Star Wars
Work Title: Star WarsMedium: Film
Episode Title:
Year: 1977
Writer(s): George Lucas
"Original" Writer: Yes Own work?: Yes
Summary:
from imdb.com In a galaxy far, far away, a psychopathic emperor and his most trusted servant - a former Jedi Knight known as Darth Vader - are ruling a universe with fear. They have built a horrifying weapon known as the Death Star, a giant battle station capable of annihilating a world in less than a second. When the Death Star's master plans are captured by the fledgling Rebel Alliance, Vader starts a pursuit of the ship carrying them. A young dissident Senator, Leia Organa, is aboard the ship & puts the plans into a maintenance robot named R2-D2. Although she is captured, the Death Star plans cannot be found, as R2 & his companion, a tall robot named C-3PO, have escaped to the desert world of Tatooine below. Through a series of mishaps, the robots end up in the hands of a farm boy named Luke Skywalker, who lives with his Uncle Owen & Aunt Beru. Owen & Beru are viciously murdered by the Empire's stormtroopers who are trying to recover the plans, and Luke & the robots meet with former Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi to try to return the plans to Leia Organa's home, Alderaan. After contracting a pilot named Han Solo & his Wookiee companion Chewbacca, they escape an Imperial blockade. But when they reach Alderaan's coordinates, they find it destroyed - by the Death Star. They soon find themselves caught in a tractor beam & pulled into the Death Star. Although they rescue Leia Organa from the Death Star after a series of narrow escapes, Kenobi becomes one with the Force after being killed by his former pupil - Darth Vader. They reach the Alliance's base on Yavin's fourth moon, but the Imperials are in hot pursuit with the Death Star, and plan to annihilate the Rebel base. The Rebels must quickly find a way to eliminate the Death Star before it destroys them as it did Alderaan. Written by Derek O'Cain
Era/Year of Portrayal: distant_past
Distinctive characteristics of the world in portrayal:
Takes place in distant past, but seems like future. Space travel is common, weapons very advanced, lasers common.
Technology
- Name of portrayed presence-evoking technology: Darth Vader
- Description of the technology: Darth Vader begins life as a human, becoming a Jedi Knight. After being seduced by the 'dark side' he particpates in a horrific duel with Obi-Wan, leaving him no legs or arms, and brutally burned. He is recused by Lord Palpatine, and given a life sustaing suit, respirator, and artifical limbs. While the brain of Vader may be somewhat human, his entire body is machine. He is mobile, and interacts with people as if human, although he is quite an imposing figure, being over 6 feet tall, with a deep voice, and constant loud artifical breathing. He is mean, morally corrupt, and evil.
- Nature of task or activity: Generally, most are fighting with Vader, although some discuss and talk with him.
- Performance of the Technology: works very well.
- Description of creator(s): The creator of Vader is Lord Palpatine, a dark Sith Lord. He is scary, a leader of the Dark Side, and a fighter.
- Major goal(s) of creator(s): To take over the world.
- Description of users of technology: Most of the people who fight Vader are white, ranging in age from 20s to 60s, and are good. They are members of the rebellion, trying to rid the galaxy of evil.
- Type(s) of presence experience in the portrayal: social_presence
- Description of presence experience: The experience is scary, frightening, thrilling, and dangerous. Vader is frightening.
- User awareness of technology during experience: yes.
- Valence of experience: unpleasant
- Specific responses: involvement, improved task performance and skill training, intense parasocial relationships
Darth Vader is defeated and the Death Star destroyed. The good guys win.
Other: Coder name: Amanda ScheinerCoder email: amandags@temple.edu
Coder affiliation: Temple University