The Phallic Symbol and Star Wars

This may be a bit crude for some people and I apologize for that up front and ask that you read no further.

I'm taking comparitive mythology classes, and my proffesor recently said that the phallic symbol is so ingrained in today's story telling that it is impossible to find a story that couldn't be used as an example.

While this statement is a little too subjective for my tastes (as always, literary and film critics can read into anything WAY past what the creator intended) I began thinking of my favorite saga and realized that perhaps it had SOME (note, not a lot of) merit.

Anakin has his lightsaber, a phallic symbol that proves his manhood, is used for both aggresion and to get him into (a forbidden position) of fertilization (like Zeus' fertilizing thunderbolt as his phallic symbol in Greek Mythology) with Padme.

Anakin changes his phallic color from blue to red (a more sensual and sexual color in most colors) to suggest his more aggresive stance.

His old phallic symbol than goes to his son Luke, who uses it against his father (a la Oedipal Complex, and an allusion to Kronos castrating his father Ouranos with his own Phallic symbol, the rapier.)

After his father suppreses his manhood at Bespin, Luke trains harder to become a man and eventually creates his own Phallic symbol, (note in the ROTJ novel Luke replies to Darth's taunts about his new lightsaber "This one is mine, I no longer use yours" as if it were a choice and not the fact that it was thrown into the abyss) which he uses to defeat his father (in a battle of Phallic symbols no less!) and earns the right to replace his father (which he turns down.)

I know you're all thinking I'm crazy by now, but WHAT DO YOU THINK? Did George intend any of this, or is WAY off base? Or is it just ingrained in myth that George based the saga on?

I was thinking about these questions in class and thought I should post it to see what other fans might think on the topic.

 

I think you're reading quite a bit more into that that Lucas intended. 0_0

 

Star Wars is great and all, but I don't think the phallic symbol archetype applies to it. Now, one could argue that SW has a 'good vs. evil' archetype, but I don't recall seeing either of the twin suns having lightsabres swinging from them.

The sabres are swords with a futuristic twist on them.

 

I agree with Cubie-Hole, although many weapons besides swords do have a generally phallic shape: bullets, rockets/missiles, the torpedo, etc. -- so the question/comparison is a valid one.

 

What, exactly, is a phallic symbol? I know quite a few things about mythology, yet I've never really heard of this before.

 

Or we could discuss Penis Envy of the female characters...that is if we want a change of pace.

Can I use that word? I mean...it IS an actual psychological term...please don't ban me.

Oh, a phallic symbol is an item representative of the male genitalia, namely the umm...ya know.

Ciou-See the Sig

 

Yeah, the phallic symbol is indeed representative of the male genitalia, but more importantly in myth it can be a representation of male traits, dominance, aggresion, etc. It is usually seen in swords (similar shape, etc.) but can also be represented by other objects (so in modern films there good be an agrument that guns or other devices are phallic symbols if it can be proved it effects the characters in similar ways.)

Once again, this forum discussion is not meant to disgust or offend anyone, but there are so many similar symbols in myth found in myths of any culture, so I thought I would bring up discussion on whether these symbols are found in Star Wars, a modern myth based on other ones.

So even penis envy could be argued. I don't see why this should be banned since it is allowed in a university environment, as long as it sticks to discussing literature and symbolism, not cheap sex antics.

 

What about the Star Destroyers? They represent the Empire's domination of the galaxy, especially the SSD Executor. In the EU, many references are made to the fact that the SSD is as much for the symbolic aspects as actual practicality. The presence of a ship that large with that much firepower acts as phallic symbol as well. Same too for the Death Star (sure, the shape is not the same, but the concept is the same).

 

Lots of phallic imagery in SW. The enlongated rebel ships skimming down the trench until they reach the exhaust port. While the other's fail, young Luke is the only one who manages to get his torpedo in. Lightsabers are obvious, as well as the Opedius Rex senerio's mentioned above. There's also sexual tension between Vader and Leia (Elektra) in ANH as he interogates her on the Death Star.

Other mentions: When EVERY main character gets killed...they seem to fall down a hole...usually after having a body part severed with a (phallic symbol) lightsaber. Maul in TPM, Stormtroopers in ANH, Luke in ESB, Boba Fett and Palpatine in ROTJ...all die by falling into holes. I won't even mention the Sarlacc Pit!

SW is dirty!

 

Matt Damon says in the Dogma outtakes something along the lines of:

"What his dad leaves him just happens to look like a giant......" .

 

I think you can find phallic symbols in almost anything if you look hard enough. That's why I've never bought into the obsession of literary types with reading something sexual into every work they analyze.

 

Ugh... I regret asking that question. And you guys are really a bit perverse to see such things in SW. Lightsabers are shaped that way to look like swords, which were originally forged that way so they could be as sharp as possible. Bullets and missiles have that shape because aerodynamically it provides the most velocity, which is important for strength in a projectile weapon. The reason characters die by falling into a shaft is because it's symbolic of them falling into Hell- notice how all those characters who die by falling are evil? The one exception is Luke, since that scene in ESB symbolizes the beginning of his fall to the Dark Side. The Death Star battle was designed that way since it combined the trench warfare of WWI with the aerial warfare of WWII.

So even if most of the things in Star Wars do have double meanings, they aren't the demented double meanings you make them out to be.

 

From your point of view.

There's nothing wrong with saying that Lucas has borrowed bits and pieces from Odeipus Rex or Greek mythology, or incorporates are bit of Freudian psychology into the mix. IMO, these things ARE there, and I don't think you have to be a "pervert" to see them. Just look at the relationship between Anakin and Padme in the PT, to see an obvious example of a "mother complex" in action. I don't think Lucas set that relationship up that way "by accident".

But, like someone else wrote: if you go looking for things, you WILL see them. I think they are there though, rather subtle most of the time, but SW DOES have a lot of phallic imagery IMO.

 

I agree completely ferelwookie. I agree that people can make up things on a work that was not originally there, but as stated above, the purpose of this thread was to hear from fans whether they think Lucas included these things or if is all just literary stuff.

Good viewpoints! Any others?

 

I can't help myself...

ANH: Ben's cave..

Ben: Your father wanted you to have this when you were old enough, but your uncle wouldn't allow it,. He was afraid you might follow Obi-Wan on some damn fool idealistic crusade like you father did...

Luke: What is it?

Obi-Wan: Your father's phallic symbol. It is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or random as a blaster.. an elegant weapon with a more civilized edge.




ROTJ: The Imperial landing platform...

Vader: I see you have constructed your own phallic symbol. Indeed you are powerful as the Emperor as forseen.

ROTJ: DS2...

Vader: His phallic symbol.

The Emperor: Ah, the weapon of a Jedi. Much like your fathers.

I'm sorry... it was just too dang tempting!
This would be better than a "pants" version!


I will NEVER be able to watch any SW movies ever again!!

 

Here is a slightly modified version of something I posted after my second viewing of Attack of the Clones. Enjoy...

Did anyone else see the print of AOTC with the sex scene?

Before you all accuse me of tom-foolery, let me say this. You all saw the sex scene. It was the execution arena sequence. Remember that we are watching a love story that utlimately ends up in the birth of two children. To pretend that sex is not part of the equation or that it is somehow "dirty" and therefore beneath our scrutiny is just foolish. Also remember that the positive act of procreation is contrasted with the two inhuman womb surrogates of Kamino and Geonosis (hmm, Geo-gnosis... planet of knowledge... tree of knowledge, hmm). Now let's examine the evidence.

1) The execution arena scene opens with a parody of the Tunnel of Love found in many teen romances. Padme confesses her love of Ani on a gondola and then the young lovers are pulled across a threshold (like a honeymoon). The vaginal shape of the portal should be noted.

2) The dominant architectural feature of the arena is a row of phallic columns, each replete with a head and vein-like textures.

3) The assembled villains watch from, literally, "box" seats. I can't be the only one who noticed the Georgia O'Keefe decorations ringing the balconies. Without too much imagination one can see a clitoris, some labia and an anus repeated over and over.

4) Ani is paired with a monster whose main features are its thrusting power and three rigid horns. One of these horns is later cut-off. This symbolic castration occurs after Ani is told that his saber is his life and then later has it cut in half (in the surrogate womb of the droid factory).

5) Padme is paired with the Nexu, one of the most obvious vagina dentatas since the Sarlaac. The beast's name might be a reference to Henry Miller's Nexus.

6) Ani survives his encounter with his beast by mounting and taming it.

7) Padme survives her encounter with the vagina dentata by climbing the phallus.

8) How is the big pussycat killed? By the ramming force of the phallic beast.

9) Padme leaps from the head of the phallus. In her white clothes, Padme's actions recall ejaculation. While falling she moans and then gives Ani a spent kiss.

10) This scene takes place after one and a half hours of teasing, beginning what is literally the climax of the film.

11) The Geonosians with their exo-skeletal structure and back-mounted spiracles recall the design of HR Giger's Alien. Much of Giger's art employs penile and vaginal shapes. Even the shapes of the doorways in the arena resemble the doorways of the derelict ship in Alien, which recall the female genitalia.

Sure, this all may be coincidental, but I find it peculiar that this much sexual imagery finds its way into this one pivotal scene. Why would Mr. Lucas do such a thing? Well, how else could he put the equivalent of a sex scene in what many consider to be a kiddie flick? More proof that Lucas cares about more than "just special effects"

 

Man, that scene description is gonna make people wear-out their DVD'S!

To add something meaningful...

Look at the Tatooine architecture...
many of the towers in the Mos Espa scenes are rather phallic looking.
There is one in the scene where Qui-Gon is communicating with Obi-Wan, via comlink (Talking about trading something from the Queen's ship for the hyperdrive) and in the background... a DEFINITE phallic symbol!

Boba Fett has a large phallic symbol sticking out of his backpack, the missle.

One can find deep meaning in the fact that Yoda has a shorter saber than Dooku, but his technique makes him a better fighter. (Okay, maybe that one wasn't so meaningful )

Man, now I'm gonna have to watch my SW movies again... instead of Where's Waldo?, it's gonna be Where's the phallic symbol?

 

That is profound Emos-Edud. Thanks for writing it

I really agree with numbers 8 and 9

"8) How is the big pussycat killed? By the ramming force of the phallic beast.

9) Padme leaps from the head of the phallus. In her white clothes, Padme's actions recall ejaculation. While falling she moans and then gives Ani a spent kiss."

I noticed the architecture as a phallic symbol before but not the above two points. Cool!

 

I agree that the whole "phallic" thing is overused. I mean if you're going to make a weapon to shoot or stab someone, what's it supposed to be shaped like, a cube? As Freud said, "sometimes a lightsaber is just a lightsaber".

Now the Sarlacc on the other hand....





That analysis of the arena battle is seriously deranged. Let me watch it again to make sure.

 

Luke's other phallic symbol:
[image=http://www.raredevice.freeserve.co.uk/Artwork%20Examples/Rendered%20Art/X-Wing.jpg]

 

This whole topic is very boderline, and could go either way. I'm going to let it stay for now, just keep it clean.

My thoughts, I think it is all unintentional. The whole theory of phallic symbols, is something that can be found in anything. Take lightsabers for instance, I don't think Lucas was thinking on any level about the phallic representations of them, he was just thinking that they're swords that are also lasers. The phallic sysmpolism of swaords has been there since the invention of the sword.

Yes, these things are there, but I don't think Lucas was thinking about those specific intrepretations when he made them.

 

sometimes a lightsaber is just a lightsaber.

 

GL in interviews has said that the duel in TESB and Luke losing his hand & saber was "a castration scene."

I think that quote was in the Annotated Screenplays. It is there, we aren't being "dirty"... but it is funny to realise how many hidden examples of sexuality are in the SW Saga.

 

I don't really buy into all of this. I once heard that that Luke's trench run was a symbol for fertilization. Now that may be true. It was a climactic scene.(sorry I couldn't resist)

 

Even Mel Brooks saw the psychological underpinnings of the saga.

"Your Schwartz is a big as mine!"