Reg Lester
Grant Richards
Shira Stone

How Technology is Represented in Star Wars

When watching the film, Star Wars, it is impossible not to be aware of the technology that is represented in the film, partly because it is so much more advanced than our own is now, but also because we can imagine how we might someday acquire such technology. The central theme in Star Wars is good versus evil, clearly demonstrated by the technology in the film. While the Rebels (the good guys) use technology primarily to fight for freedom and quality of life for all, the Empire (the bad guys) use technology to develop weapons of destruction and war in an attempt to rule the galaxy. In addition to these two opposing sides, there is another group that doesn’t use technology for war. This group gets technology as it filters down from the other two groups at war. Consequently, in the film technology is used for good, for bad, and for everyday use. This mirrors our own society in many ways, and therefore, Star Wars is a great artifact to study to get a better understanding of our own technological advancements. In this report, we focus specifically on how the Empire, the Rebels, and the Non-Warring people of the film acquired, developed, and used technology and how that relates to our society today.

Although Star Wars takes place "in a galaxy far, far away," that does not mean that it is not significant or that it cannot be used to help us better understand our own society. Star Wars has had an enormous impact on our society and our popular culture. Just as anthropologists study other cultures, which in turn helps them better understand their own cultures, we can better understand ourselves by studying how technology is represented in this far-off place. By studying the technology of Star Wars, we glimpse our possible future, including space travel to other planets or even other star systems where we might come in contact with other species and societies. However, even if we don’t look into the future, Star Wars can tell us volumes about how technology can affect our society, especially as it pertains to war.

Through the ages there have been constant struggles to resolve disputes. However, as we can see through our history, sometimes peaceful resolutions are not possible because of misunderstandings, corruption, power, or greed. In these cases, one alternative to settling the dispute is war. Technology plays an extremely important role in war, and this is clearly demonstrated in Star Wars. Star Wars possesses similarities to our own culture and with the vast amounts of technology represented in the film, it is an ideal choice to better understand our own society.

We are delighted to have the opportunity to examine Star Wars because we feel intimately connected to the film and all that it represents. We grew up with R2D2, C3PO, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, and Chewbacca. We dressed up like them for Halloween, we played Star Wars games for countless hours, we imagined ourselves using their futuristic technology, and now we want to study how this artifact has affected our society and how it might affect our future.

In the movie, Star Wars, how is technology represented differently in its ability to help humankind and/or destroy it?

We decided to conduct our analysis on the representations of technology in Star Wars. In order to get a detailed analysis, we had to look at several different types of sources. First we each viewed the movie separately, taking notes as we did so, and then we met to determine our focus. Later we each viewed the movie again to look for specifics of the technology represented in the film. The second and subsequent viewings were used to find the specific details (quotes from characters, images and representations of technology, etc.) that we needed to support our ideas. We specifically looked at scenes that represented technology (those on Tatooine, on the Death Star, etc.). In these scenes we looked at the visual rhetoric used to display technology as good or evil.

We also used three books to help in our analysis, which included The Science of Star Wars by Jeanne Cavelos, A Guide to the Star Wars Universe by Bill Slavicsek, and Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary by David West Reynolds. The Science of Star Wars discusses if the science fiction of Star Wars could actually be the science of tomorrow. For example, it tells specifically how the technology of the things in the film actually works. The three chapters that were most helpful were Chapter III, Droids; Chapter IV, Spaceships and Weapons; and Chapter V, The Force. A Guide to the Star Wars Universe, which was our most useful source, gives detailed information (including clear explanations, the history, all technical information, and other relevant information) about every person, place, or thing in the Star Wars. Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary provides detailed information on the specific mechanics of the weapons, ships, and other technologies in the film. We also did research via the Internet. The most beneficial site was the Official Star Wars site (www.starwars.com). It gave us several good ideas and enabled us to find other sources to assist in our analysis.

Analysis:

Star Wars is a classic tale of Good versus Evil, and the technology represented in the film follows this same theme. There are "good" and "bad" uses of this technology, and the people who control this technology determine how it is to be used. In the film there are three primary groups. The first group is the Rebels, a warring group that fights for good, and they use their technology to promote freedom and the quality of life for all. The second group is the Empire, headed by Emperor Palpatine himself. Although the Empire is also a warring group, it is vastly different than the Rebels. This Empire’s primary purpose is to rule the galaxy, and it uses technology as a way to accomplish this goal. It is not concerned with freedom or quality of life. To the contrary, all of the Empire’s resources go into producing weapons of destruction. The third group comprises the non-warring people of the galaxy, including people like Luke Skywalker’s aunt and uncle who use technology to help them farm on the desert-like planet of Tatooine. Also in this group of non-warring people are individuals like Han Solo and Chewbacca who are smugglers and who often use technology illegally for their own personal gain (Note: Han and Chewbacca become Rebels at the end of the film.).

The Rebel Alliance is "hard pressed for ships and weapons [and must] rely on its capable leaders" like General Jan Dodonna, General Rieekan, Admiral Ackbar, and Princess Leia (Reynolds 26). Competent Rebel leaders are necessary to overcome the Empire’s numeric and technological advantages. The Rebel forces are often makeshift and are far inferior to the Empire’s great powers. X-wing fighers, small single pilot starfighters, are the Rebel’s greatest weapon.

Androids (droids) are an important technology of the Rebels, and in the film we can easily see which droids are good by looking at their actions and appearance. While nearly all the Imperial droids are black and lack human characteristics, the Rebel’s droids are surprisingly human-like. C3PO, who is a droid who helps the Rebellion, has basically the same body shape of a human, having two legs, two arms, two eyes, ten fingers, etc. Also, he is gold in color, representing wealth, not of money but of knowledge, which is used to the advantage of the Rebellion. In addition to simply looking like a human, he also speaks human languages, as well as the languages of the droids (binary languages). And just like human voices change to reflect their emotions, C3PO’s voice reflects how he feels. For example, his voice becomes frantic and high pitched as he screams at R2D2 to shut down all the garbage compactors in the Death Star to save the lives of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Princess Leia. Like humans, C3PO can think on his own and be independent, even stubborn. When he lands on Tatooine, C3PO refuses to follow R2D2 , saying, "I’m not going that way; it’s much too rocky."

R2D2 is another droid, and although he does not look human like C3PO, he has many human characteristics. He does not have hands, but numerous sensors and devices inside his body act and perform the same functions as hands do. His coloring is blue and white, with white representing good and blue representing loyalty. An example of this loyalty is when he is sold to his new master, Luke Skywalker, who he knows he must obey. Despite the risk, however, he searches for Obi-Wan Kenobi to deliver a message from Princess Leia. Because he is loyal to the princess, he helps get important information to the Rebellion. Although R2D2 only speaks the language of the droids, he is able to show emotion when he communicates. For example, when he is about to be captured by the Jawas on Tatooine, he "screams" out as if in pain. C3PO and R2D2 are droids who are clear examples of technology that helps humankind, while Imperial droids contribute to the destruction of humankind.

A nontraditional technology in Star Wars is the Force, which is used to assist humankind by the Jedi Knights, "the guardians of justice and freedom, the most respected and powerful force for good for over a thousand generations" (Slavicsek 242). However, the Jedi Knights are nearly extinct, except for Obi-Wan Kenobi. Obi-Wan says, "The Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It’s an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us, penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together." Although the Jedi Knights were once respected, their skills and knowledge (technology) do not get the respect that they once did:

Han: "Hoaky religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."

Luke: "You don’t believe in the Force, do you?"

Han: "Kid, I’ve flown from one side of this galaxy to the other. I’ve seen a lot of strange stuff, but I’ve never seen anything to make me believe that there is one all-powerful force controlling everything. There’s no mystical energy field that controls my destiny. It’s all a lot of simple tricks and nonsense."

Han Solo values traditional technology over what he cannot see or touch. However, Jedi Knights do not use traditional technology. In fact, the only weapon that they do use is the lightsaber, a futuristic version of a sword. Obi-Wan says that the lightsaber "is the weapon of a Jedi Knight, not as clumsy or random as a blaster, an elegant weapon for a more civilized time." The Jedi Knights are not the only ones to use lightsabers; they are also used by the dark side of the Force (Darth Vadar). The colors of the lightsabers indicate whether the user is good or bad. Obi-Wan's lightsaber is green, which represents peace and life, while Darth Vader's lightsaber is red, which represents his hatred for humanity. Darth Vader and the Empire use the force to spread terror and destroy any opposition who stands in the Empire’s way.

The Death Star is the Empire’s greatest weapon. It is an armored space station the size of a small moon and has enough power to destroy an entire planet. It was constructed in secret to surprise and strike fear in the people of the local star systems. Governor Tarkin of the Empire said, "fear [of the Death Star] will keep the local systems in line." The Death Star is somber and uninviting with its dull gray color and cyclops-like super laser. The super laser, which is used to destroy planets, is actually eight small lasers focused together to make one large laser beam (Reynolds 108). Its first target was the peaceful planet of Alderaan, obliterated in one blast from the Death Star in one barbaric display of sheer power.

As technologically advanced as the Death Star seems to be, however, it is not considered to be the most important technology of the Empire:

General Tagge: "Any attack made by the Rebels against this station would be a useless gesture, no matter what data they’ve obtained. This station is the ultimate power in the universe. I suggest we use it."

Darth Vader: "Don’t be too proud of this technological terror you’ve constructed. The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the Force."

General Tagge: "Don’t try to frighten us with your sorcerer’s ways, Lord Vader. Your sad devotion to that ancient religion has not helped you conjure up the stolen data tapes or given you clairvoyance enough to find the Rebel’s hidden fortress…"

Darth Vader: "I find your lack of faith disturbing."

The dark side of the Force, at least for the Emperor and for Darth Vader, is a vast power, which they use mercilessly to rule the galaxy.

The stormtroopers are another example of the evil use of technology by the Empire. The stormtroopers are clones from the great clone wars, which took place before the film, Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, begins. Because the Empire’s battle droids proved incompetent in battle and the Empire did not have the work force to accomplish its goal of ruling the galaxy, it decided to clone humans for its army. They were a great technological development for the Empire because it could not only produce as many soldiers as it needed, but the stormtroopers:

will rush into combat without a thought of their own safety. If the Emperor issues an order, stormtroopers will drop everything else to obey it. Totally loyal to the Empire, stormtroopers cannot be bribed, seduced, or blackmailed into betraying their Emperor. They live in a totally disciplined, totally militaristic world where obedience is paramount and the will of the Emperor is absolute. (Slavicsek 418-419)

Because the stormtroopers were cloned, they are practically identical, which is ideal for military purposes. For example, all of their uniforms can be the same size. Indeed, Princess Leia knew that Luke was not a stormtrooper when he came to rescue her: "Aren’t you a little short to be a stormtrooper?" The one problem with having so many people who are virtually the same is identifying them. The stormtroopers do not have names; they have call numbers like droids do: "TK421, why aren’t you at your post?" The Empire clearly uses technology for destructive purposes when cloning human beings into stormtroopers to serve its army.

Stormtroopers are white, and white often represents good or enlightenment in films and literature. However, it means quite the opposite for the stormtroopers. The stormtroopers are white because they lack color, just like they lack other valuable things. Stormtroopers lack personality; they are one-dimensional and cannot express their emotions because they are hidden beneath their armor. They are not a collection of individuals, but instead, a group of one. In our society individuality is greatly valued, but for the stormtroopers it is not an option. It is like they are dead, with their white color representing how they are like ghosts. Technology has killed them. They mindlessly march around chasing the good guys. Stormtroopers clearly are not good or enlightened; they are simply a result of technology used for an evil purpose.

Technology in Star Wars is generated much like it is in our society. Large governments and/or militaries develop and use technologies first, primarily because they have the resources to develop them. Consequently, these technologies usually have a military purpose, and it is not until later that they filter down to the rest of society. A perfect example of this in our society is the Internet. As Adams and Clark point out, our government developed the Internet for military use, but it has since been adopted by nearly every part of society.

In Star Wars the Jawas are basically garbage collectors who recycle the technology that literally falls from the sky. They then sell this technology (C3P0 and R2D2 are the "garbage" in this scenario) to those who can use it. The following is a section from the movie in which Owen Lars, Luke’s uncle, is searching for the technology he needs for farming:

Owen Lars: "You, I suppose you are programmed for etiquette and protocol?"

C3PO: "Protocol? Why it is my primary function, sir. I am well versed in all the customs…"

Owen Lars: "I have no need for a protocol droid."

C3PO: "Of course you haven’t, sir, not in an environment such as this. That is why I have been programmed…"

Owen Lars: "What I really need is a droid who understands the binary language of moisture evaporators."

C3PO: "Evaporators? Sir, my first job was programming binary load lifters, very similar to your evaporators in most respects."

Owen Lars: "Can you speak bocce?"

C3PO: "Of course I can, sir. It is like a second language to me. I am as fluent in…"

Owen Lars: "Ok, shut up. I’ll take this one."

As one can see, Owen Lars is able to acquire technology, which was originally developed and built for a military spaceship, to help him farm–the Star Wars version of our trickle down theory. In an indirect way technology is used to help humankind by utilizing recycled technology.

Han Solo’s Millennium Falcon is another example of how technology filters down to the common person. The Millennium Falcon was a stock light freighter of Corellian design until it had "undergone major overhauls, refittings, and modifications that make all but its external appearance vastly different from the manufacturer’s specifications" (Slavicsek 301). Han Solo describes it as such: "You’ve never heard of the Millennium Falcon? It’s the ship that made the Kessel Run in less than 12 parseks. I’ve outrun Imperial starships, not the local bulk cruisers, mind you. I’m talking about the big Corellian ships. She’s fast enough for you, old man." And later when Luke sees the ship and says, "What a piece of junk," Han says, "She’ll make .5 past light speed. She may not look like much, but she’s got it where it counts, kid. I’ve made a lot of special modifications myself." The only way Han could get such a ship is if he illegally modified it himself. Again, technology, with human intervention and modification, assists in the struggle to end the Empire’s use of destructive technology.

Implications:

The study of technology and its impact on society in Star Wars allows us to explore the advantages provided by and dangers associated with technological advancement. In Star Wars the threat of galactic domination by the Empire via its development and advancement of technology prompts a group of spirited and determined freedom fighters from across the galaxy to form the Rebel Alliance. The depiction of a great evil (the Empire) is countered by the creation of a determined fighting force (the Rebels). Ultimately, the Rebel force defeats the Empire and restores peace and order to the galaxy.

Adams and Clark discuss the design and implementation of the Internet, which was established because of a great threat to humanity, nuclear war. The Internet was built to be a robust and flexible communication medium designed to withstand a nuclear attack. This integrated network of computers provides advanced communication capabilities, allowing vital arms of the government and military to communicate in the event that a particular region’s communication infrastructure becomes inoperable. The ever-present threat of a wide-scale nuclear attack prompted the government and the military to design such a network. Assuming that any nuclear strike would result in some cities being destroyed and others surviving, in 1966, RAND researchers developed a plan to disperse communication systems across the country. At first RAND’s "galactic network" was considered highly unconventional (Adams and Clark 10). This galactic network was in fact developed to a great success to become the Internet.

Thus, just as in Star Wars, a threat or negative force (the Empire) prompted the assembly of a solution or positive force (the Rebel Alliance). We see this replicated in our current society. The threat of nuclear war prompted the design of the Internet to be used primarily by the government and the military in the event of a nuclear war. This amazing technology has now made its way to society for the greater good of humankind in the name of communication, research, entertainment, etc.

Another example pertaining to implications of our analysis of the film, Star Wars, is in regards to how technology is used negatively by an individual or a group in society. In Star Wars, technology is used by the Empire to seek and destroy any opposition. Instead of developing technology to help the inhabitants of the many star systems in the galaxy, the Empire invests in building Star Destroyers and the Death Star. This technology is designed and constructed to eradicate the very people who develop the technology.

In modern day society we face a similar problem in which humankind betrays technology and uses it for sick and disturbed purposes. The Internet’s availability and anonymity is one of its greatest strengths; anyone can launch into cyberspace at any time of the day to utilize the vast amount of knowledge on the web. However, this strength is also a very dangerous weakness. There are individuals in society who use this availability and related anonymity to lure children into situations of sexual exploitation and abuse. As the saying goes, "You can’t always judge a book by its cover" (Adams and Clark 99). In this case people can’t be trusted by the name or information they provide on the Internet. However, this is often no different than when technology and the Internet are not being used. An element of trust is required in all interactions, and it is individuals, not technology, who are sometimes corrupt (evil), so technology should not be blamed.

Chat rooms and other TMSI’s can provide a great deal of value to users (Adams and Clark). However, just as technology is betrayed by the Empire, people in modern day society abuse the technology of the Internet and commit appalling crimes, primarily against children. Law enforcement agencies are continuing to crack down on these sexual predators as evidenced by the recent child pornography stings via the Internet. It is absolutely imperative that parents protect their children from these sick criminals who prey on vulnerable and impressionable children.

Lastly, positive uses of technology drawn from Star Wars mirror present day advantages and opportunities that the Internet creates. Technology in Star Wars is also used to aid and advance humankind. For example, when Luke Skywalker sustained a severed hand injury at the hand of his father, the ominous Darth Vader, Rebel Alliance droids were able to develop and apply a bionic hand for Luke, which allowed him to regain full use of his hand. Clearly technology was used for the betterment of humankind in this example. The bionic hand (although not as natural as a human hand) allowed Luke to continue to fight for the Rebel Alliance and ultimately defeat the Empire in Episode VI, Return of the Jedi.

The positive use of technology clearly and overwhelmingly overshadows the negative uses in society. Look no further than the Internet itself. It is very evident through the various online discussions on the Communication 181 website that people in the class have greatly benefited from the technology of the Internet. Discussions have ranged from the ability to conduct research for academic purposes to online shopping. Adams and Clark briefly explore the dystopic possibilities and a utopic future for the Internet. We think it is safe to state that the Internet and technology will bring a vast amount of benefits and enhancement to our world while minimizing the negativity.

It is up to humanity and the creators of the technology to ensure that the negative effects and a certain dystopic future are never realized. Just as in Star Wars, technology is used for good and bad purposes. We must ensure that the human spirit and that compassion rule out and prevent such destructive uses of technology, just as the Rebels did in their glorious victory over the Empire.

Conclusion:

Studying the movie, Star Wars, is valuable because it enables us to have a better understanding of our own society. The theme of good versus evil is a common theme, both in the film and in our everyday lives, especially as it pertains to technology. Just like in the film, much of our technology was originally developed for military purposes. At first glance this may seem like it is an evil, but that’s not necessarily true. Many people feel that we have to defend freedom and liberty and bring those who perpetrate injustices to justice. The actions our country has taken due to the events that occurred on September 11^th, for example, are a clear example of this. We must develop and utilize technology to assist in waging war against those who commit wrong doings. In this respect, we are much like the Rebels from the film. Similarly, those who flew the planes into the buildings are using technology in a negative way, and therefore, they are like the Empire.

However, technology, no matter how or for what reason it is developed, can be greatly beneficial to a society. As we discussed previously, the Internet is an example of technology that was originally developed for military purposes but has been adopted by nearly all parts of society and is widely considered to be very valuable. This is much like how in the film the droids that were designed and built for the star wars were later used by farmers to sustain and even improve life. As one can see, the film, despite its futuristic technology, closely mirrors our own society. Maybe someday we, too, will travel the galaxy, and we hope remember the valuable lessons in Star Wars.

References

Adams, Tyrone and Norman Clark. The Internet: Effective Online Communications. New York: Harcourt, 2001.

Cavelos, Jeanne. The Science of Star Wars. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1999.

Reynolds, David West. Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary. New York: DK Publishing, Inc., 2000.

Slavicsek, Bill. The Guide to the Star Wars Universe. 2^nd ed. New York: Ballantine Books, 1994.

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