Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) (with Becca Harrison)

Beginning the New Year in a galaxy far, far away, Chris and Alex turn for the first time to the seminal Star Wars franchise for their latest episode, this time revisiting the first in the latest sequel trilogy Star Wars: The Force Awakens (J.J. Abrams, 2015). Joining them for this journey through this epic space fantasy is Dr Becca Harrison, Lecturer in the Theatre, Film & Television Studies department at the University of Glasgow. Becca has written extensively on Star Wars for both the BFI and The Conversation, and is also the author of two upcoming books on the Star Wars franchise. Listen as they make their way through topics including the shape of academic scholarship on the film series and the challenges of critically engaging with the Star Wars universe; the film’s place within the industrial logic of the franchise feature; how recalls, callbacks and looping within Star Wars: The Force Awakens can be understood as examples of narrative ‘recursion’; inclusive representation and the film’s complex racial and gender politics; the authorship of George Lucas; and mythologies of female-oriented power that exist both within and beyond the film.