The Dig on Politics in Star Wars - Episode 100

The Ginger Geek Matt Delhauer joins us for our 100th show to discuss the political undertones and overtones (and of course some racism and classism) in the Star Wars franchise as a salute to May the Fourth be with you, and happy cinco de mayo too...

Ahead of the release of the “Star Wars” film “Rogue One,” Disney chief executive Bob Iger made an emphatic claim when asked about the movie’s message: “Frankly, this is a film that the world should enjoy. It is not a film that is, in any way, a political film,” he told the Hollywood Reporter, speaking about what was then the latest addition to the sprawling sci-fi saga. “There are no political statements in it, at all.”

Iger was reacting to controversy over (quickly deleted) tweets from two of the film’s writers. Chris Weitz had observed that the series’ Galactic Empire represented “a white supremacist organization.” It was “opposed,” commented his colleague Gary Whitta, “by a multicultural group led by brave women.” Just weeks after the election of President Trump and the culmination of an acrimonious, racially charged political campaign, the film was hailed by some as “anti-Trumpian” — and subject to boycotts by irate members of the alt-right, a coterie of white nationalist who were upset about the film’s supposed liberal bent.