Looks like George Lucas has done it again. In "Star Wars Episode One: The Phantom Menace," he's created a movie that taps into the cultural psyche. Unfortunately, this being the 90's, what he's dredged up out of the collective unconscious is yet another awesomely silly hissy fit about alleged racism.

First off, there was the controversy over the character of Jar Jar Binks. In case you haven't seen the movie, Jar Jar is this big galoot who hooks up with the heroes and tags along to provide comic relief and occasionally nudge the plot along. Some people found Jar Jar's accent to be offensive, saying it was a racist parody of Jamaican patois. They even found fault with Jar Jar's floppy ears, saying they were supposed to represent Jamaican dreadlocks. If he'd had a big ol' doobie dangling from between his lips, I might think you had something, but let's get real here.

Now, let me just say, I'm no fan of the Jar Jar character. In my opinion, the only way Jar Jar could have been more annoying is if he were played by Gilbert Gottfreid. If Jar Jar gets offed in some entertaining way in the next installment, I for one will be the first one on my feet applauding. In fact, if you have suggestions on how Jar Jar might be disposed of, send them to "Kill Jar Jar" care of this newspaper OR e-mail me at dustyr@ac.net. I'll forward them to George Lucas. But I digress.

I agree, Jar Jar is incredibly irritating. But racist? Come on, people, he's a MUPPET. He's made of computer pixels rather than felt and yarn, but the Jim Henson influence is all over him. He's just a huge mutant Elmo, designed to boost toy sales. And I don't know how you get any kind of accent out of his incomprehensible gibberish. He's harder to understand than an R.E.M. record.

After the Jar Jar thing broke, people started getting all snippy about the Nemoidians, who are these fish-faced guys that run the evil Trade Alliance. Some people found their accents and costuming to be reminiscent of stereotyped Oriental movie bad guys. So some Asian groups got their obis in a wad over that.

Actually, capitalists probably should be more upset than Asians. I mean, isn't it about time science fiction stopped picking on poor fish-creatures who are only trying to make a buck? But let's not pour gasoline on that particular fire.

For true irony, though, you've got to go to the fuss over the character of Watto. Watto is...well, Watto's basically a bug. He's a big talking bug with little bitty wings who runs the junkyard where the brave Jedi are trying to scrounge parts for their damaged ship. (I guess the Force is no substitute for an American Express card.) Some folks purport to find Jewish stereotypes in Watto's accent and money-hungry demeanor. Others, however, think he's a stereotype of greedy ARAB traders. Still others think he's--get this-- Italian. I have to tell you, being able to offend three ethnic groups with one character is something most of us can only dream about.

Actually, there might be something to this racism thing. I mean, look at the first three "Star Wars" movies. Are we to believe that the entire Galaxy has only one African-American in it (and that it's Billy Dee Williams?) And let's be honest. Who's the REALLY Black character? That's right, Darth Vader, whose first act in the movie is to board a peaceful ship and casually strangle some poor Rebel grunt before kidnapping the Princess, torturing her for information, and helping blow up her planet. Not-so-subtle racism, is it?

Come to think of it, the problem in the "Star Wars" universe extends to more than just race. Take Jabba the Hutt. Why is an obese character portrayed as an evil crime lord? Shouldn't overweight people--sorry, the gravitationally challenged-- be upset? And let's not even talk about the offensive gay stereotypes inherent in the whole R2D2/C3PO relationship.

Again, here we see the evil Muppet influence. Many of the creature effects were done by Jim Henson protégé Frank Oz, and as we all know, the whole Muppet empire is riddled with bigoted and homophobic stereotypes. We all know about Bert and Ernie, don't we? Oscar, the grouch who lives in a garbage can, is an offensive portrayal of the homeless. Big Bird? A flaming cross-dresser.

Movies like this are like a Rorschach ink-blot test. You see in them what you want to see. But what you see reveals more about you than it tells you about the movie.  

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© 1999 Jerry D. Rhoades, Jr.