Ep. XXVIII - Jar Jar Binks: A Tale of Dehumanization

Jar Jar Binks has spent decades as the butt of the joke, but there is more to him than that. This week on Mind the Force, we look at Jar Jar as an outsider, a disruptor, and an unexpectedly important part of The Phantom Menace. We also discuss the backlash to the prequel era, how that criticism spilled onto Ahmed Best, and what his experience tells us about the darker side of fandom. This episode is about reappraisal, empathy, and the cost of turning dislike into dehumanization.Hosts: Kristine Smith & James AbbateProduced by: Press Record Studioswww.pressrecordstudios.comMind the Force Website: ⁠https://mindtheforce.com/⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/mindtheforce/⁠Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/mindtheforceBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/mindtheforce.bsky.socialSubstack: https://substack.com/@mindtheforceMental Health DisclaimerWe are not medical or mental health professionals. Mind the Force podcast is intended for inspirational, educational, and entertainment purposes only. Nowhere in this Podcast do we diagnose or treat listeners with any kind of psychological, mental, emotional or physical disorder as might be diagnosed and treated by a personal psychologist or other professional advisor. The content is not intended to be a substitute for working with a therapist or licensed mental health professional.