Don't let the title put you off. Here is an obscure video I found that needs to be seen by more prequel fans. It pretty much casually debunks all the common criticisms lobbied at the prequels while providing interpretative analysis of the various characters and themes. Oh, and it's nearly 3 hours in length. I don't agree with everything they say but even when I don't, it's good food for thought. Enjoy!
Shared this elsewhere the other day, but glad to bring more attention to it (I finally finished watching it today ) My favourite observation was the complex thematic significance regarding Anakin's parallels with C-3PO, how their roles as slave and master intertwine, and when Anakin falls and loses himself, becoming Vader, so too does 3PO lose his memories. Great stuff.
It definitely deserves more views! I'm afraid it'll be under the radar if we don't share it around since it's a small channel. That was one of my favorite parts too; it was pretty eye opening to see someone point out that a lot of these things people complain about actually have pretty interesting ideas communicated.
Great video overall. I really liked @darkspine10 sharing the difference between Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon's teaching philosophies and how that applies to Anakin (Anakin being more instinctive, which is why he butts heads so much with Obi-Wan). I think I disagree a bit on the racial coding aspect. While you can read racial coding in TPM and even the OT (the lack of any major non-white characters in ANH, Lando being forced to put aside his personal wants for the white characters, the Ewoks as Native American stereotypes, Jabba the Hutt as a criticism of the Middle East, etc.), I don't think its an indisputable fact that the Neimoidians "sound Asian." Hell, you can argue Tom Kenny's Nute Gunray voice in TCW is more closer to a stereotype than Silas Carson's. The end product of the Neimoidians was a pseudo-Translyvanian accent which I can hear pretty reasonably in the end product. Now, the combination of dialects to create a new one for aliens can be problematic, but given that Carson and Lucas experimented with several accents before the final product, shows that Lucas never had the intention to code Neimodians as Asian. And if the Battle Droids are a criticism of Asian technological advances, then what does that say about the Geonosians who are the creators of the droids? Or the Techno Union? The Federation is a buyer of the droids and the tech. Not the creators. So, if the idea is that combining and manipulating real dialects to apply to alien characters is racially insensitive, which to be fair, is a valid criticism, then it shouldn't apply to TPM alone. The OT used Kenyan, Lakota, Tibetan, and South American dialects to create new alien languages, but if Western people only care about possible racial coding because the aliens speak English, then what does it say when they are ok with non-English languages being used for aliens because they can buy that the language is alien enough because they don't understand it? I don't have the answer to that, but it is interesting to think about.
To be fair, I'm not even sure the video essayist agrees with the racial coding criticism completely, but felt it would be irresponsible to just dismiss the criticism outright. Ultimately my takeaway from the video is racial coding is a tricky topic that shouldn't be outright rejected or ignored. It seems that fans are too quick to hand wave it all as bad faith, and then there are haters who just act in bad faith, but it's a subject that isn't to be taken lightly. At any rate, it's nice to see someone actually try to engage with both sides of the argument in good faith. Including Ahmed Best's response to it all really encapsulates and contextualized matters.
Interesting points Del, I've always thought that the Trade Federation is far too diffuse in its influences to be easily pegged as simply 'asian'. There's the critique of rampant capitalism which doesn't tie in all that much, or their corrupt influence on the Senate, or the functional sci-fi aesthetic for their ships and vehicles. And as for Jar Jar, one thing that always tempered my view on him is that he's an individual, not a race. While he is clumsy and foolish and may fall into stereotypes, the other gungans are treated with a greater respect. Tarpals is a serious general, Boss Nass is arrogant but ultimately open to embracing his neighbours. So although they may be 'primitive', they have dignity and equal moral standing to the ignorant Naboo. There's also the inclusion of many other black actors in 'human' roles, like Samuel L Jackson or Hugh Quarshie, none of whom display the same exaggerated traits as Jar Jar. Jar Jar may fall into the trap of potentially being insensitive, but I think that's downplayed because it's clear the movie isn't painting entire cultures with that brush. Interesting to discuss nonetheless
Also, I'm not sure the video was arguing that they indisputably sound Asian, just that they do in that person's opinion. I think following that statement with the clip of Gunray saying "What? What did you say?" was suggesting some level of doubt in the essayist. But truth be told, as a kid my brother and I (quite regrettably) jokingly mimicked their accents and observed that they sound Asian. I also always thought Watto seemed Jewish-like, but I never once associated Jar Jar with "blackness" until I heard that criticism on the internet. P.S. Sorry for all the notifications but I find this discussion interesting.
@bigzoo You're right. When he said, and I paraphrase, that the Neimodians "indisputably speak with an Asian accent," I had to question that. Maybe, I misheard or misconstrued that point. But yes, racial coding should NOT be ignored or easily waved off. Its a complex topic that has many interpretive views, that are all valid in some capacity, generally speaking. However, I do feel like Jar Jar, Neimoidians, Watto, etc. are chosen to be examples mostly due to their association with the PT or THOSE Star Wars movies. I don't think the media analysts or the fandom would analyze those aspects in the same way for Jabba, Ewoks, Greedo, Nien Nunb, or even Vader himself in the OT. Yes, I see that too. And the Gungans are treated with a fair amount of dignity in that the Naboo have to submit to the Gungans for their help, and it is ultimately the Gungans choice. Qui-Gon notes not only would it be morally wrong to mind trick Boss Nass with "not being able to intervene," but Qui-Gon, even with that power, cannot change the minds of the people. "The Gungans will not be easily swayed." And there are other characters played by non-white actors that I think are quite strong in characterization such as Bail Organa and Jango Fett. Even Panaka's pessimism and Mace's dogmatic Jedi views yet contradictive beliefs/actions in the Chosen One prophecy and the moral obligation to spare an enemy add texture to "less important" characters.
I rewatched that part and just so we dont misrepresent the person, what was actually said was: • "yeah... they really do sound like Asians." • "What? What did you say?" — Nute Gunray The clip could function in two ways— support for their caricatured accents or as a light counter to the previous statement.
I guess, whether or not the essayist agrees or is just making a light defense of the idea, it brings up some other questions. Do Neimodians sound Asian to him or is, knowing the caricatures of Asians, seeing that in the Neimodians?
