The best way I can describe why I hate The Last Jedi so much, is to compare it to the kind of looting that takes place during war. It's common practice for conquering nations to loot those they've dominated, robbing their museums and stealing their cultural artifacts. This accomplishes more than just stealing a nation's wealth; it erodes their culture.
The Last Jedi was similar, in that Star Wars has always been a part of male culture. Can we all agree on that? Star Wars was originally created for, and marketed to male children specifically. It was a story about coming of age, where a young man leaves the comfort and safety of his home and embraces the danger and chaos of going out into the world, and discovering who he will become. It's as much about violence, self-sufficiency and anti-authoritarianism as it is a moral tale about love and hate. I'm not saying that this description means that the original Star Wars trilogy was "good" or "bad" because of this. That's a separate discussion. But the original trilogy was a very important cultural artifact for many men who are now between the ages of 35 and 50, or so. While some women were interested in Star Wars, it was overwhelmingly catering to men. The films had a profound impact.
I also think it's fair to say that The Last Jedi was critical of male behavior, specifically violence, self-sufficiency and anti-authoritarianism. Each of these traits were portrayed as vices, and all of these "vices" were adopted by male characters. All of the male characters. Each male character was either too violent, too self-sufficient or too anti-authoritarian. Again, we can have a further conversation as to whether or not one should take issue with these traits, but let's leave that as a separate conversation, for now.
My point is, that the original Star Wars trilogy was marketed to young boys, as a celebration of what at the time were considered important facets of manhood. The new Star Wars trilogy, with an idealistic subtext, seems to be aiming criticism at that same demographic, turning the narrative on its head so that the implicit values of the original trilogy are now being portrayed in a negative light. Would you guys agree with that?
In other words, regardless as to whether we agree or disagree with the criticism, Rian Johnson, Kathleen Kennedy and her writing team usurped a narrative aimed at young boys, and used it as a vehicle to condemn culturally "male" traits that they deem to be problematic. We can agree or disagree as to whether or not the critique is correct, but regardless as to where you are on the ideological spectrum, do you guys agree with that? Did the original trilogy glorify violence, self-sufficiency and anti-authoritarianism as being virtuous? Did the new trilogy portray violence, self-sufficiency and anti-authoritarianism as being problematic, and derived from male behavior?
