Beyond the Last Jedi – Uncompromising Hope in the Politics of Star Wars

Star Wars: The Last Jedi was probably the most political movie of the franchise so far. In this piece, I analyze how this film has subverted much of the SW lore by, interestingly, making its political dimensions significantly more real (and hence more complex). Throughout the piece, I use this reflection as a heuristic device to comment on how the movie might teach us how to interpret, critique, and deal with politics in a more sound, effective, and hopeful manner. E. H. Carr is invoked to assist in this endeavor, as I reflect upon the themes of (neoliberal) war profiteering, the efficacy of heroism, and the traps of political idolatry and ideological fanaticism