Star Wars: Generation Musings

I have no idea where this is going to go, nor if I’ll be coherent and make a point. Part of that dilemma is probably, mostly due to the fact it’s after 2 AM, I’m more tired than I want to admit, but I’m avoiding sleeping because I dread returning to work tomorrow. (Ick.)

That said, I’ve been meaning to write this since I first saw the *ahem* BRILLIANT new Star Wars film, The Last Jedi.

This thought I had is actually something which initially came to mind during my first viewing of the film, and sequentially was solidified upon my second. It was so strong a thought, it even came up in my post-viewing discussion with my best friend.

But before I begin, even though it’s been out for 2+ weeks, please be forewarned there are some massive spoilers ahead. Read on if you’ve only seen the film, or if you’re one of those bizarre people who doesn’t mind reading spoilers pre-viewing.

So Luke dies.

Well, not really. He transcends and becomes one with the Force, technically. However, it’s essentially equated with death.

This occurrence, of course, was fascinatingly shocking. Brilliant. But shocking.

Afterwards, my aforementioned friend and I were discussing the film, and I made a quip of, “They’ve killed off the older generation, and now the millennials have taken over.” He laughed understanding my reference to Han Solo’s previous death, Carrie Fisher’s untimely passing (and consequential, unfortunate, inevitable absence from Episode IX), and now Luke’s death as well.

Who remains, especially now that even Admiral Ackbar is gone? That’s right. Poe, Finn, and Rey. (Sure, we still have Chewie, but he’s not really the leading type. He’s the loyal sidekick, obviously. And I doubt C3-PO will arise to the occasion; though, I’m sure R2-D2 would gladly take command, but he’s always too busy doing his own thing to delegate to anyone. Besides, as amusing as the notion is, they’re both droids.)

Again, we are left with Poe, Finn, and Rey.

Heck, even Kylo went more insane than his tantrums in Episode VII, and frickin’ killed Snoke, which totally left me unsatisfied with Snoke’s character. The creepy dude definitely had some mad skills with the Force. The way he throws Hux around like a doll via transmission when who knows how far away he is? I mean, c’mon. That was legit. Anyway, I digress.

My sister had a theory that VII was Han’s film; obviously VIII was for Luke; thus, IX would obviously be for Leia, which when Carrie tragically left us, Kathleen Kennedy discussed how vital of a role she would play in the last episode in this new trilogy.

This begs the question, then: “Where does this lead/leave us for Episode IX?”

No clue, but I’m off topic anyway. Let’s go back to my quip.

“They’ve killed off the older generation, and now the millennials have taken over.”

This is true on a number of levels, and I find it interesting how such sociological, cultural nuances are finding their way as subtle commentary into the Star Wars universe.

We are in a time of cultural shifts. While it might not be as dramatically sudden like the post-war world of the 1920s or 1950s, we are still experiencing a change in the tides of societal norms. This is partially due to the generational shifts we’re experiencing at large as the Traditionalists (the Greatest Generation) are quickly decreasing in number, the Baby Boomers are becoming less influential and slowly loosing their place as the authoritative leaders, and those born from 1970 to 1996-ish — i.e. Gen X/Y, Millennials, Xennials, whatever we’re frickin’ called — are taking our place as the primary generation. (There’s a thought.)

That said, I find in my own observations that we so called “Millennials” are either like Kylo or like Rey. What do I mean?

First, I have heard from those born pre-1970 state the problem with “Millennials” is that we are the products of a post-modern and post-millennial world, and thus, have no concern, respect, or daresay ontological conscientiousness of history –– how it affects us, how we belong to it and it belongs to us, how we should utilize it and our predecessors’ experience in pursuing our futures, and more.

In other words, we “Millennials” are like Kylo Ren. His line of, “Let the past die. Kill it, if you have to. That’s the only way to become what you were meant to be,” is the best example of this.

Kylo is struggling like an adolescent trapped in an adult body with adult responsibilities, and is treated like an even younger child of 10. Thus, when given the opportunity to do something about finding a solution to his struggles, which clearly are deeply existential, he kills the only so called “mentor” he had, and in the process asks Rey to come with him and create a new order to rule the galaxy apart from anything like the past, even the past of 5 seconds ago.

He’s hellbent on making a name for himself, of securing his identity which remains so fragile and tenuous, the only option he sees worth pursuing is completely destroying any and all ties to who he was and becoming something entirely new.

But what about Rey?

Rey is the juxtaposition to Kylo. (Duh.) So much so that when she refuses Kylo’s offer, he accuses her of holding onto the past, to other’s and their teachings, like Luke.

This is why I love Rey. This is why we need more characters like Rey. I value her for so many reasons, but the initial one in this latest installment was her refusal to forget the past and desire to cling to it, allowing its ambiguities, pain, and failures to teach her how to continue pursuing the shared vision of a galaxy full of hope and one day peace.

Even Luke is like some of those from the older generations who just want to call it quits and hide away from their mistakes. There are those in this world who admit that they (their generation) epically screwed over society such as with the 1960s social movements (i.e. anarchist hippies), which have never really ceased even today. I know because I have frequent conversations about this very topic with them.

Luke, in his “wisdom” as a failed teacher who betrayed his student, tries to burn the texts which birthed the Jedi religion he clings to. Of course, Master Yoda EPICALLY appears and does it for him when he hesitates. (Best scene in the entire film, for me at least. And my dad totally cried during this moment, too.) Why? Because “the greatest teacher, failure is.”

However, Rey is keen on protecting the past, so much so she saves the Jedi texts, which we see hidden away on the Millennium Falcon. (And I’m convinced Yoda totally knew she did it, too. Hence burning the tree. They were safe all along.)

So what’s my point? Do I have one? Yes; there are some of us who are like Kylo. We want to forget the past and create a new order of life. However, I do not think such methods will ever work in our favour (but why is too long a topic to write about when it’s now after 3:30 AM and I have work at 8 AM. Oy.)

Thankfully, though, there are some of us who are like Rey. “Something inside us that’s always been there has awoken. We just need someone to show us our place in all this.” That is why we look to the past to train us. We know without it, we can never become who we are meant to be.

I just hope as we enter this new year of 2018, we as a society act more like Rey than Kylo. If not, I fear the world we are creating for our children to grow up in.