The Sociological Imagination in Star Wars
Star Wars Episode 2 and 3 introduces the Jedi order and revolves around the rebellion of the Sith and the idea of Anakin being the chosen one. From Star Wars Episode 2 and 3, the transformation of Anakin from pure goodness to completely losing himself is seen. Some people may see Star Wars as a mere action movie, but looking deeply into it in a sociological perspective, you begin to see the social structures, social movements, and bureaucratic politics. According to Durkheim’s Rules of Sociological Method, she believed that social institutions were not only governed by structure but of social facts. In this paper, underlying non-material social facts, like the division of labor, alienation, and bureaucracy, that caused the fall of the Republic will be discussed.
In Star Wars 2 and 3, a Jedi order is set up to keep the peace in the Republic; they serve as the fighters. Only a particular group of people were called to be a Jedi. Even the light of the saber of the Jedi categorized them to their respective groups. There was also the Senate, which composed of ambassadors from different galaxies to cooperate on how the Republic should run. According to Durkheim, the specialization of occupational functions stimulate and promote the development of particular talents, abilities, and capacities that are not common to everyone in the society. Their society is formed through the different roles that their people play, similar to the organic solidarity model of Durkheim. Although with the division of labor, people play different roles to make up the society, not everyone has a uniform education. This causes the inequality between the people of a society. Also, with the division of labor, the society was divided into classes: the Senate, Jedi order, guards, and the citizens.
In the Republic, although it was called a democracy, it was not democracy but rather bureaucracy. For example, when Anakin was suggesting plans to protect Padmé, Obi-Wan Kenobi dismissed his ideas because those were not the orders of the Senate. They only followed the Senate. The Republic was run by a group of elitist. Because of the bureaucratic politics of the Senate and that only a few could have the Force, a power struggle arises.
Lastly, the feather that landed on the piling pressure in the galaxy was the complete transformation of Anakin to the Dark Force. The complete transformation of Anakin was seemingly impossible and shocked many of the audience. However, According to Homan’s Exchange Theory, the basis of all relationships are governed by a mutual exchange analyzed by the comparison of alternatives and benefits. After Anakins’s mother’s death, Anakin felt more in doubt of the Senate. Once he could not find an equal treatment from the Jedi council, he chose to go to the Dark Side. He found it more rational to side with the Sith to save the life Padmé Amidala.
In the beginning, the people shared a common set of values and goals. Looking back, the conflict in Star Wars was only within the Senate. The people in Star Wars fought because of inequality and the struggle for power. Similar in our society, division, inequality, and wrong decision-making may lead us to destruction. Also, it is seen that the decision of one man can still affect an entire society.
Source:
Giddens, Anthony. Capitalism and Modern Social Theory: An Analysis of the writings of Marx, Durkheim, and Max Weber. London: Cambridge University Press, 1974.