The Skywalker Paradigm:
An exercise in propaganda analysis




This was the first ever written piece on 'The Skywalker Paradigm', something that has grown quite a bit over the last couple of years. Click the banner below for a much more complete study of this evil son of a Skywalker.



       It is my intention to show that Darth Vader is the true hero of the original Star Wars trilogy. In this analysis, I generally consider only the movies themselves: Star Wars (A New Hope to all you fanboys), Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi. I have, at times, garnered some supporting info from comics, games, trading cards, and the many tech and art books on the subject. I delve a little into the new trilogy, but generally I consider it to be a re-telling of history, a story told to the peoples of the galaxy after the events in the original trilogy. I make no considerations to the �Dark Luke� saga of comics and books telling of the events after the Return of the Jedi. I had no real knowledge of the events described in those stories when I was formulating the Skywalker Paradigm, though many have pointed out that Luke becomes quite evil in those stories and that this would support my theories. My contention is that Luke was evil to begin with and that he is the true villain of the Star Wars universe.
       We commence with the first movie (episode IV if you believe Lucas), Star Wars (or A New Hope, as it has been re-named). We find what is supposed to be a 'consular ship' on a diplomatic mission. Vader makes an excellent point: "If this is a consular ship, where is the ambassador?". Vader is two steps ahead at all times, and this is the first time we see the so-called �Rebels� lying, which while necessary in war, I feel is also indicative of their general nature.
In short order, Leia is captured and brought before Vader:

       Leia: "Darth Vader. Only you could be so bold. The Imperial Senate will not sit still for this" (this little exchange indicates Vader is far from all powerful at this point - as the movies progress, so Vader moves up in command until he is second only to the Emperor). "When they hear you�ve attacked a diplomatic-"
       Vader: "Don�t act so surprised, Your Highness. You weren�t on any mercy mission this time. Several transmissions were beamed to this ship by Rebel spies. I want to know what happened to the plans they sent you."
       Leia: "I don�t know what you�re talking about. I�m a member of the Imperial Senate on a diplomatic mission to Alderaan!"
       Vader: "You are a part of the Rebel Alliance, and a traitor. Take her away!"

       One of the first lines of the movie, "There�ll be no escape for the princess this time", indicates previous rebel activity on the part of Leia. One important note to make here is that this is indeed a 'princess', a member of royalty. She is trying get back into power. This is not a rebellion. The rebellion already happened, the royalty was deposed. This is a counter-rebellion; very different indeed. Imagine if Marie Antoinette and Louis had lived and started organizing to regain the throne. This is a good example as it turns out because Napoleon was no peach either, but he sure as hell was better than the royals. Very seldom in these movies are the people who are to be ruled by one or another of the fighting factions ever mentioned or considered. Neither side is �good� in that regard, but there are a few clues, to be discussed as the come up.

       When Luke is discussing his future with Owen, he notes that he wants to transmit his application to the Academy. This can only be the Empire�s Academy - there is no other power structure He already has the military in mind as a career. Make no mistake: this boy craves blood.
In this same conversation, Owen about shits when Luke mentions Obi-Wan. Owen knows damn well who Obi-Wan is. He surely knows how Luke fits into the grand scheme of things as well; Baru says Luke "has too much of his father in him." Owen responds, "That�s what I�m afraid of." Clearly Owen is a loyalist supporter of the royal line, though his apprehension may be indicative of some heavy pressure from Obi-Wan. Is Owen afraid of Jedi retribution for failing in his duty in harboring the son of Annikin Skywalker? As we shall see, he should be. Is Luke to be used in some plot by the Alliance? This will soon become self evident.

       We now meet Obi-Wan Kenobi for the first time when Luke is attacked by Sand People. They either knock him out or Luke pisses himself unconscious (he receives no wounds from this ordeal). This is the first of many unlikely and advantageous �coincidences� that occur when Kenobi is around. Why didn�t the Sand People kill Luke? Were they in fact sent by Kenobi (as you will later see, I put nothing beyond Kenobi�s die-hard willingness to do anything for what he believes in)? Luke knows Kenobi on sight. Kenobi tries to undermine Luke�s affection for Owen and Baru by telling him that they lied to him about his father. I have no doubt that they were bloody well instructed to lie to the little shit; now they are blamed for it. Kenobi has been keeping close tabs on Luke ("I understand you�ve become quite a good pilot yourself").
A little exposition by Kenobi:
       "For over a thousand generations the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic. Before the dark times, before the Empire."
       Guardians for peace and justice, but for who? Keep in mind that as a Jedi, Kenobi has a somewhat biased perspective about what the Jedi are. They are, in fact, the samurai henchmen of the royalty. They seem to answer to no one save themselves and the royalty, and deal out death and dismemberment at the slightest provocation (the Cantina in Star Wars, the trade negotiations in Phantom Menace, and the barroom scene in Attack of the Clones are all good examples). Lightsabers, which they carry on their persons (do they not need permits for these things?!), are weapons so unthinkably powerful that they can cut through almost anything, save another lightsaber.

       At this point, Kenobi lies like a cheap rug:

       Luke: "How did my father die?"
       Kenobi: "A young Jedi named Darth Vader, who was pupil of mine until he turned evil, helped the Empire hunt down and destroy the Jedi Knights. He betrayed and murdered your father. Now the Jedi are all but extinct. Vader was seduced by the dark side of the Force."

       We all know the real story (or at least what we�re fed in Phantom Menace): Annikin was found by Qui-Gon and Kenobi, and the entire Jedi Counsil shit their collective diapers when it was brought out that he might be the prophesied bringer of balance to the Force. The council, and Yoda particularly, know what balance means.

       Back to Luke and Ben: Kenobi explains "The Force is what give the Jedi his power." I�ll discuss the Force more later, but for now I will merely mention that Kenobi never mentioned that the Force could be used in a telekinetic fashion. It will be my assertion that the force cannot be used in this way, that the son of Skywalker lies. Read on!

       When the message from Leia is accessed from R2 (another convenience in Kenobi�s presence) she addresses him as 'General Kenobi'. This indicates that Kenobi is an active military commander. As the last of the light-siders (it�s highly questionable to me as to whether or not Yoda is actually alive at this point - more later), he is in hiding, guarding the son of the one of the strongest elements of the opposition (this also shows the underlying belief structure of the Alliance - to them, his direct heir would be important as that is what is important to them). I have to wonder if Leia�s message contains some sort of activation code for Kenobi ("You helped my father many years ago," "the eagle�s shadow passes the moon"). At any rate, Kenobi, who has been sitting around all this time keeping tabs on Luke is now off like a shot and he wants Luke to come with him. Strangely, Luke doesn�t want to go. Young Skywalker wants to join the Imperial forces but is reluctant to fight against them, showing his true leanings.
       Chillingly, Kenobi offers "Well, you must do what you think is right". You can even see him crossing his arms; an ominous piece of body language in hind sight. Luke�s foster parents are in deep poo-doo.
       Do not be led astray by Kenobi�s Jedi mind tricks. We never see the imperial troops he says are responsible for the death of the Jawa�s who sold the droids to Owen and we never see them kill Owen and Baru. We are instead led to believe this by Kenobi. Kenobi leads Luke (and us) to make conclusions that don�t quite wash. I contend that Kenobi called the strike on Owen and Baru and the Jawas. It�s Kenobi�s responsibility to recruit Luke. Luke has to come with him. His attachment to Owen and Baru cannot be allowed to deter the aims of the Rebellion. Once they are removed, Luke has nothing holding him to Tatooine and willingly throws his lot in with Kenobi. Luke never accuses Vader of killing his foster parents. More likely, this is another lie by omission. Confronted with the deaths of the Lars�, Vader no doubt exclaimed "Who? My step-brother? What the hell are you talking about? He was killed by a Rebel assassin squad right around the time that I- Oh no, you don�t think that I!? Damn that Kenobi!!!" But Vader never has to answer to this allegation because Luke simply never brings it up (to our knowledge anyway).
       Luke rushes off to make sure Owen and Baru are safe. Kenobi has a moment of panic. I imagine him frantically giving orders to evacuate to his hit squad.
       When Luke returns from seeing the smoldering bodies of his aunt and uncle, we see Kenobi hanging back, wary because he does not know what Luke may have seen. One has to wonder how much danger Luke would have been in if he had figured out the Rebels killed his loved ones. Kenobi has already given Luke the lightsaber. As important as Luke is, Kenobi may have killed him to prevent him from joining the Empire at this point. So, a tense little moment. Once he is confident that Luke believes his lies, Kenobi, smugly confident now, intones "There was nothing you could have done, Luke" Indeed.

       A little display of the force with the patrolling stormtroopers shows us how it can be used to influence the thoughts and actions of others. He tells Luke that the force can be used to influence the weak-minded. A subtle joke at Luke�s expense? He is so confident at this point he is almost telling Luke that he is controlling his mind.
       I question everything about this story, so I had to figure out if the force could be used at all to control others or if this was just another lie. Jedi mind tricks are commonly discussed however and this trait is commonly accepted within the Star Wars universe, so I will accept it. It�s not too extraordinary to imagine that a meditation/philosophy/training could produce Rasputin-like charisma. An intergalactic school of Mesmerism, if you will. We will see that there are those that these mind tricks work on and those that they don�t.