Jung and Star Wars is a comprehensive deep dive, analyzing the Star Wars phenomenon from the perspective of analytical psychology as a living mythology in our time.
Drawing from Jungian perspectives, as well as the influence of both Joseph Campbell and James Hillman, this book examines the rich characters and history of the saga using concepts developed in the field of analytical psychology. It explores Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012 and the concept of canon, as well as examining the Force and a number of iconic characters, including Yoda, Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Princess Leia Organa, and more. By coming to understand the psychological ground of its mythic aspects, we learn to see Star Wars as a grand narrative of the human condition.
With Star Wars being ubiquitous in mainstream pop culture, this book will be of interest to both Jungian analysts and scholars, as well as academics in the fields of film studies and popular culture, offering a fresh and lesser-known perspective on depth psychology.
Table of Contents
Introduction 1. A Synoptic Star Wars: Disney’s Best-Laid Plans to Canonize a Living Mythology 2. The Force, Jedi, and Sith in Jungian Terms 3. Yoda: From Green-Man Senex to Divine Child 4. Palpatine: Dark-Side Senex of Absolute Evil 5. Possession by Affect in Anakin Skywalker’s Quest for Control 6. “One Destroyed Being”: The Splinter Psyche and Redemption of Darth Vader 7. The Transcendent Function and Luke Skywalker’s New Ethic of Balance 8. Leia: Archetypal Antiprincess, Huttslayer, Mother 9. The Falconer Can Hear the Wildman: Han Solo’s Individuation 10. Reylo: Coniunctio of a Dyad in the Force Epilogue