Cultural impact of Star Wars

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George Lucas' six-film Star Wars saga has had a significant impact on modern global pop culture. References to the main characters and themes of Star Wars are casually made in Western society with the well-qualified assumption that others will understand the reference, without the speaker feeling the need to explain — similar to the use of unelaborated references to the Bible and Greek mythology. Also, science fiction since the original 1977 Star Wars, particularly in film, has often been influenced by and compared to Star Wars. Sounds, visuals, and even the music from the films have become part of the tapestry of Western society.

One example is John Williams' score for the films, especially the recurring theme "The Imperial March," which has become part of the Western musical repertoire. "The Imperial March" and other Star Wars symphonic themes are often used as fanfares at sporting events.

Another example is U.S. President Ronald Reagan's labeling the Soviet Union as an "evil empire." This reference assumed — correctly — that the fictional Galactic Empire of Star Wars had entered the American lexicon.

Similarly, Reagan employed "Star Wars" as the colloquial name for his Strategic Defense Initiative program. Lucasfilm originally sued to try to enjoin this usage of its trademark, and lost, in Lucasfilm Ltd. v. High Frontier, 622 F.Supp. 931 (D.D.C. 1985). Explaining its decision, the court said,

"When politicians, newspapers, and the public generally use the phrase star wars for their convenience, in parody or descriptively to further a communication of their views on SDI, plaintiff has no rights as owner of the mark to prevent this use of STAR WARS. ... Since Jonathan Swift's time, creators of fictional worlds have seen their vocabulary for fantasy appropriated to describe reality. Trademark laws regulate unfair competition, not the parallel development of new dictionary meanings in the everyday give and take of human discourse."

Interestingly, Lucas showed his displeasure with Reagan's use of the name "Star Wars" by naming a villain in his Star Wars prequel trilogy "Nute Gunray." "Gunray" is obviously a reverse pronunciation of "Reagan," and "Nute" is a backhanded reference to Knute Rockne, All American, a film in which Reagan, a former actor, starred. As an edit, it will be pointed out that Lucas is disappointed with right wing politics, not President Reagan using the term. That is why the villains in The Phantom Menace are Lott Dodd, for Republican Trent Lott and Democrat Christoper Dodd, along with Newt Gingrich and Ronald Reagan for Nute Gunray.