I mentioned in the title that the movie need to be analyzed in two methodologies, but one is only used as a second abstract (form a thesis statement), while the other one is developed into the full paper.
What that means is that you need to analyze Star Wars Episode IV through two methodologies, then choose one to develop into a full paper. You have four critical methodologies to use: Formalism, Historical-Criticism, Myth & Allegory, and Deconstruction. Star Wars can be pretty easily analyzed through any one of them. You need to choose two to “try out”, then develop one of those two into a full research paper
Choose two of these methodologies and interpret the film. You only need to generate two paragraphs or so for each. Here are (just) some of the ways that this could be done:
formalism: Star Wars showcased a new standard of special effects that changed the way viewers considered science fiction films.
historical criticism: Star Wars is best understood within the historical context of the post-vietnam era, where youth tended to resist government and its military politics. After the much-despised military draft, the baby boomer generation rebelled, in effect creating a sympathetic audience for a story about rebels and evil empires.
myth & allegory: the force of the jedi is a loosely-veiled reference to faith. Faith developed and used well (i.e. the jedi) always benefits the individual. But faith malf0rmed or distorted (i.e. the sith) is a danger to the world.
deconstruction: we tend to think of George Lucas as the author and creator of Star Wars, but in fact the text quickly became the property of the people. The enthusiasm of the Star Wars trilogy, and the way it inspired cosplay, fan fiction, collecting, and artwork in the 1980s challenges the way we think of the author-audience binary. If anything, all that Lucas would be able to do thereafter would be to try to harness that generative energy into new Star War narratives.
