Star Wars Borrowing from Ethnography

Battara · 15th September 2018, 07:16 PM

Greetings folks,

There was a Star Wars costume exhibit in Cincinnati a couple of years ago (and yes I'm just getting to post now).

Some of the garb was taken literally from ethnography. This character is from Tatooine. Notice the pineapple Fijian club (upside down).

Battara · 15th September 2018, 07:21 PM

Though not a weapon, this character is wearing an Igorot boar tusk arm bracelet on the bag.

There might be other things you see that I missed.

DhaDha · 16th September 2018, 08:04 PM

Cool!
I remember noticing that when I saw the original movie again as an adult.
I also thought the rifle used was by the Tusken Raiders was inspired by Jezails.

photo from:
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Tusken_Cycler_rifle

Rafngard · 17th September 2018, 03:49 AM

OK, it's different franchise, but in Game of Thrones, in one scene, Night's King uses something that looks an awful lot like a panabas (except that it's made of ice, bigger, and sharp on the wrong side, but still).

This can be seen here, and I'm attaching a still from the gif (which is sadly, too big to upload to the site).

https://dreamgifs5.files.wordpress.c...-421.gif?w=760

Also, when I saw this while watching the show, I literally yelled at the screen.

Have fun,
Leif

M ELEY · 17th September 2018, 05:32 AM

Filmdom has been doing this for years. In 'Star Trek:The Next Generation', you have the Firangi, obviouly a play on the Indopersian sword, the Jem Hadar, from the word representing an Indian feudal lord, Xena-Mystic Warrior used a big chakram, etc, etc. I'm not offended by it and just view it as a form of respect.

Kmaddock · 17th September 2018, 11:53 AM

And the bandoleer for the Tuscan warrior in the film is a Swedish model 1910

I wonder did they really chop up a Fijian club? as it looks quiet good

Regards,

Ken

Roland_M · 17th September 2018, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

Greetings folks,

There was a Star Wars costume exhibit in Cincinnati a couple of years ago (and yes I'm just getting to post now).

Some of the garb was taken literally from ethnography. This character is from Tatooine. Notice the pineapple Fijian club (upside down).

Nice pictures and it is absolutely obviously, that the filmmakers got no idea how this Fijian war club is used. With that strange protrusion, which looks like a rocket-tail, the club is pretty useless. Or is it a rocket driven Club (german: "Raketenkeule"= "Rocketclub"

)? Imho this is now a club, which would hurt its owner. And ist is unintentional funny.
At least i hope, this is a reproduction of a Fijian Club.

To me it seems that they studied ethnographic arms and said "Hey let us use the most unusual and exotic looking weapons!" This would be ok, if they just get inspired by ethnographic arms but the direct usage is quite poor and without fantasy in my eyes.

Roland

Battara · 18th September 2018, 01:23 AM

No offense, just a note of how they borrow to create new items and ideas. Babylon 5 Minbari comes from the minbar, which you would find in any mosque, while their culture is very Japanese oriented.

The Babylon 5 Narn use a japanese katana and lots of katars.............

Lee · 18th September 2018, 03:45 PM

I particularly enjoyed the old stained white West African tilbi or boubou (robe) that Anakin wears (traveling incognito) about 30 minutes into Star Wars Attack of the Clones. The embroidery is briefly obvious as is a light blue inside lining - obviously the real ethnographic artifact. I wonder if the stains were also genuine.

I suppose someone should also mention the obvious debt the Star Wars series designers owe to Japanese traditional costume and armour.

15th September 2018, 07:16 PM	#1
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,220	Star Wars Borrowing from Ethnography Greetings folks, There was a Star Wars costume exhibit in Cincinnati a couple of years ago (and yes I'm just getting to post now). Some of the garb was taken literally from ethnography. This character is from Tatooine. Notice the pineapple Fijian club (upside down). Attached Images

15th September 2018, 07:21 PM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,220	Though not a weapon, this character is wearing an Igorot boar tusk arm bracelet on the bag. There might be other things you see that I missed. Attached Images

16th September 2018, 08:04 PM	#3
DhaDha Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 165	Cool! I remember noticing that when I saw the original movie again as an adult. I also thought the rifle used was by the Tusken Raiders was inspired by Jezails. photo from: http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Tusken_Cycler_rifle Attached Images

17th September 2018, 03:49 AM	#4
Rafngard Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Minneapolis,MN Posts: 340	OK, it's different franchise, but in Game of Thrones, in one scene, Night's King uses something that looks an awful lot like a panabas (except that it's made of ice, bigger, and sharp on the wrong side, but still). This can be seen here, and I'm attaching a still from the gif (which is sadly, too big to upload to the site). https://dreamgifs5.files.wordpress.c...-421.gif?w=760 Also, when I saw this while watching the show, I literally yelled at the screen. Have fun, Leif Attached Images

17th September 2018, 05:32 AM	#5
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,097	Filmdom has been doing this for years. In 'Star Trek:The Next Generation', you have the Firangi, obviouly a play on the Indopersian sword, the Jem Hadar, from the word representing an Indian feudal lord, Xena-Mystic Warrior used a big chakram, etc, etc. I'm not offended by it and just view it as a form of respect.

17th September 2018, 11:53 AM	#6
Kmaddock Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Ireland Posts: 543	And the bandoleer for the Tuscan warrior in the film is a Swedish model 1910 I wonder did they really chop up a Fijian club? as it looks quiet good Regards, Ken

18th September 2018, 01:23 AM	#8
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,220	No offense, just a note of how they borrow to create new items and ideas. Babylon 5 Minbari comes from the minbar, which you would find in any mosque, while their culture is very Japanese oriented. The Babylon 5 Narn use a japanese katana and lots of katars.............

18th September 2018, 03:45 PM	#9
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 914	I particularly enjoyed the old stained white West African tilbi or boubou (robe) that Anakin wears (traveling incognito) about 30 minutes into Star Wars Attack of the Clones. The embroidery is briefly obvious as is a light blue inside lining - obviously the real ethnographic artifact. I wonder if the stains were also genuine. I suppose someone should also mention the obvious debt the Star Wars series designers owe to Japanese traditional costume and armour.