Recently, in a country far, far away...
By Edward Shea
It’s tricky trying to explain to your boss why it’s necessary to miss work to attend Star Wars Celebration. As a professor here at San Bernardino Valley College, it was a hard pill to swallow to see that Star Wars Celebration (SWC), being held in London, did not coincide with our Spring Break. However, Star Wars is academic, and while SWC is a massive convention for all things Star Wars, it also offers an academic view of the magical universe that makes up my favorite franchise.
Well, at least that’s how I framed it.
Star Wars has evolved into more than just a fictional universe that Disney profits off. For some people, it’s a way of life. It’s also a window into human nature and very real-world elements. Fiction has always made it easier to comprehend complex topics and emotions. It’s why we still read works by Shakespeare 400 years later. Think back to each time an English instructor made you read a work of fiction. It wasn’t just for the story; there was usually some complex idea they wanted you to grasp.
Star Wars does that as well. Professors can actually use it in their classes. Within this convention, there is a smaller conference of sorts that discusses the more academic side of Star Wars. On the much smaller University Stage at Star Wars Celebration, academics discussed the literary side of Star Wars.
I know, I know, I’m a double nerd. I guess that’s why I’m a professor. This event was a way for me to delve into both of my loves: academia and Star Wars. Thankfully my wife, also an English instructor on campus, has an even greater love for Star Wars than I do.
The London event drew Star Wars fans from across the globe. Our journey from California was overshadowed by fans coming from as far as Australia and Chile just to celebrate their love of Star Wars. Being able to immerse one’s self into the world of Darth Vader, Ashoka Tano, and Grogu (Baby Yoday) in this way is an experience that is hard to capture in simple words on a page.
Cosplayers bring our favorite characters into the real world. The stars of the franchise make themselves available to fans so that we can fawn over them. The creators tease us with what is to come. Life-size TIE fighters and AT-AT Walkers provide once-in-a-lifetime photo ops.
For a fan of Star Wars, this convention is magical. There’s something for everyone. Collectors can find rare items that complete their collections. Those with celebrity crushes can finally get a photo with their favorite star. Fans eager to consume the next project can get exclusive insights into the latest projects. Others just looking to play, can dress up and interact with their favorite characters.
For this SBVC English professor, I got a bit of everything. At one panel, I learned a way to utilize Star Wars in my English 102 course and discuss the ways it represents our real world. My wife got to meet her hero/celebrity-crush Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader), for the fourth time... We got to see exclusive trailers for “The Acolyte” and “Skeleton Crew,” two new shows to release down the line. One of the coolest experiences was the early screening of “The Mandalorian” five days before it was released. Let me tell you, watching it in a theater with fellow nerds was the way it was meant to be experienced!
Of course, we dressed up in our own cosplay.
It was amazing to be with people that share a love of Star Wars as I do. All too often, we get judged for what we nerd over. I mean, a lot of people questioned our sanity for traveling to London for Star Wars, but let me tell you, it brought me a lot of happiness. So many people want to judge others for the things that they love, but they would be a lot happier if they just found their own thing to be a nerd for.
Conventions and conferences of all types bring happiness to their attendees. Whether it’s ComiCon San Diego, Fan Expo Denver, Star Wars Celebration London, or Anime Las Vegas, find the “thing” for you, and go! You’ll be filled with joy. And if it's not your thing, well, let others enjoy it and go do your “thing.”
I know I'm looking forward to the next Star Wars Celebration. That one will be in 2025...In Japan! Maybe I'll see you there.
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