Now we know why stormtroopers wear white.

Couldn't figure out if this should go in CT or here. Putting it here 'cause I figure there's less chance of the mean old mods locking it.



Star Wars symbolism used to be about as basic as it came. I mean, look at ANH. Darth Vader is the bad guy, so he wore black. Leia and Luke were good and innocent and pure, so they wore white.

But something always bugged me. Why did stormtroopers wear white? That should be a good guy color. They were not innocent, or defenders of purity and light, or. All the other Imperials wear dark costumes. Et tu, stormtroopers?

And now I JUST realized.

They wore white because they've always worn white... because when they are first introduced in the saga, they ARE the good guys, defending the Republic, and deserve to wear the same color that heroes like Luke and Leia wear.

(Or so we are made to think.)

George is either a genius at planning 20 years ahead, or very, very, VERY lucky.



It is 1:46 AM here so I may look back on this thread and find it stupid and obvious, but this was really cool when it popped into my head.




Rick McCallum loves you!

 

The Empire is the legitimate government in the original trilogy timeframe. Thus, that are still the good guys to all law abiding citizens.
It's only those traitor rebels that thing the Empire is bad.

 

I'd never lock it Adam, I'd delete it.

The thing is the Empire is the good guys, since they are the legit. government of the galaxy. In the eyes of the averege citizen it is the Rebels who are the bad guys. So the Stormies are symbolic as they are the defenders of the legit. government. Plus, they look cool in white.

 

George knew all along that they were from Kamino. Hence the white armor

BTW: It occured to me that the stormtrooper helmet somewhat resembles a skull. That's a good reason for making them white!

 

That's a great thought Adam, it's never occurred to me before you mentioned it.

I this is a good example of the PT changing the way we view the CT.

 

Darn. I thought that this thread was going to have something to do with Jango's virginity.





Mace Windy,
too windy for words!

 

So stormtroopers, like Anakin, are products of a virgin birth.

 

Well I highly doubt George's original plan for the Clone Wars was to have it essentially be about StormTroopers, as in they being the Clones. So I'm pretty sure that's not the reason for making the Stormtroopers white.

I swear there is an interview floating around where Lucas talks about this. I remember clearly Lucas talking about why Darth Vader was black, and the colors of Luke's outfit, and I'm pretty sure he included Stormtroopers in there as well. For the life of me I can't fully remember, it would have been years and years ago.

 

I think Lucas is somewhat a genius in planning 20 years ahead... I mean why else in ANH would he name it the "Clone Wars" and why else would Leia say "Aren't you a little short for a strom trooper?"

 

Well at the time I figured StormTroopers had height requirements like a lot of armies in Europe have had throughout history. I believe even the S.S. in Germany had height requirements, at least at first. So I always figured it was just matter of Stormtroopers portraying that image of a perfect soldier, both in height and physical condition.

 

What's also interesting is that there's some black underneath the white uniforms, implying that they appear to be good but are actually serving evil.

 

Adam, I think you're right on the money. I used to wonder about that too, although to be honest I hadn't given it any thought for many years. You just gave me an explanation that makes perfect sense.

P.S: To Cyprusg, it's not relevant whether Lucas originally conceived them as clones (although I'm convinced he did. I have an official Lucasfilm publication from 1980 which refers to the stormtroopers as clones.)

The point is that the Empire is bad, the Republic was good and the clones were originally the army of the Republic. Excellent, Adam.

 

GL once said that he protrayed the Empire in extreme colours, blacks, reds and whites to show the contrast and how they are really evil.

the good guys it isn't that simple

 

I have an official Lucasfilm publication from 1980 which refers to the stormtroopers as clones.

You might have a copy of the same thing I have.

 

The Empire probally had a height requirement because they only had one size of armor.......

 

BTW: It occured to me that the stormtrooper helmet somewhat resembles a skull. That's a good reason for making them white!

One thing I've always liked about the TF battle droids is that they were conceived to have heads like Nemoidian skulls - so possibly the Empire liked the idea for a little psychological spookiness and went with the idea

 

I can see why many people portray Lucas as being racist. Lando as betraying the good guys. Only the "good" "pure" inncoent" people wear WHITe. Only the "evil" "bad" people wear black, as you put it.

Jag29

 

I heard that Lucas prefers vanilla pudding to chocolate pudding.

What does that make him?

 

"What does that make him?"

Answer: Chubby.

 

Was the publication from the 1980s 'The World of Star Wars'? Unfortunately, the scan linked to in the article has disappeared, but I remember it stated the stormtroopers were clones.

That said, I tend to think any implication they were once the good guys was luck. I think Lars_Muul's reference to the helmets being skull-like is likely one of the original design inspirations; the stormtroopers were to resemble skeletons, in the same way battle droids were intended to resemble the skeletons of Neimoidians in Episode I (and then the Geonosians in Episode II).

 

"Was the publication from the 1980s The World of Star Wars?"

Yes, it was.

I choose to embrace the idea that the stormtroopers wear 'good guy' colors because they originated as 'good guys'. Why? Just because I like it. I think it's a neat idea.

 

I always thought it was because it looked cool. Also, think about it, if the interior of most ships are grey/white, it can help camoflage the troops. But's that's just a thought I had. No proof.

 

One thing I've always liked about the TF battle droids is that they were conceived to have heads like Nemoidian skulls

Actually, it turned out that they were based on Geonosians skeletal structure, rather than Nemoidians.

So the battle droids are the SW versions of Terminators.

 

In Episode III, will they "be back"?

 

Actually, it turned out that they were based on Geonosians skeletal structure, rather than Nemoidians.

So the battle droids are the SW versions of Terminators.

Well corrected, you're right. Good analogy with the Terminators as well