[blueerica]

Well, from what I understood (was reading about mythology and story types a few years ago), George Lucas was influenced by the writings of Joseph Campbell when Star Wars was created. In addition, Campbell's writings about mythic archetypes has influenced a number of directors, writers, etc - in that mythology relates to life challenges, struggles, lessons, etc, not just Lucas. While a movie is a movie, and a book is a book, often we reach to the heroic, the mythic and beyond for inspiration. It wasn't about likening Star Wars to a religion or the beginning of time, but to show how these stories carry through time. Father-son issues, etc.

The History Channel's special on it featured a number of directors - off the top of my head, Kevin Smith was on it, as was Peter Jackson, and a couple of others I just can't think of right now. What I didn't care for was that it was a bit over the top with some of the academics that were featured - they went on and on and on about the same thing, which got a little old. Influencing someone is one thing, but dissecting each and every single moment was just bleh. I liked how they related it to Greek tragedy and classic storytelling models, but it was tiresome.

I turned it off about halfway through. Not because I didn't like it (I like comparisons and connections), not because it was hooey (the Joseph Campbell stuff is true, at least)... but because it was stuff that's been acknowledged for decades and I knew a lot of it already. I watch the History Channel to learn, not re-hash stuff I knew already.