Guest Lecture Series Amy H. Sturgis – The Jedi, the Cowboy, and Thomas Edison? Pulp Science Fiction and Star Wars

<p style="padding-left: 30px">This free online lecture is part of the <a href="http://mythgard.org/academy/guest-lecture-series/">Mythgard Academy Guest Lecture Series</a>.</p> [caption id="attachment_1225" align="alignleft" width="180"]<a href="http://mythgard.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2011/07/MI_AmySturgis.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-1225" src="http://mythgard.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2011/07/MI_AmySturgis.jpg" alt="Amy Sturgis" width="180" height="280" /></a> Dr. Amy H. Sturgis[/caption] What images come to mind when you think of Star Wars? Luke Skywalker watching the twin suns set on Tatooine? Princess Leia with a blaster in her hand and buns on her head? The glow of a lightsaber in the darkness? These visuals convey volumes, and they spring in part from a common origin. One of the keys to the worldwide success of Star Wars is that the saga draws from a variety of global sources, both classical and contemporary. Join Dr. Amy H. Sturgis as she discusses one particular tradition that has left its indelible imprint on the Star Wars franchise. How did pulp science fiction evolve? What is the relationship between this genre and the Western? And how can tracing the pulp ancestry of Star Wars give us new insights on key moments and messages across the Star Wars canon — and quite possibly shed light on the forthcoming film The Force Awakens? Star Wars fans and newbies alike are welcome!   <strong>Recordings from Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015</strong> <em>Watch: </em><a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.mythgardacademy/GuestLectureSeries/2015-08-15_TheJeditheCowboyandThomasEdisonPulpScienceFictionandStarWars.mp4">Video </a><i>Listen: </i><a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.mythgardacademy/GuestLectureSeries/2015-08-15_TheJeditheCowboyandThomasEdisonPulpScienceFictionandStarWars.mp3">Audio </a><em>Suggested Reading: </em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ZSJ212/ref=as_li_tl?tag=mythgainstit-20" target="_blank"><em>Star Wars </em>movies</a> (episodes I – VI) <h2><a href="http://mythgard.org/academics/fall-2015-courses/the-force-of-star-wars-examining-the-epic/"><img class=" size-medium wp-image-8307 alignright" src="http://mythgard.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2015/05/StarWarsCourseBanner_MI-300x137.jpg" alt="The Force of Star Wars Banner" width="300" height="137" /></a>The Force of <em>Star Wars</em></h2> Be sure to check out Dr. Sturgis' fall class for the Mythgard Institute, <a href="http://mythgard.org/academics/fall-2015-courses/the-force-of-star-wars-examining-the-epic/">The Force of <em>Star Wars</em>: Examining the Epic</a>. This 12-week class will look at the traditions out of which George Lucas built his epic story, while also examining the cultural impact of <em>Star Wars </em>through today. <h2>Biography</h2> <a href="http://www.amyhsturgis.com/"><strong>Amy H. Sturgis</strong></a> earned her Ph.D. in Intellectual History from Vanderbilt University and specializes in Science Fiction/Fantasy and Native American Studies. She is the author of four books and the editor of six others, and she has published over forty scholarly and mainstream essays. Some of her honors include the Imperishable Flame Award for Tolkien/Inklings Scholarship, the Scholar <span class="il">Guest</span> of Honor distinction at Mythcon XXXVII, and the L.A. Press Club's Best Magazine Review/Criticism/Column Award. Since 2008, <span class="il">Sturgis</span> has contributed regular "Looking Back at Genre History" segments and dramatic readings to StarShipSofa, which in 2010 became the first podcast in history to win the Hugo Award. With over 200 presentations to her credit, <span class="il">Sturgis</span> is a regular speaker at universities and genre conventions across North America and Europe. A faculty member at Signum University's Mythgard Institute since 2012, she also teaches Liberal Studies at Lenoir-Rhyne University. <span class="il">Sturgis</span> lives with her husband and their Boston terrier in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina. Her official website is <a href="http://amyhsturgis.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">amyhsturgis.com</a>.