Using the Force

From Wookieepedia, the Star Wars wiki.

Using the Force is a commentary on the culture surrounding Star Wars, the films, the novels and comics of the Expanded Universe, the online community and the various fan activities such as fan fiction and fan films.

[edit] Summary

Brooker documents many aspects of Star Wars fan culture, much of his research coming from contributions by fans which he requested through the website, TheForce.net in 2001. There is also an analysis on how the films are viewed by fans, both in groups and individually which includes the controversies of the Han shot first debate and other changes of the Special Edition, the negative reactions of the "bashers" and "gushers" that surrounded The Phantom Menace and the speculation of fans prior to the release of Attack of the Clones. He also looks in detail at the reception of the novels and comics of the Expanded Universe, including the continual debates of canon and continuity on various online communities such as the Jedi Council Forums. Various fan activities are looked at in detail such as fan films (with TROOPS, Star Dudes and Duality as features) and fan fiction including the slash fic. Brooker also examines the perceived bias of Star Wars fans, looking at younger fans and female fans respectively.