The Star Wars film franchise has long been called a modern myth. The stories of the series are indebted to traditional narrative forms like myth, legend, and fairy tale. Entire folk communities have grown up around it.

Come join Dr. Sara Cleto and Dr. Brittany Warman, founders of The Carterhaugh School of Folklore and the Fantastic for a fascinating look at how the same scholarly lenses used to study and analyze age-old tales of fairies and dragons and witches can enrich our understanding of the Star Wars franchise and surrounding culture.

They’ll look at the old myths that gave rise to the Force as well as the legends that inspired the characters, and at how fairy-tale plots animate the “galaxy far, far away.”

Beyond the folk-narrative connections that move Star Wars to the category of the folkloresque are its cultural impact and the folk communities that have grown up around it. In the decades since the Star Wars movie series premiered at theatres, it has become a multi-billion-dollar franchise spanning films, TV series, theme parks, novels, and just about every type of product and merchandise you can imagine. But while Disney now owns the rights to the worlds of Star Wars (and all that merch), at the cultural level, Star Wars belongs to its massive, global fan base. And this fan base creates its own traditions, engaging in cosplay, inventing holidays, and spinning new galaxies from fans’ own stories.

Sometime soon, on a computer not far away, you’ll be able to join this online event and blast off on an amazing scholarly adventure. May the folklore be with you.

Folklore Strikes Back