The Making of Myth Cultural and Historical Influences

The Making of Myth Cultural and Historical Influences on Star Wars and Greek Mythology

Influences on Star Wars • • • The Western The Space Age Science Fiction World War II The Crises of the 70’s Humanity Vs. the Machine

“Star Wars and the Western”

“Greek Myth and the Western”

Star Wars and the Space Age

Greek Myth and the Unknown

Star Wars and Science Fiction

Star Wars and Alien Life Forms Jabba the Hutt Wampa Cannibalism Cruelty

Greek Myth and “Alien Life Forms”: The Chimera

Bellerophon and the Chimera Detail from an Athenian black-figure clay vase, about 550 BC. Malibu, The J. Paul Getty Museum 85. AE. 121 © J. Paul Getty Museum

Star Wars and World War II

Greek Myth and War Chigi Vase: small oinochoe, found in Etruria (central Italy), Late http: //www. beazley. ox. ac. uk/pottery/painter Protocorinthian (c. 620 BC) First representation of hoplite warfare in s/keypieces/corinthian/chigi. htm Greek art, but warriors carry Homeric double spears.

Star Wars and Crisis of the 70’s

Greek Myth and the Weapons of Mass Destruction

Humanity vs. the Machine

Mortal vs. Immortal

Influences on Greek Myths • Europe vs. Asia (Herodotus) • The Trojan War (Thucydides) • Athenian Nationalism (Plutarch on Theseus) • Roman Nationalism (Aeneas)

Europe vs. Asia Gustave Moreau (1826 -1898) Herodotus on Europa Thucydides on and the Trojan War;

Athenian Nationalism: Theseus as another Heracles Plutarch on Theseus Heracles and the Hydra Antonio Pollaiolo, 1460 Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence

Labors of Heracles and Theseus The labors of Theseus, Attic red-figure cup, 440 BC, British Museum Labors of Heracles on Metopes of Temple of Zeus at Olympia

Heracles and the Golden Apples

Heracles and Theseus in the Underworld

Athena as Patroness

Athena and Heracles

Athena and Theseus

Roman Nationalism denarius of Julius Caesar: 47 -46 BC Aeneas leaves Troy carrying Anchises and Palladium. Vergil on Anchises and Aeneas Vergil on Aeneas and Rome