to contribute to expanding its depth and details. In both cases, there are certain “facts” or events that occur, but beyond that an individual can fill in the blanks and personalize the mythos. This is realized through the great writers of the time, like Sophocles, who followed the same universe and events like the Trojan War, but added characters and stories to make it their own (Atsma). A prime example is Theseus, who is described as the Hero of Athens, was created to be a distinctly Athenian Heracles. Throughout the Star Wars Universe, there are a multitude of individual contributors to the lore and stories, through comics, novels, drawings, and the like. One only needs to venture into a bookstore to see the vast empire of the Star Wars myth. It is likely the continued success of Star Wars and the centuries long culmination of Greek mythological influence can be attributed to this idea of a society actively contributing to the universe.
            Despite the overwhelming evidence that Star Wars may be a reincarnation of Greek mythology, other factors exist to limit this influence. The prequels are more dependent on Roman, Buddhist, and Christian mythologies than that of the Greeks, however the Original Trilogy is largely Greek. Another drawback is that Lucas decided to add in themes that are prevalent today, as myths do, such as individualism, the problems associated with using technology, and more.  These factors contribute to Star Wars’ success however, because people are more relatable towards it if it pertains to them, but they take away from the original Greek mythological themes.
            As much of a marvel that Star Wars is, and as much praise as George Lucas deserves for constructing Star Wars, the Greeks like Homer and Sophocles and Joseph Campbell merit as much credit as John Williams, the music composer, or Ralph McQuarrie the concept artist.  The nearly four decades of popularity stands to reason that what gave Greek mythology distinction and permanence can be applied to contemporary work to ensure a lasting reputation as a myth. Greek mythology is also important in understanding the interconnectedness and reliance within the realm of art, literature, and mythology itself. When one makes the connection between the three, they can dare to imagine “a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away” (Lucas).


Works Cited
Atsma, Aaron J. "Theoi.com | Greek Gods & Goddesses." THEOI GREEK MYTHOLOGY, Exploring Mythology & the Greek Gods in Classical Literature & Art. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2014.
Campbell, Joseph. The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Princeton, NJ: Princeton UP, 1972. Print.
Star Wars: Prequel Trilogy. Dir. George Lucas. Perf. Ewan McGregor, Liam Neeson, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen. 20th Century Fox, 2008. DVD.
Star Wars: The Trilogy. Dir. George Lucas. Perf. Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher. Lucas Film, 2004. DVD.
Stokstad, Marilyn, and Michael W. Cothren. Art History. 5th ed. Boston: Pearson, 2014. Print.
The Mythology of Star Wars with George Lucas and Bill Moyers. Pamela Mason Wagner. Films for the Humanities and Sciences, 1999. Film.




Saturday, 29 November 2014

Character and Relationship Likeness

In both Star Wars and the expansive Greek Mythology, a staple characteristic is complicated web of relationships that connect most of the heroes, gods, and even monsters.  In the case of Greek Mythology, it is very common that the heroes are the paramount children of the Gods, however in the case of Zeus, he also fathers gods. Zeus is a central part of the web because he is said to have fathered Athena, Hermes, Ares, Dionysus, Apollo, as well as the famed Heracles, Minos, and Perseus, among numerous other gods and the like. In Star Wars, the interconnectedness of birth is also a central aspect, especially when it comes to the father-son relationship dynamic of Qui-Gon Jinn to Obi-Wan, Obi-Wan to Anakin, and Anakin to Luke, to varying degrees. The reason that Star Wars may seem less interconnected in comparison to Greek Mythos is the fact that officially, Star Wars only spans across 6 films, whereas Greek Mythos was written and polished over a period of centuries and I'm sure that given enough time and community input, there would not exist a single character who was not connected to others in more than one way. In example, look at Boba Fett. In the original trilogy he does not have a major role, however it is shown that his father cloned himself to create the clone army that would overthrow the Jedi and also battled with Obi-Wan.

Another characteristic that is not uncommon in Greek Mythos is that of the incestuous relationships, like in Oedipus Rex or the fact that Zeus marries Hera, his sister. As Star Wars is a 21st century film and incest is very taboo and looked down upon, it is unsurprising that it does not play a major role in relationships within the saga, despite interconnectedness. There was however, a few points throughout Episodes IV and V where a relationship is hinted between Luke and Leia, as they are unaware of their lineage yet, but with the exception of a few kisses, nothing stems from it (that we know of).

Despite their unique differences, the interdependence of both mythological universes serve to create dramatic circumstances and allow the people who follow these myths to create depth and meaning to the characters themselves. To the right is a fairly comprehensive "family tree" for Star Wars, which is useful to see who is related, who battles who, and determining friendships. Below, is a family tree of Greek Mythology, mainly consisting of the gods. This family tree visualizes how closely related the deities and some heroes are to each other.























The Star Wars family tree was sourced here.
The Greek family tree was sourced here.

Tuesday, 25 November 2014

Familiar Settings and Objects

What proved to be successful in intriguing the Greeks in their own mythos was used by Lucas to help Star Wars become a myth in and of itself. From foreign and inhospitable lands to magical items, people are enthralled with the fantastical objects and lands they are presented with through both Greek mythos and Star Wars.
Imperial walkers advance towards the Rebels' not-so-secret base

Perhaps the most memorable part in all of Homer's "The Iliad" is that of the Trojan Horse, which brought forth the end of the decade long Trojan War. In a successful attempt to fool the Trojans, the Greeks all but abandoned their siege, save for the elite troops hidden in the massive wooden "trophy". As everyone knows, the Trojans brought it into their walled city and at a convenient time to the Greeks, they attacked. While the Imperial assault on Echo base may not have been a covert mission but rather a head-on attack, Homer's influence on Lucas is abundantly clear as the armoured troop carriers devastate Rebel defences in a modern day Trojan slaughter.

When considering other similarities between both myths, one of the most significant is the relationship between Yoda's hut on Dagobah and the Oracle of Delphi. On Dagobah, Luke learns many things. He learns of the force, faces the fear of Vader in the cave, and receives the prophecy about his friends being in trouble on Bespin, and what would happen if he were to save them. At the Oracle of Delphi, many important figures came for guidance, including King Croesus and the Oracles influence is central in the plot of Oedipus Rex. Luke also underwent physical training under Yoda, echoing the highly physical and sacrificial Pythian Games. Even in death, Yoda is there to impart wisdom on Luke.


One of the biggest similarities of Greek myth and Star Wars is the endlessly creative and open sea. For Star Wars, this is obviously represented as space. No doubt the Argonauts would have much preferred the Millennium Falcon, but it still serves to reason that the source of so many different plots and problems are possible from this blank canvas. Just as there are sea monsters that shipwreck Odysseus and his crew, the astroids in which the Millennium Falcon hides are also home to massive space worms. As Odysseus island hops with the guidance of his gods (minus Poseidon), the charismatic group of Rebels travels from planet to planet, for one reason or anther.  This begs the question of whether the success of both Star Wars and Greek mythos such as Homer's Odyssey can be attributed to the awe-inspiring, vast, and perilous open world.


The links to the images are hereherehere, and here.

Iconic Monsters and Trials

Perhaps the most attractive aspects of both Greek mythology and Star Wars are the monsters that our beloved heroes face, to each their own bizarre appearance, exotic environments, and the captivating struggle of our heroes to best them. While we most likely realize that these monsters do not exist in the form they are presented in, if at all, they still capture our imagination and we find ourselves contemplating the existence of possible creatures out beyond our planet. No doubt the Greeks felt this way about their stories and epics that were filled to the brim with outlandish and exotic creatures.


To the left is the Rancor which Luke had to defeat in Episode VI, in a scene which echoes Odysseus' run in with the Cyclops, although Lucas does it in a different manner. In the Odyssey, Odysseus and his men are trapped in the lair of the cyclops and after blinding the one-eyed beast, they escape by hiding underneath the sheep of the cyclops, thereby evading the notice of the cyclops. In Star Wars, after being hurled into the dungeon with the Rancor, Luke devises a quick plan to kill the Rancor, by dropping the metal gate 
on its head.

Another beast trial that Luke faces is the nightmarish snow creature that brings him to its lair on Hoth. The Wampa is heavily influenced by the Minotaur, both having horns, a grotesque underground lair, a taste for human flesh, and a prophetic end at the hands of a hero. Theseus, the famed Hero of Athens, travelled to Crete with the sole purpose of killing the creature, and had great success in decapitating it. Luke manages to slice off the Wampa's arm, incapacitating it, rather than cut off it's head, probably in an effort to keep the parental guidance ratings of the movie down. Luke's victory over the Wampa is clearly a trial because afterwards, he receives guidance about the future from Obi-Wan Kenobi.


Other notable iconic creatures of Greek Mythology include:

-Cerberus, the 3 headed guard dog of Hades
-The Hydra, another multiple headed abomination and one of the better known trials of Heracles
-The Sirens in the Odyssey, whose songs drove sailors mad
-The Nemean Lion, another one of Heracles' trials

Other notable creatures in Star Wars include:

-The Dianoga (trash compactor) monster in Episode IV
-The Tusken Raiders of Tatooine
-The Swamp monster on Dagobah
-The multiple underwater creatures of Naboo, some reminiscent of Scylla and Charybdis from the Odyssey 

Image sourced herehere, and here.

The Heroes Journey Archetype

Joseph Campbell's most significant contribution to the study of mythology, in my opinion, was his book "The Hero with a Thousand Faces" in which he describes the process of creating a hero that captivates audiences which has been more or less replicated throughout most heroes of all societies and goes in depth about why humanity finds this process worthy of worship. Unsurprisingly, many Greek heroes fall under this category such a Hercules, Odysseus, Hector, Achilles, Oedipus Rex, and Theseus, among countless others.


Perhaps the most striking similarity between Greek Heroes and those of Star Wars are the development of the heroes themselves and Campbell's guidelines. The Hero's Journey is much more defined in Luke and the Original Trilogy, however Anakin and the Prequels also maintain the same process but to a lesser extent due to the tragic nature of the story and the downfall of Anakin from hero to iconic villain. In order to compare both Star Wars and Greek heroes I will go through the steps of Campbell's Monomyth to compare and contrast.

Humble Beginnings

The first step in the creation of an ideal hero lie in the hero's mundane introduction, as illustrated above. This is done to allow easier relation and sympathy towards the hero. In Star Wars, Luke is nothing but a farmer who works tirelessly under his Uncle. Anakin is introduced in Episode I as a simple slave boy, and both grew up on Tatooine, the desolate desert planet in the outer rim.

There are a many notable Greek heroes who live fairly typical lives until their call to adventure. For example, Odysseus was nothing more than a farmer, Theseus lived a normal childhood, Perseus was raised by a fisherman, and Heracles was raised on a farm. Another commonality I noticed between most of the heroes was that most of them were born under gods like Zeus, and in Star Wars, Luke was fathered by Anakin, who was conceived by a virgin according to Lucas.

Reluctance to Embark on an Adventure

One of the elementary stages of the monomyth is the refusal of the call to adventure. The call in the case of Star Wars is Luke being asked by Obi-Wan to go to Alderaan, and for Anakin it is joining the Jedi Order with Qui-Gon Jinn. In the case of many Greek Heroes, it was the call to the Trojan War, at least for Odysseus, Hector, Achilles, etc. For Perseus and Heracles, the call to adventure was a series of trials they had to complete for one reason or another.

Mentor

Another key ingredient to the Hero's Journey is the presence of a mentor, who impart knowledge aswell as tools for the road ahead. In Luke's case, it was Obi-Wan and his fathers Lightsaber. Odysseus receives aid and guidance from Athena herself in his travels. Theseus gets his fathers old military equipment and, unsurprisingly, is watched over by the gods.  It was central for most Greek Heroes' stories to involve the gods and their divine intervention, much similar to the way the Force fulfills prophecies.


I could go on, but the point is valid as it stands. Greek mythos and Star Wars certainly make good use of the Heroes Journey, and perhaps this is what is most compelling about the undying popularity of these characters. As the saying goes, "Don't fix what isn't broken".

The source of the image can be found here.

Saturday, 22 November 2014

The Significance of Mythology and Joseph Campbell

Mythologies are ingrained into all societies, and are as old as civilization itself.  They allow people to attribute meaning to themselves, society, nature, and history through stories, art, and other mediums. Arguably, a large factor in peoples fascination with ancient civilizations such as Ancient Egypt or Ancient Rome is their distinct mythologies and practices pertaining to them. None are as rich and intriguing as the mythos of Ancient Greece, and its tales of heroes, gods, fateful battles and great epics.

Greek mythology is especially captivating due to the extensive amount of stories that it produced over 6 centuries, and its subsequent influence on Roman culture, and to a large extent, culture and mythology of today. Mythos in todays society is quite separate in beliefs and practices from any ancient civilization due to the unprecedented growth of technology and science. It is not to say that mythos plays no role in modern culture, but it certainly does not emphasize gods and other religious followings that maintained in the past as a way for people to develop understanding of their world, far from todays scientific values and globalized views. Instead, we look to things such as film and literature, specifically that of science fiction to allow us to gain insight into what future society will look like, as well as the problems that will follow.  This is why George Lucas' Star Wars has become nothing less than a modern day myth with its varying characters, adventures, and tragedies,  many of which contain a great deal of influence from those who produced work to further the depth and expand Greek mythos such as Homer, Sophocles, and Herodotus




The significance and awe inspiring legacy that Star Wars has created may be attributed to a formula that has captivated audiences of all peoples for centuries is the story telling of a heroes development. Joseph Campbell was a writer and philosopher who dedicated much of his life's work to expanding on what we understand as mythology. His book "The Hero with a Thousand Faces" was a theory used to describe the development of most heroes and why they are so intriguing to humanity as whole, and I will touch on this in the next post. George Lucas has explicitly stated that Campbell's theory is what gave him inspiration and allowed him to create the undying masterpiece that is Star Wars. As the two were close friends, it is clear that much of the underlying messages and influences from other cultures, especially greek are intentional, and proof that the success of Star Wars was not just a lucky shot in the dark by Lucas. With this, I continue my own journey to connect the phenomenon that is Star Wars to the mythology of Ancient Greece, whose own mythos served as the basis for spiritual and religious story telling for a strong, civilized people long before George Lucas dreamed of Wookies and Death Stars. Here is a link to a video in which Campbell talks about the mythology of Star Wars

The source of the image can be found here
More information about Joseph Campbell can be found here