Discuss Star Wars

According to most literary theory, Star Wars is more fantasy than science fiction. Here, simplified, are three axes:

When did the story take place - Science fictions tends to be set in a specified future (eg., Los Angeles 2019); fantasy tends to be set in an ambiguous past.

Where did the story take place - Science fiction tends to be set in a real place (eg, Los Angeles); fantasy tends to be not earth, or at least, not any earth that has places we recognize today (eg, "middle earth"...??). Star Wars' opening narrative crawl tells us right up front, "A long time ago (the when) in a galaxy far, far away (so, NOT "here"). We will recognize things in science fiction that are a part of our word. We will be immersed in fantasy worlds that are not ours with little to recognize.

How was the story driven forward - science fiction tends to try to explain the critical technology - terminators, ED-209s, replicants, flux capacitors; fantasy tends to just present magic (the force) and magical beasties (wookies, ewoks, orcs and elves) matter of factly.

I do appreciate that it isn't just as simple as I've presented above; there are compelling arguments supporting Star Wars as science fiction. But, given how cleanly the simplistic explanation above clarifies easily recognizable differences, and that other sources do indeed refer to Star Wars as fantasy, not science fiction, it should not be "closed to debate" and our page should not be closed to supporting the argument by preventing the editing of the genre classification tag.

To whatever degree, it is more or less of either, then, at the very least, even as we keep the science fiction classification, we ought also be able to add "fantasy" as a genre tag to this page, because of the argument.

I think we should add fantasy to Star Wars' genre classification.

But, what do you think? Should we - can we - adjust TMDb's genre classification tag to include fantasy?

1 reply (on page 1 of 1)

Jump to last post

100% agree - Star Wars is a fantasy film

Can't find a movie or TV show? Login to create it.

Global

s focus the search bar
p open profile menu
esc close an open window
? open keyboard shortcut window

On media pages

b go back (or to parent when applicable)
e go to edit page

On TV season pages

(right arrow) go to next season
(left arrow) go to previous season

On TV episode pages

(right arrow) go to next episode
(left arrow) go to previous episode

On all image pages

a open add image window

On all edit pages

t open translation selector
ctrl+ s submit form

On discussion pages

n create new discussion
w toggle watching status
p toggle public/private
c toggle close/open
a open activity
r reply to discussion
l go to last reply
ctrl+ enter submit your message
(right arrow) next page
(left arrow) previous page

Settings

Want to rate or add this item to a list?

Login