I also am glad to see this article. I grew up learning the true stories. I am in trouble constantly for pointing out what’s going wrong. I have actually used movie analogies and said, “I thought everyone cheered when someone fought for good?” My observation was that most people don’t digest the words being said for meaning. Minds are set in one mode and can’t be reached for discussion. And if I try, I get anger and aggression instead of discussion. It’s really sad. I miss the days of reasonable people. I’d love to see more content like this from writers. Thank you for this piece!
"The constant flood of information and noise has made it hard to think clearly. Social media has rewired our brains to chase the next quick hit of outrage or distraction. Nobody stops to question anything anymore."
I think about this a lot, the impact social media has had on our connection to storytelling and, by extension, each other. I wasn't a huge Star Wars fan growing up, but I was raised on Star Trek, and although it was never as popular, its messaging was so clear and resonated through the fandom. People just got it back then, or so it seemed. Today, conservative Star Trek fans are quick to dismiss arguments in favor of its messaging with, "It's not that deep," and "We can pick and choose what to connect with." And while, yeah, that's not entirely untrue to some degree, it feels like the intentions behind the art we consume, and the morals of the stories we tell, suddenly mean absolutely nothing. When everything is ephemeral, nothing really matters.
It doesn't help, of course, that whichever side of whichever argument you land on, you've got a vast echo chamber of support online. Everyone thinks they're the hero these days, whether they're calling for universal healthcare or cheering for mass deportations without due process. We're not only not questioning things anymore, we're no longer even discussing them.
We've lost the plot. And I thank you for this piece, which sums a lot of it up perfectly.
I do see that argument a lot. It’s not that deep. Movies aren’t political.
Every piece of art has a message. And it’s inherently political. Even the ability to create the art you want to create is a political (and powerful) thing.
Loved this piece, Jeff. I’ve had so many conversations about this over the past decade with both true “Rebels” and “Empire” types who think they’re the good guys. My patience with the latter is gone. I’m exhausted. I just can’t keep people like that in my life anymore, even when they’re family. What do we do when the people closest to us become impermeable walls of hate and delusion?
Thanks Sean. Honestly, I think you have to move on from them. It’s not on you to fix them and spend all that energy. Either they see the light, or they lose those relationships.
Agreed, I no longer communicate with most of my extended family and a few older friends. I even have to set strong boundaries with my own mother because of this. It's very sad but, at some point, you have to reduce toxicity in your life.
I’m very happy to see you post this. I have only last week figured out this hack. I don’t have to mention a politician, I don’t have to mention a political party. I just have to talk about corruption, oppression, abduction, false flag, and ask have you seen Andor?
Totally agree. I always found the wave of movies in the last twenty years that showed the “villian’s side” of stories, ie Maleficient, Cruella or hell, even the Star Wars prequels if one’s feeling feisty, to be muddling the legacy of their original material for focusing on the why of the Big Bad. They always struck me as odd. I wonder if Hollywood, in a desperate attempt to scrape the IP barrel for known characters, inadvertently contributed to the bothsidism of current politics. If we’re unable to confidently recognize villains because we’ve been asked too often to empathize with them? Just a hot take idea that’s been rolling around my head for a whole.
I think you’re missing the point of several of those movies. The Prequels didn't humanize or sympathize with Palpatine. Sometimes villains are created by the acts of others, but corrupt immoral systems. While I despise MAGA, I also empathize that many are ill informed, are angry at the same shitty system, but have the wrong causes and solutions. I still want them to have paid leave, healthcare, education, quality life. Without any empathy, the response would be spite and exclusion. The perpetrators like Stephen Miller should be punished, but not all followers.
I grew up with Star Trek: The Original Series in reruns during the 70s. The lesson I learned from TOS was that humans are flawed, but we keep fighting to make every day better than the last. Quotes from the show have stayed with me, like: "There's no such thing as the unknown- only things temporarily hidden, temporarily not understood." "Leave any bigotry in your quarters. There's no room for it on the bridge. "In this galaxy, there's a mathematical probability of three million earth-type planets… and in all the universe, three million million galaxies like this one. And in all of that, and perhaps more, only one of each of us. Don't destroy the one named Kirk." "Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations." The series made a major impression upon me and definitely shaped my worldview.
I earned my MA in History, and I hate seeing how the right-wing in our country has attacked the facts of the past that made America what it is today. We also see Orwell's fears coming to fruition with the assault on speech, free expression, education, science & research, reality, etc., to promote a fascist agenda, sabotaging our Constitution and way of life. We can only hope the youth of today learn the lessons from the great movies of the past that resistance is not futile and that the future must be fought for every day.
Jeff, the Empire were also modeled after the US during Vietnam, and the rebels captured both the rebels against the British during the American Revolution and the Viet Cong. It shows how those fighting for freedom in one era can become an imperialist, oppressive force in another. The Jedi lost their way, supported war, the clones, and didn't see the evil rise up. You could see the parallels to much of the modern (last 40 years) Democratic party being akin to that. All of those themes continued in Andor. Fascism rises up and becomes more popular when its a marketable ideology, when the alternatives have been feckless, weak, and never deliver positive change. Season 1 of Andor, Mon Mothma was modeled after Nancy Pelosi, still trying to have a committee investigating something, not really getting the gravity of the situation.
This is true as well. Like I said - it can happen anywhere and history will side with the “winners”. America is far from perfect - we’ve done some truly terrible things as a country. Andor does an excellent job showing how weakness and lack of fight from one side can easily be exploited for authoritarian goals.
My bigger concern is that no one in America can see that. When we’re bad, we still think we’re good for the sake of being patriotic. And that almost toxic level of patriotism and nationalism is what can lead to real trouble.
For sure. We're living in a fascist/authoritarian moment. We've fought against them in the past, like when the Klan took over the south for decades after construction, it was horrible to live in those confederate states, largely still is. Trump has never had majority support and people are fighting back, and lots of people understood Andor for all it captured. For the 20-25% of maga cultists, they're a lost cause, maybe when we get them health care and a more balance economy they will be less hateful. I don't hate them, just their ideology and harm they allow to happen. Its maddening how obtuse they are when it comes to movies though
I also am glad to see this article. I grew up learning the true stories. I am in trouble constantly for pointing out what’s going wrong. I have actually used movie analogies and said, “I thought everyone cheered when someone fought for good?” My observation was that most people don’t digest the words being said for meaning. Minds are set in one mode and can’t be reached for discussion. And if I try, I get anger and aggression instead of discussion. It’s really sad. I miss the days of reasonable people. I’d love to see more content like this from writers. Thank you for this piece!
"The constant flood of information and noise has made it hard to think clearly. Social media has rewired our brains to chase the next quick hit of outrage or distraction. Nobody stops to question anything anymore."
I think about this a lot, the impact social media has had on our connection to storytelling and, by extension, each other. I wasn't a huge Star Wars fan growing up, but I was raised on Star Trek, and although it was never as popular, its messaging was so clear and resonated through the fandom. People just got it back then, or so it seemed. Today, conservative Star Trek fans are quick to dismiss arguments in favor of its messaging with, "It's not that deep," and "We can pick and choose what to connect with." And while, yeah, that's not entirely untrue to some degree, it feels like the intentions behind the art we consume, and the morals of the stories we tell, suddenly mean absolutely nothing. When everything is ephemeral, nothing really matters.
It doesn't help, of course, that whichever side of whichever argument you land on, you've got a vast echo chamber of support online. Everyone thinks they're the hero these days, whether they're calling for universal healthcare or cheering for mass deportations without due process. We're not only not questioning things anymore, we're no longer even discussing them.
We've lost the plot. And I thank you for this piece, which sums a lot of it up perfectly.
I do see that argument a lot. It’s not that deep. Movies aren’t political.
Every piece of art has a message. And it’s inherently political. Even the ability to create the art you want to create is a political (and powerful) thing.
Thanks for reading!
Loved this piece, Jeff. I’ve had so many conversations about this over the past decade with both true “Rebels” and “Empire” types who think they’re the good guys. My patience with the latter is gone. I’m exhausted. I just can’t keep people like that in my life anymore, even when they’re family. What do we do when the people closest to us become impermeable walls of hate and delusion?
Thanks Sean. Honestly, I think you have to move on from them. It’s not on you to fix them and spend all that energy. Either they see the light, or they lose those relationships.
I saw this article when you shared it on Facebook and it led me here. It resonated. Thank you for sharing it.
Agreed, I no longer communicate with most of my extended family and a few older friends. I even have to set strong boundaries with my own mother because of this. It's very sad but, at some point, you have to reduce toxicity in your life.
I’m very happy to see you post this. I have only last week figured out this hack. I don’t have to mention a politician, I don’t have to mention a political party. I just have to talk about corruption, oppression, abduction, false flag, and ask have you seen Andor?
And yes, punching Nazis is what the good guys do.
Totally agree. I always found the wave of movies in the last twenty years that showed the “villian’s side” of stories, ie Maleficient, Cruella or hell, even the Star Wars prequels if one’s feeling feisty, to be muddling the legacy of their original material for focusing on the why of the Big Bad. They always struck me as odd. I wonder if Hollywood, in a desperate attempt to scrape the IP barrel for known characters, inadvertently contributed to the bothsidism of current politics. If we’re unable to confidently recognize villains because we’ve been asked too often to empathize with them? Just a hot take idea that’s been rolling around my head for a whole.
I think you’re missing the point of several of those movies. The Prequels didn't humanize or sympathize with Palpatine. Sometimes villains are created by the acts of others, but corrupt immoral systems. While I despise MAGA, I also empathize that many are ill informed, are angry at the same shitty system, but have the wrong causes and solutions. I still want them to have paid leave, healthcare, education, quality life. Without any empathy, the response would be spite and exclusion. The perpetrators like Stephen Miller should be punished, but not all followers.
I grew up with Star Trek: The Original Series in reruns during the 70s. The lesson I learned from TOS was that humans are flawed, but we keep fighting to make every day better than the last. Quotes from the show have stayed with me, like: "There's no such thing as the unknown- only things temporarily hidden, temporarily not understood." "Leave any bigotry in your quarters. There's no room for it on the bridge. "In this galaxy, there's a mathematical probability of three million earth-type planets… and in all the universe, three million million galaxies like this one. And in all of that, and perhaps more, only one of each of us. Don't destroy the one named Kirk." "Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations." The series made a major impression upon me and definitely shaped my worldview.
I earned my MA in History, and I hate seeing how the right-wing in our country has attacked the facts of the past that made America what it is today. We also see Orwell's fears coming to fruition with the assault on speech, free expression, education, science & research, reality, etc., to promote a fascist agenda, sabotaging our Constitution and way of life. We can only hope the youth of today learn the lessons from the great movies of the past that resistance is not futile and that the future must be fought for every day.
Jeff, the Empire were also modeled after the US during Vietnam, and the rebels captured both the rebels against the British during the American Revolution and the Viet Cong. It shows how those fighting for freedom in one era can become an imperialist, oppressive force in another. The Jedi lost their way, supported war, the clones, and didn't see the evil rise up. You could see the parallels to much of the modern (last 40 years) Democratic party being akin to that. All of those themes continued in Andor. Fascism rises up and becomes more popular when its a marketable ideology, when the alternatives have been feckless, weak, and never deliver positive change. Season 1 of Andor, Mon Mothma was modeled after Nancy Pelosi, still trying to have a committee investigating something, not really getting the gravity of the situation.
This is true as well. Like I said - it can happen anywhere and history will side with the “winners”. America is far from perfect - we’ve done some truly terrible things as a country. Andor does an excellent job showing how weakness and lack of fight from one side can easily be exploited for authoritarian goals.
My bigger concern is that no one in America can see that. When we’re bad, we still think we’re good for the sake of being patriotic. And that almost toxic level of patriotism and nationalism is what can lead to real trouble.
For sure. We're living in a fascist/authoritarian moment. We've fought against them in the past, like when the Klan took over the south for decades after construction, it was horrible to live in those confederate states, largely still is. Trump has never had majority support and people are fighting back, and lots of people understood Andor for all it captured. For the 20-25% of maga cultists, they're a lost cause, maybe when we get them health care and a more balance economy they will be less hateful. I don't hate them, just their ideology and harm they allow to happen. Its maddening how obtuse they are when it comes to movies though