The Political Message of the Star Wars Holiday Special

Okay, I finally wrote up my thoughts on the Star Wars Holiday Special and its message about the fragility of democracy. Hope you enjoy!

The Ballad of Porkins

This short essay on the life of Porkins contains so much beauty. Excerpt:

Porkins’s life will be a lonely one. He will work. He will paint his Warhammer miniatures. He will chat about fandom with his few weird friends. And in time, he will die more or less unmourned. 

Then everything changes. The world falls apart. Actually, all the worlds fall apart. Suddenly the Empire is at war. There is a Rebellion. And Porkins meets his moment. 

Porkins could never make it in a real military. But the Rebel Alliance is not a real military. The Rebel Alliance is a scrap-heap outfit that needs anything and anyone it can get. It needs awkward fat autodidacts who have spent their entire adult lives as involuntary celibates, poring over the proper employment of the Incom fighter series in exactly the sort of engagements the Alliance now encounters on world after world.

Why the Galactic Senate sucks and how Lando is like Robert the Bruce

Sorry I couldn't make book club last week. But here's my recent interview with Beltway Banthas, a podcast devoted to politics and Star Wars, recorded back in October. It's amazing to realize just how deep nerdity can go. These guys make me look like the captain of a high school football team.

The Osmond Star Wars Episode

Here's a way better, and way shorter, late-70s "Star Wars" spin-off, courtesy of Donny and Marie Osmond. Featuring Paul Lynde as Tarkin, Redd Foxx as Obi-Wan, and Kris Kristofferson as Han Solo, because why the hell not.

In which Masket is called a nerd by NPR

At long last, here is my interview on the NPR Politics Podcast about the politics of "Star Wars." This represents the peak of my academic career. As Emilio Sandoz said, "I was born for this!" No, wait, I don't like where that analogy leads.

Anyway, I come in at around the 4-minute mark.

The Politics of Star Wars

As I mentioned to some of you, my political science group blog, The Mischiefs of Faction, got picked up by Vox.com last month. A few of us decided to start working on a few posts about the politics of "Star Wars." I thought you might enjoy.

Here's my first post on the lack of parties in the Galactic Senate.
Here's my colleague Jon Ladd's post on the inherent dangers of the Jedi.

There will be more in the lead up to the release of Episode VII, I promise.