#StudyingStarWars Day 1

The Last Jedi is due for release Dec. 15th, 2017 and provides a platform for DU students to study the impact of Star Wars on modern culture

In honor of the upcoming release of “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” and its predecessors, the University of Denver is offering a digital media class to its students, taught by Professor Andrew Matranga, which met today for the first time.

INTRODUCTION

After a few minutes of waiting for stragglers to arrive, Professor Matranga launched into a quick discussion of culture, media, and film. His biggest emphasis, though, was on Hollywood and the movie industry, noting that

“In the age of mega-blockbuster franchises, directors like J.J. Abrams still claim that storytelling is the most important component of filmmaking.” -Andrew Matranga

an emphasis on story and character are still essential to box-office success. All this information was presented so that the students could have at least a basic grasp of how Hollywood — as it was in the 1970s, when George Lucas made Star Wars — worked and the major studios comprising the industry.

A takeaway of mine from Professor Matranga’s pre-class assignment, and representative of some of the class’s discussion.

After this introduction to the media basics and a lunch break, Professor Matranga took some time to get to know his students’ goals and knowledge of Star Wars beyond their pre-class assignment — watching from “The Phantom Menace” to “Return of the Jedi.”

Once he had discussed some final project ideas with every student, the class sat back and got settled in for movie time.

EMPIRE OF DREAMS

Having introduced his students to the various basics of media practices, history and a brief background on the history of film, Professor Matranga pulled the class from the hyperdrive session of the morning lecture, choosing to have them watch a documentary detailing some of the behind-the-scenes elements and the making of Star Wars, “Empire of Dreams”.

This documentary takes a deep dive into the work that went into creating the original Star Wars Trilogy, and the pressures on George Lucas. Credit: https://tickets.tixsa.co.za/event/special-star-wars-day-screening-empire-of-dreams

While watching the documentary, students were encouraged to fire off tweets and express their thoughts and reactions to the various revelations of the film, including one of my observations about the diminished modern appreciation of the futuristic special effects:

After this showing, Professor Matranga released his students to prepare for the next meeting of the class, where students are expected to prepare and present a pitch for their final assignment of this unique class offering.

It seems all too easy to assume that this class, and the accompanying work, is going to be fun, but the genuine appreciation of Star Wars within the room belies the famous words of Admiral Ackbar.

Credit: Giphy

May the Force be with you…