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.
"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.
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.
"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.