In Galaxy far, far, far away or somewhere in Vietnam.

Written by Conner Simmons

Many people look to the 1960s with nostalgia, much of today's pop culture is inspired by the 1960’s, one of which is Star Wars. To date, Star Wars is a Film franchise well known and well loved by millions worldwide. The Franchise has a whole synergy based on it and has been referenced and spoofed in many forms of today’s pop culture, ranging from adult cartoons like; Family Guy and South Park. To movies like Jarhead. The franchise success continues to this day, with Disney owning the rights to producing five new Star Wars films

The Galatic America in Vietnam

Much of the inspiration for the Star Wars films come from the everyday ordinary life of George Lucas such as, the Wookie being named after his friend, a 6 ft 3 bearded man who has the last name Wookey. And the loveable android R2D2 being named after the cans of tape, R(recoding) and D (dialogue). It may come as surprise to some, to learn that George Lucas is actually a big History nerd and has loosely based much of his film franchise on events, people, and place of the past.

If you break it down, it seems almost impossible to have missed the references. The political structure of the Empire closely resembles that of Ancient Rome, as does the Architecture on some planet such as Naboo, even the names of some character have a Latin style to them like Palpatine. The pod racers also look like Roman Chariots to some degree. Even the transition from a democratic republic to dictatorial empire is mirrored from the Romans.

The references certainly do not stop there, the Jedi are portrayed as a monastic race, who practised poverty, moral purity, charity etc. wear monk-like robes and wield light sabres, all of which bear’s striking similarities to the Knights Templar. The political structure of the Jedi and Knights Templar are same, a 12-member council of elders headed by a grandmaster. And just like the Great Jedi Purge ordered by Chancellor Palpatine. France’s King Philip IV hunted and executed the Knights Templar in 1307.

Lucas even draws upon the Nazi’s for inspiration. The significant resemblance can be seen between the Empire uniform, Darth Vader’s helmet, the structure and command of the Storm Troopers and mass rallies. To, draw further comparisons, the Death Star a weapon capable of destroying planets sounds awfully familiar to something we have on the Earth that starts with N.

So how does Stars Wars relate to the 60’s? More specifically Vietnam? The Answer is simple, Planet Endor. Who would have guessed the war on planet Endor fought between the Ewoks and the Empire was actually inspired by the Vietnam War? Ewoks seen as a primitive race of little people who inhabit the forest, employ tactics of Guerrilla warfare, knowledge of local terrain and indigenous techniques to survive and conceal themselves in that terrain, against a far technologically superior enemy. An enemy hell-bent on conquering the Galaxy sounds a lot like imperialism in theory, and a lot like American capitalism in Asia in practice.

At the end of The Return of the Jedi, the Ewoks defeat the Empire. Its safe to suggest which side of the war Lucas was on. A discreet and almost ingenious way to protest the Vietnam war.