The cultural impact of the Star Wars movies is not disputable. It is perhaps one of the most recognizable franchises in the world. From movies to music, it’s hard to find a piece of work without a reference (or two) to the famous space opera.
The movies caused quite a stir when they first appeared. For many fans, it was the epitome of love at first sight. After the first glimpse of the movie, either you became a devoted fan, or you became a regular fan. It’s hard to hate Star Wars.
Before Star Wars, science fiction was not as popular as you might think. The literature that tackled such outlandish concepts and high-tech designs were simply not “cool”. People who enjoyed reading or watching such content were quickly labelled as nerds and geeks.
But when A New Hope came out, the world was in awe. And it soon became populated with an army of Star Wars fans.
Let’s see what how this famous saga influenced the expansion of today’s most popular genre in cinematography.
History of Science in Fiction
Science fiction is one of the oldest and most diverse genres in the history of literature. When one mentions SF, he usually refers to piles of SF literature from the 19th and 20th century.
Although H. G. Wells is often taken as the father of modern science fiction, the genre existed long before him. It just wasn’t that much popular. Zamyatin, Huxley, Orwell – in literature, sci-fi was barely gaining ground. However, thanks to Wells’ tenacious nature, society started realizing that science fiction has more to offer than simple hyperbolic tales of impossible things.
From its inception, the sci-fi genre has been closely related to diverse styles. Utopias, fantasy, even the horror genre – sci-fi heavily relies on their elements. Myth and facts, or the blurred division between the two were the cradle of this vast genre. Dubbed the “literature of ideas”, sci-fi has been in the minds of people for quite some time.
The first real sci-fi novel to appear was Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, also known as The Modern Prometheus. Jules Verne brought scientific accuracy into the fold. Soon afterwards, Enrique Gaspar y Rimbau introduced us to the time machine concept. But it was Wells who made time machines famous. A real technological prophet, he predicted the invention of planes, nuclear weapons, and space travel. During this time, the genre flourished. It would soon enter a darker phase, which ended with the appearance of Star Wars.
New Wave Sci-Fi
The 1970s and 1980s were the modern Golden Age of Science Fiction. The New Wave began in the 1960s and lasted around twenty years. During this time, many timeless blockbusters appeared. Kubrick released 2001: A Space Odyssey. Ridley Scott employed Dick’s novel to create Blade Runner. But most importantly, George Lucas invented the Star Wars universe.
The three movies that we mentioned were the modern champions of mainstream sci-fi lore. That doesn’t mean that other famous films do not exist. That only means that no other movies can compare to the level of popularity these three reached.
Before Star Wars, this wonderful genre existed mostly within the limits of literature. However, once Episodes started coming out, the genre evolved into an enormous powerhouse in entertainment. The movie industry was only the first step. Today, it’s hard to imagine a sphere without Star Wars paraphernalia!
The Star Wars Universe Translated to Earthly Entertainment
The immense impact of the franchise splits into several key categories. Today, we all know that these movies influenced both science as they did culture. Fragments and references exist in literature just as much as in films and TV shows.
Museums, theme parks, exhibitions, art installations – you name it. Everywhere you look, it’s hard to miss a Star Wars homage or a subtle hint.
The main branches of entertainment heavily feature Star Wars elements. In music, the “The Imperial March” was sampled and re-sampled in every way possible. From ringtones to official international philharmonic orchestras, the force is strong with Darth Vader’s theme.
The cultural phenomenon entered the video gaming industry as well. Title after title, numerous video games are accessible across diverse platforms and consoles. Interestingly, the only sphere where Star Wars is not heavily represented is the online casino industry. Few games tackle this massive space story. It would be fascinating to see a casino rendition of the saga displayed in reliable online casinos worldwide. But one can never know what the future holds for us!
There is no doubt that the influence of Star Wars will expand even more in the future. That is the way of the force!