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Understanding Rhetorical Structures

Can the Star Wars Expanded Universe (EU) live on as Legend? As Michelle Lawhorn tries to explain in her editorial “Star Wars: Is the EU Really Gone?” (Lawhorn, 2014) Michelle reminds readers that George Lucas didn’t put his official stamp on any novel, comic, or game saying that is truly what happens in the Star Wars universe. The EU is a collection of authors that had continued to further tell the stories of Star Wars after Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (ROTJ) in the absence of any more movies by George Lucas. Fans fell in love with these stories and believed them to be cannon and official Star Wars storyline. Then George Lucas sells Star Wars to Walt Disney and Disney announces that the EU is considered non-cannon in future films and novels and fan were extremely upset. Michelle does a great job explaining that the Star Wars history has not been erased in any way and that all novels, comics, and games will be rebranded Legends. Many fans of the EU thought that many of their beloved characters would disappear and be forgotten. Michelle reassures the readers that this is not the case “See, here’s the thing: the EU was never canon to begin with. George Lucas never signed off on any novel, game, or comic to be official canon…Basically, the EU was unofficial “official” fan fiction.” (Lawhorn, 2014) George Lucas basically let different departments within Lucas Film continue creating products for Star Wars in order to further the brand. As the Star Wars brand continued over the decades George Lucas finally added more to the Star Wars universe filming Episodes I, II, and III and officially adding to the storyline. After those films were made more products were made based on those films years after the last film ended. Now enters Walt Disney and the new era of Star Wars. George Lucas sells Lucas Film and Star Wars to Walt Disney and the company plans on making a new film. At first fans were excited because they thought characters from the EU would show up in the next film somehow but would soon be disappointed to learn that the EU was non-cannon. “As it was, the EU as a whole (comics, games, books, and even the movies) was FULL of contradictions, inconsistencies, and things that were just plain weird….That’s what happens when you have so many creators working on separate projects with relatively no restraints.” (Lawhorn, 2014) For example many novels have been written in the EU about Darth Vader and the Emperor and what was happening behind the scenes during movies, and a video game comes out and has no relation to what was written in the novels. Lucas Film created a PC game called Tie Fighter which featured a blue skinned humanoid with red glowing eyes named Admiral Thrawn in a few cut scenes, a science fiction writer plays the game and asked permission to write a novel about Admiral Thrawn. The prequels introduced Jar Jar Binks but cartoons and novels largely ignored this character because of fan backlash and Jar Jar was the butt of many critical jokes. Michelle has a point to make about the future and past of Star Wars. Since Walt Disney bought Star Wars, fans have dreaded yet another Jar Jar Binks while “mourning” their EU even though it’s never going to leave. “A cohesive universe would not only keep storylines straight, but allow for a clear timeline for future creators to draw on, as well as giving new fans a much easier product to dive into.” (Lawhorn, 2014) “See, the EU is only “dead” if YOU let it be. Those characters are only “dead” if YOU allow them to be…They’re simply starting a new chapter for a new age of the Star Wars fandom.” (Lawhorn, 2014) Walt Disney still acknowledges the EU including those who published a lot of the content. Fans of the EU can tell their kids some of characters and pass it while sharing in the new stories. The same people writing, developing, and filming the future have also been part of the EU want to expand the Star Wars universe grow even larger. This editorial by Michelle Lawhorn shows why fans of the EU should be excited and embrace its future. From reminding fans that Lucas never intended the EU as cannon but just a means of running a business. With all the products about Star Wars around many contradictions came about and selling Lucas Film was a smart business decision for Star Wars. Fans of the EU should be happy since they hold a few nuggets of knowledge general fans don’t know, the same thing has happened in the Marvel and DC universes for decades.

Lawhorn, M. (2014, July 30). Legendarium Media. Retrieved from Legendarium Media: legendariummedia.com