Star Wars (1977) as an appealing fiction

the success and the gathering symbols of Americanness

Authors

  • Arthur Menozzo Universidade Federal do Paraná

Abstract

Abstract: This paper orbits Star Wars (1977), Hollywood, and the usage of Americanness by the movie in a specific context and mode. It is argued that Star Wars fiction stems mostly from blending elements of democratic tradition, space exploration, Western frontier, and American Orientalism under a specific interpretation of Americanness. This fusion happened precisely after more or less a decade of New Hollywood Cinema, which, along with the usage of cultural symbols, produced the movie considered the savior of Hollywood. Starting with definitions of Hollywood and Americanness, the paper then contextualizes movie theater dynamics to the 1960s and the rise of New Hollywood Cinema. Right after, it examines how these contextual elements contributed to an astonishing box-office success, highlighting the potential for studying commercially successful films in a historical context where research is relatively scarce.

 

Keywords: Star Wars; History of Cinema; Americanness.

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Author Biography

  • Arthur Menozzo, Universidade Federal do Paraná

    Atualmente graduando em História pela Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR). Tem período de intercâmbio acadêmico pela Universität Leipzig, na Alemanha, onde estudou Relações Internacionais e Estudos Culturais por dois semestres com patrocínio da UFPR. Tem interesse em História Global e História das ciências. E-mail para contato: arthurmenozzodarosa@gmail.com

Published

2025-04-10

How to Cite

MENOZZO, Arthur. Star Wars (1977) as an appealing fiction: the success and the gathering symbols of Americanness. Temporalidades, Belo Horizonte, v. 16, n. 2, p. 389–404, 2025. Disponível em: https://periodicos.ufmg.br/index.php/temporalidades/article/view/51017. Acesso em: 24 dec. 2025.