Jedi_Monk Posted November 4, 2002 Share Posted November 4, 2002 I posted this last night on the message boards of a Star Wars "fan club" (fan club being in quotes because most of the people in this club hate Lucas and the Prequels). I was getting real depressed, and this is my last ditch. Been in SWU (Star Wars Unlimited) for over five years now, led it for two years (in 98-99), and it's really gone down hill. So, I thought I'd repost it here: I'm really offended by people saying that Lucas is just a money grubbing old man. He's an artist, as temperamental and obsessed with his artistic integrity as Michelangelo was when painting the Sistine Ceiling. There are hundreds of interpretations of the Creation of Adam in art, but Michelangelo's is his own vision, and he didn't need to refer to anyone else's while painting it. He could do homage, but that was his choice. The movies are Lucas' vision, and since Lucas is the originator of Star Wars, since the whole thing was born of his own mind and imagination, his is the definitive vision. Any scene in Episode II could be printed off the screen and hung in the finest museum of art. Lucas loves Star Wars as only he can. I was at a Q&A session with R.A. Salvatore at Star Wars Celebration 2. Salvatore said that when he was talking with Lucas about writing the novelization for SW2, that Lucas' eyes were fairly "glowing" when he talked about his creation. He reported that Lucas loves to talk about it. Star Wars is Lucas' magnum opus. We're so caught up in the concept of multi-media and the multi-pronged advertising campaigns that we've lost site of what it truly means to be an artist. The Cinema is as much an art form as the written word or the painted picture. It's just newer, and therefore wrapped up with contemporary ideals. The Cinema is perhaps the highest artform yet--because it merges the elements of the other principal forms: writing, painting and music. And I think that Lucas is one of the few who have exploited this most high artform to its limits. Lucas' imagination is not constrained by the limits that have constrained artists since man first found that he could scrawl ash on a cave wall and create representations of what he saw. And he shouldn't be constrained by what others have done before him, either. Lucas is the artist, Star Wars is his work. I have written Star Wars fan fictions, and in doing so I pay homage to one of the greatest artists of all time--and if I fulfill my life's dream of becoming a director, myself, Lucas will still be my mentor. Other artists were painting the Creation of Adam contemporarily with Michelangelo--but Michelangelo didn't need to change his vision to accommodate theirs. You're right about one thing, Star Wars is bigger than the movies. Star Wars is an infinite universe that has room for me, along with every other writer who would do homage to one of the greatest pieces of art hitherto seen. Then Star Wars must also have room for the man who created it--who GAVE it to us. He should be able to do what he wants to do, we owe that to him. We shouldn't make him give into the pressure of changing his vision just because we want him to--no more than should Michelangelo have bent to critics who wanted him to throw paint over his entire masterpiece and hide it from the ages forever. Look at Star Wars, the movies, as the piece of art they are and at Lucas as the person who has the imagination to give it to us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JediNyt Posted November 5, 2002 Share Posted November 5, 2002 That my fellow Jedi is something we all need to remember hereon and everywhere that has to do with the masterpiece that is Star Wars. The movies are the vision, the definitive vision of the brilliant mind of the artist we all know and love. It is all true, it is all good. You couldnt have put it any better Monk. Thank you for putting together what I and many other good Jedi fans have felt in our minds for a long time. Remember always we must, the truth and base out feelings on only the truth, Star Wars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taos Posted November 5, 2002 Share Posted November 5, 2002 I'm glad you posted that Jedi_Monk.....thank you!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratmjedi Posted November 5, 2002 Share Posted November 5, 2002 I think that to many people now a days are talking about GL and how he is. They keep saying that he's just in it for the money but there all wrong. GL came up with it and he should be able to do whatever he want's to with it. We don't need to question the man on what he is doing but just watch as he makes art and marvels us all. It's his creation for God sakes. I have loved everything that he has made and think that all of it is good regardless of what some critic or fan may say. It is all in the eye of the beholder and the creator. I say keep doing what your doing GL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ET Warrior Posted November 5, 2002 Share Posted November 5, 2002 3 cheers for Jedi_Monk!!!! You've said what i've thought for a long time, but was never eloquent enough to put into words. And for that I salute you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keiran Halcyon Posted November 6, 2002 Share Posted November 6, 2002 I agree too, i hope Lucas Bashers understand it someday... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Count Dooku 2 Posted November 6, 2002 Share Posted November 6, 2002 George Lucas is the creator of Star Wars: how can anyone think he is nothing more than a money-grabbing old man? He is something really special, someone who was not afraid to take the idea's swimming around in his head and shape them into those fabulous movies. He is a brilliant man, and should never be put down or insulted. Well said, Jedi_Monk, and I would just like to add... LONG LIVE GEORGE LUCAS AND HIS GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
covenant_bad Posted November 6, 2002 Share Posted November 6, 2002 IVe got nothing against him but wouldnt say he's a 'visionary' or the first person to ever do something cool. REMEMBER THE HUNDREDS OF HARDWORKING PEOPLE BEHIND THE LUCAS CORPARTION AND LUCASFILMS. its not just Gl who deserves the credit! what would star wars be without john williams? or the actors who made it so convincing? remember theres always more than one view on anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keiran Halcyon Posted November 6, 2002 Share Posted November 6, 2002 Sadly, when it is about Bashing, GL gets full credits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taos Posted November 6, 2002 Share Posted November 6, 2002 Originally posted by Keiran Halcyon Sadly, when it is about Bashing, GL gets full credits. Yep, when it's negative, all of the blame falls on him.......it sucks but that the way things are in our little world...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JediNyt Posted November 7, 2002 Share Posted November 7, 2002 It is wise to just ignore everyone who doesnt like SW. They dont know poodu so what are they to us Jedi fans? They can flame and present Hollywood proof that SW sucks, but of course its all ignorance. Clouded their minds are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JediNyt Posted November 8, 2002 Share Posted November 8, 2002 *bump* Admins should make Monks opening post stuck at the top of the forum. So we always have a reminder of the great truth. Admins do that please! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ET Warrior Posted November 11, 2002 Share Posted November 11, 2002 That would be neat, to have it stuck to the top of at least the episode 2 discussion board....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jedi_Monk Posted November 12, 2002 Author Share Posted November 12, 2002 Thanks guys--it's great to know that I'm not the only person who feels this way about the Prequels. Wish this was the kind of responce I got on the SWU boards, but that would've been too much to hope for. Only reply was something like "Well it offends me that Lucas ignores the EU" Anyway, thanks again... oh, and BTW... none of you would happen to be on AOL, would you? SWU could sure use some real SW fans Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JediNyt Posted November 13, 2002 Share Posted November 13, 2002 Sorry I use Explorer. I dont have any Aol membership. Tell those morons on SWU to come here! We'll show em! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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