meta-pomo
Star Wars: a 12-hour postmodern art film.
Every text depends on the balance between inspiration and authorial control, and Lucas makes that tension the principal subject of his film.
It’s true: the less control Lucas had over the films, the better they were, and the Force is Light to those who surrender to it and Dark to those who use it for their selfish ends. Episodes IV-VI? Light. I-III? Dark.
But I think the author of that article gives Lucas too much credit. Lucas started out Anakin and, drunk with power, became Darth Vader. There was no self-consciousness about it. You can do a post-modern reading of a wholly classical narrative. Does that make it post-modern, or just rich with interpretative possibility?
Whatever, it’s a fun article.
Just as the Light of Luke killed the Dark of his father, Lucas’ own creation has probably killed him. I haven’t actually seen Episode III yet. Perhaps Lucas redeems himself at the end and all that’s left is to light a pyre.