As another "Star Wars" movie speeds toward the galaxy this month, fans are eagerly anticipating its arrival — while non-fans may be yawning over the premiere of yet one more big-budget action flick. But regardless of one’s feelings about "Star Wars," Marvel or other modern myths that dominate pop culture, self-described “superfan but also a critical fan” James Croft argues that these persistent hero narratives overlap with the real world in powerful ways.
“We can learn so much about ourselves and about our culture,” Croft has said, “by exploring how heroism is portrayed in movies like ‘Star Wars’ – including how notions of what heroism is, and who can be considered a hero, have developed over time.”
As the outreach director for the Ethical Society of St. Louis, Croft plans to dig into this topic at a free event Thursday evening at the society. On Thursday’s St. Louis on the Air, he joined Sarah Fenske in studio alongside Martin Casas, owner of Apotheosis Comics & Lounge, which is sponsoring the hero-focused event.
Listen to the conversation:
During the show, listeners tweeted about some of their favorite fictional heroes.
I'm torn on my favorite sci-fi book, show, movie or whatever but the greatest hero is easily Ellen Ripley from the Alien franchise. Her character is perfect and Sigourney Weaver plays her perfectly. pic.twitter.com/9rUWPix95A
— Joshua Steinmetz cancels everything (@TheLordOfThePug) December 5, 2019
More of an anti-hero, but my favorite is Captain Mal from #Firefly. "You can know all the math in the 'verse, but you take a boat in the air you don't love, she'll shake you off just as sure as the turning of worlds." pic.twitter.com/vyS6F62uZU
— Emily Woodbury (@EmilyWoodbury) December 5, 2019
Related Event
What: Star Wars and the Hero’s Journey
When: 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019
Where: Ethical Society of St. Louis (9001 Clayton Road, St. Louis, MO 63117)
“St. Louis on the Air” brings you the stories of St. Louis and the people who live, work and create in our region. The show is hosted by Sarah Fenske and produced by Alex Heuer, Emily Woodbury, Evie Hemphill, Lara Hamdan and Tonina Saputo. The engineer is Aaron Doerr, and production assistance is provided by Charlie McDonald.
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Send questions and comments about this story to feedback@stlpublicradio.org.
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