Having recently finished a draft of a book chapter about canon in Star Wars (both in the fictional universe and in the franchise, and the relationship between the two) it was nice to have discussion of Star Wars be so frequent online in recent months, and especially to have The Phantom Menace get particular attention. The official Star Wars website had lots of content that was thought-provoking, and I’ll share some of that here, as well as much else…
A short tribute video focused on Jedi and Sith
When Star Wars and Homeland Security cross paths
A collection of recent posts from the Star Wars website:
http://www.starwars.com/news/phantom-menace-memories
http://www.starwars.com/news/20-quotes-the-phantom-menace
https://www.starwars.com/news/from-a-certain-point-of-view-best-scene-the-phantom-menace
https://www.starwars.com/news/6-padme-amidala-greatest-moments
https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-episode-i-the-phantom-menace-oral-history
https://www.starwars.com/news/20-bts-facts-star-wars-the-phantom-menace
http://www.starwars.com/news/6-reasons-star-wars-the-phantom-menace-is-for-kids
https://www.starwars.com/news/marvels-star-wars-begins-a-new-era-with-issue-68-first-look
http://www.starwars.com/news/vanity-fair-star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker
https://www.starwars.com/news/visit-star-wars-galaxys-edge
https://www.starwars.com/news/hear-the-new-john-williams-suite-from-star-wars-galaxys-edge
https://www.starwars.com/news/10-of-the-best-force-moments
https://www.starwars.com/news/my-star-wars-adventures-writing-adventure
https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-jedi-fallen-order-comic
https://www.starwars.com/news/lessons-from-the-star-wars-saga-anyone-can-be-a-hero
https://www.starwars.com/news/from-a-certain-point-of-view-which-side-is-more-powerful-the-empire-or-the-rebels
https://www.starwars.com/news/from-a-certain-point-of-view-underrated-jedi
https://www.starwars.com/news/age-of-resistance
https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-joins-the-landmark-marvel-comics-1000
https://www.starwars.com/news/sith-trooper-star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-sdcc-2019
Some Snoke backstory is coming our way!
Kyber Crystals at Galaxy’s Edge
IO9 also had a lot more, including:
Alderaanian wolfcats finally become canon
The best thing the Phantom Menace brought to Star Wars
Find out what made someone wish for more prequels
A short animated clip about Han Solo’s development from scoundrel to hero
George Lucas at the first screening of Star Wars
I recently learned that George Lucas wrote long lists of names, some of which he came back to long after his earliest notes. And so that primed me to appreciate the IO9 piece about the names in The Rise of Skywalker. They also had another piece specifically about animal names in the franchise.
Han may or may not have shot first, but Boba Fett straight up murdered someone.
Rise of Skywalker may feel like a different genre
The Marvel approach won’t work for Star Wars
A comic that feels like opening a time capsule from the 80s
The revelations in a new Tie Fighter book
Will Brooker, in his book Using the Force, talks about “bashers” and “gushers” and the inability of most in one camp to persuade those in the other, or find common ground, or really understand them. There is a parallel to talking across religious differences, I’m sure you’ll agree…but if you don’t, can I persuade you?
The Sacred in Fantastic Fandom was released. Here’s a link so you can order a copy!
When did popular culture become homework?
Loss and Found: Retribution, Restoration, and Relationships in Avengers: Endgame
Hello From The Magic Tavern explores canon in a fascinating way
And on that other kind of canon…
https://internetmonk.com/archive/87071
Who was behind deciding what became part of the Hebrew Bible?
AJR Book Note on Before the Bible
http://www.apocryphicity.ca/2019/06/21/book-review-the-other-side-apocryphal-perspectives-on-ancient-christian-orthodoxies/
https://academic.logos.com/theological-interpretation-of-scripture-and-biblical-criticism-childs-and-wellhausen/
http://academic.logos.com/where-text-and-canon-meet-an-interview-with-john-meade-and-peter-gurry/
The Mesopotamian canon is a thing, too, in case you didn’t know. Art history has one too:
https://relcfp.tumblr.com/post/186233633534/cfp-the-art-historical-canon-today-caa-2020
Finally, a conference that touches on canon in the context of censorship. Apologies for not sharing it before the deadline for submissions passed on the call for papers!
http://relcfp.tumblr.com/post/185041116913/nihil-obstat-reading-and-circulation-of-texts
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In