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Lucas bashing

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Lucas bashing and Lucas gushing are opposing extremes of critical viewpoints taken by fans of Star Wars and other works of George Lucas.

Lucas-bashing is a form of negative reactionary criticism focused on the work of George Lucas within the Star Wars line of fictional works. As opposed to normal criticism, Lucas-bashing is defined by a prejudicial stance against George Lucas and his works.

Lucas-gushing is equally prejudicial in favor of Lucas and his works; its adherents are equally unlikely to engage with different opinions, and prone to extended repetitive discussions on the virtues of Lucas's work.

The topics discussed by bashers and gushers are a clear subset of critical points of analysis within George Lucas' works. These points are defined not by their critical significance, but by their significance to the overall fantasy and ideology established by the earlier Star Wars films. By far the most common two topics are changes made to the original trilogy for the release of the Special Editions, and Episode I.

Both bashers and gushers are known for their repetitive and frequent postings to fan and film forums on the web. They are rarely referred to outside this context. Both bashers and gushers have analogues in other similar fan fiction, most noteably Star Trek where the terms are used in the same context. Generally, bashers are more visible than gushers, as their language and approach tend to start flame wars.

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Attributes of the Basher

Less "Lucas Bashing" - I've personally been exceptionally bad about sticking it to George Lucas when another movie does something superior to the way Lucas has done it. We've all been a little crushed as George has continued to cash in on his franchise with quick painful stabs to the galaxy far far away we fell in love with as kids, whether it's raping the old films by changing them, or the release of the abortions he refers to as the new trilogy.
- Film critic Rafe Telsch vowing to reduce his own Lucas-bashing [2]

Specific attributes of the Lucas-basher:

  • Accusations of discrediting a nostalgic memory of the earlier films;
  • Harsh, personal, often inflammatory language;
  • Criticism of changing the old films;
  • Rejection of the new films on grounds of poor film-making.

The journalist C. A. Bridges refers to the latter problem as "page upon page of Lucas-bashing blog rage" [3] that he believes will follow the release of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.

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Attributes of the Gusher

I refuse to entertain any Lucas-bashing, for one simple reason: the man fueled my childhood imagination. His stories of a galaxy far, far away captivated me, and were heavily influential in my creative outlets... this was the essence of my childhood, and it was great. I wouldn't trade any of it for anything, and if I had the opportunity, I would thank Mr. Lucas for telling me these stories ... I like the prequels, though admittedly not as much as the original trilogy, but I'm not going to take Lucas to task for it just because it doesn't live up to my expectations ... Thank you, Mr. Lucas. My imagination has been at lightspeed since '77!
- Forum poster "The Maker" at Nightly.net

Specific attributes of the Lucas-gusher:

  • Strong, nostalgic connection to the earlier films;
  • Respect for and idolisation of George Lucas for creating Star Wars;
  • Refusal to criticise aspects of the later films because they came from George Lucas;
  • Disapproval and admonishment of Lucas-bashers.

The difference between a "regular fan" and a Lucas-gusher or a Lucas-basher is often contextual; where a person has a markedly positive attitude toward Lucas in contrast to those around him, he is more likely to be labeled a "gusher," and the reverse applies for the lone negative voice in a crowd of supporters.

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Motivations and Causes

Lucas-bashing is a reactionary offensive response to challenges to an underlying ideology, whereas Lucas-gushing is the defensive response. Star Wars fans, either highly enthusiastic or casual, hold the Star Wars canon in high respect, Many are so invested that they react aggressively to perceived threats to this canon, either from Lucas's alleged incompetence or from over-zealous fan criticism. Even the extremists on both sides share a common emotional investment in Star Wars, but differ in which aspects of the canon they feel are genuine or high-quality.

The term bashing is a pejorative, typically referring to an aggressive, negative response against an individual. Lucas-bashing stems from the belief that aspects of Lucas's later work threaten the integrity and nostalgic emotional value of the original Star Wars films. By contrast, Lucas-gushing sees the later films as indivisible from the earlier films and defends them equally as a means of protecting the entire lineage from criticism.

Following the third Star Wars movie, a period of 14 years elapsed. Reviewer ratings for these films actually increased in the years afterwards [4] and continual appearances on greatest films lists show that the first Star Wars movies became very special to many people during this period in a manner that exceeds the initial reviewer critical response. Fitting into the typical psychology for reactionism, the fictional universe they presented became an ideology. Social anecdotes such as the Jedi census phenomenon continue to show how personal and special these films are.

The rereleases of the original trilogy were the true beginning of Lucas-bashing. The infamous Greedo shoots first incident was a change which did not alter the merits of the overall film, but it did change the underlying character of a person fans loved in his original incarnation, and many fans were angry. The films themselves inspired a similar protectiveness; having become attached to the films as they were, fans felt betrayed when Lucas changed them.

The prequel Star Wars Episode I further fueled Lucas-bashing; critical reviews were mixed, and neither Episode I nor Episode II delivered what fans expected or wanted. The character of Jar Jar Binks offered a focal point for Lucas-bashing, as did the performances of the actors playing Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala, the quality of the dialogue, and the plot's initial focus on trade disputes.

Lucas is, in many ways, an easy target for criticism. He is a generally private man who has been thrust into a long-term spotlight and position of increasing authority over his many companies; being so successful and influential, he is in the unusual position of having had near-total creative control over several big-budget films, and his well-known degree of auteurist control over his creations has made it very easy for disgruntled fans and critics to level all criticism of his films at Lucas directly. The exact limits of his creative control are not known, and often the difference between criticism of Lucas and Lucas-bashing is determined by participants in any particular debate.

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See also

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References

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