This brief essay will focus on how violence is normalized in the Star Wars film saga.
It is quite obvious that we are going to find violence in a movie called Star Wars, it is a war. However, my analysis will be based on how violence is presented in films and why, despite so much violence, it is so accepted and one of the most viewed films of our times.
The saga is about how the forces of light and darkness fight for control of the galaxy, each with their respective Champions, and in a political way it is reflected in the fight between the Empire, oppressive and unjust, against the Republic, with law established by democracy. It makes us feel immediate empathy for democracy, where the laws and people's lives are respected and it is possible for them to develop harmoniously. We all want the republic to win, for the heroes who represent the republic to win, but at what cost?
The battles are violent, where hundreds of people fly through the air, or are they not? We see explosions and weapons that the projectiles they launch are lights, we see that those who represent the empire are mostly aliens (they do not have human form), clones and drones or people but with quite questionable morals. On the other hand, those who represent the Republic are humans like Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Leia Organa, Han Solo, Padme Amidala, Mace Windu, Lando Carlssian, and non-humans like Master Yoda, C-3PO, GRogu, Chewbacca , R2-D2.
A question here that is essential to analyze is that the villains, in order to dehumanize them and make it easier for us to accept or even promote their appearance, are that they are depersonalized using Darth Vader, Kylo Ren, Palpatine, General Grievous, Boba Fett masks. If we analyze these face’s characters are covered, why? All clones and drones wear helmets, they have human shapes, the clones have human DNA, what makes them or doesn't make them human? What makes us human?, See mutual suffering face to face? That's the way we can feel empathy and the pain of another human? That aliens don't have the same rights to live as humans in the Republic? Our heroes of the Republic easily wave their swords and kill thousands of clones and this violence doesn't worry us, why? Or is it revenge for his merciless acts in destroying planets and supporting the empire. Here another question arises, did these clones or droids have the opportunity to decide or could they not decide or think for themselves and is that why all their deaths do not matter?
It is important to mention when a villain has the conversion to the light, even if he is about to die, his face is shown, he takes off his mask and acts heroically, like Kylo Ren and Darty Vader. We can se their faces of suffering, understand their behavior and and even forgive them.
On the other hand, our heroes of the Republic who have given their lives for “the cause” are their deaths justified? We mourn those deaths, like when Han Solo, trying to save his son from going into darkness, gives his life to save his son's.
So, are the deaths that are worthy of honor when those given for a “greater cause”? for the Republic and peace in the Galaxy, it is a very great cost. Should we think in this way? Are our lives worth depending on the cause we pursue?
Who will be the judge who tells us that our deaths were worth it depending on this cause?
