Why do So Many People Connect with Star Wars?

Have you ever watched a Star Wars movie without the sound? Surprisingly, you can still understand the basic narrative, the characters' importance, and the mood of the scene. This is the art of visual storytelling, and George Lucas excels in this technique, especially in the original trilogy and the prequels.

An Experiment with Sound and Silence

Take this experiment for instance: watch a clip of a Star Wars movie with the sound off. You can easily comprehend that a major character is about to enter a scene, or that a battle is about to begin. The visuals tell a complete story without sound, illustrating the power of visual storytelling.

Music Enhancing the Narrative

Now, do the same experiment but this time with the original soundtrack from John Williams turned on. John Williams is one of the most renowned modern composers, and his music plays a crucial role in storytelling. Just by listening to the score, you can feel the mood of the scene: when someone is reminiscing about the future, when a battle is intense, or when a character is humorously acting. The music and visuals are in sync, enhancing each other and creating a powerful narrative.

Merging Visual and Auditory Cues

Combine the power of visuals and music, and you have an opera. Star Wars, in many ways, is an opera. It has a compelling visual story and a rich musical score. The characters' actions and the music together create an overwhelming and pleasurable experience, much like an opera.

The Fourth Experiment: An Opera Comparison

To further understand this, try to watch an opera and focus on the dialogue and characterisation. Ignore the music and singing. You will likely find the dialogue in Star Wars to be absolutely splendid. The writing is also exceptional compared to an opera like La Famffra or other classical operas. Operas are plays, but these plays are straightforward and simplistic because they prioritize visual and musical storytelling.

Simple Storytelling for Visual and Musical Depth

This is a correct way to create a movie. While it may not be the only way, it is one of the effective methods. Star Wars showcases simple, even simplistic, writing so that the audience can enjoy the visuals and music without feeling overwhelmed. The complex stories are justified by the visuals and music, making the narrative accessible and enjoyable.

Star Wars is a great movie, and it demonstrates the power of visual and auditory storytelling. Whether you are a fan of complex narrative films like Citizen Kane, Shawshank Redemption, or The Man from Earth, or simply enjoy a good space opera, the storytelling in Star Wars resonates with audiences.