Join Dr. Jeffery Long as he explores the influence of Asian religious and philosophical traditions on the Star Wars films.

When George Lucas created this phenomenally successful film series, he deliberately tapped into universal mythic and spiritual themes to create a new mythology for the modern world.  Through his association with scholar of religion and myth, Joseph Campbell, Lucas was able to draw upon Asian traditions such as Vedanta (Hindu philosophy), Buddhism, and Daoism. Concepts like the Force, the code of the Jedi Knights, and the archetype of the eccentric teacher embodied in the figure of Yoda, are drawn from the ancient wisdom traditions of India, China, and Japan.  This lecture, timed to coincide with the release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker later this year, will explore these Asian religious and philosophical themes among others.

Dr. Long is the Elizabethtown College Professor of Religion and Asian Studies. He teaches courses on Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, as well as a first-year seminar on Star Wars and Asian philosophy. He is the author of three books and a wide array of articles on Hinduism, Indian philosophy, and religious pluralism.

This program is open to the public and free of charge. Questions? Contact Joshua Cohen at cohenjp@etown.edu.