Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

‘Star Wars’ Fans Are Angry and Polarized. Like All Americans.
nyt ^ | Annalee Newitz

Posted on 12/26/2019 1:40:42 PM PST by Mount Athos

The “Star Wars" franchise is among Disney’s most lucrative properties.

A recent study by Morten Bay, a University of Southern California digital media researcher, revealed that over 50 percent of the venom directed on Twitter at Rian Johnson, director of “The Last Jedi,” came from the same sources as Russian election meddling.

Using the analytical tools that other technologists deployed to uncover Russian influence during the 2016 election, Mr. Bay found that “bots, trolls/sock puppets or political activists” were using the “Star Wars” debate “to propagate political messages supporting extreme right-wing causes and the discrimination of gender, race or sexuality” and that “a number of these users appear to be Russian trolls.” So it seems that it was political operatives, not fans, who were denigrating the movie and fomenting some of the virulent racism and misogyny against its cast.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Russia
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-66 last
To: Mount Athos
The “Star Wars" franchise is among Disney’s most lucrative properties.

A recent study by Morten Bay, a University of Southern California digital media researcher, revealed that over 50 percent of the venom directed on Twitter at Rian Johnson, director of “The Last Jedi,” came from the same sources as Russian election meddling.

Using the analytical tools that other technologists deployed to uncover Russian influence during the 2016 election, Mr. Bay found that “bots, trolls/sock puppets or political activists” were using the “Star Wars” debate “to propagate political messages supporting extreme right-wing causes and the discrimination of gender, race or sexuality” and that “a number of these users appear to be Russian trolls.” So it seems that it was political operatives, not fans, who were denigrating the movie and fomenting some of the virulent racism and misogyny against its cast.

Imagine being so hung up on blaming everything on Russians, that EVERYthing that you don't like is because RUSSIA.

61 posted on 12/26/2019 5:27:17 PM PST by Lazamataz (We can be called a racist and we'll just smile. Because we don't care.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Hodar

Charlie’s Angels 2019 fails
Bombshell Implodes

Like the impeachment, and their 2010 disaster, they will double down on what doesn’t work until we give them a sympathy vote.


62 posted on 12/26/2019 5:44:52 PM PST by spintreebob
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: PGR88

Darth Putin.


63 posted on 12/26/2019 6:43:25 PM PST by EdnaMode
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Drew68
"Said it was the best Star Wars he'd ever seen."

It was definitely up there, had a lot of the feel of the original Star Wars that started it all. I remember cutting school to go see the original Star Wars with my girlfriend back in 1977, we were nerd-geeks long before such terms even existed! Hard to imagine I would still be a fan 42 years later!

Empire Strikes Back is still my all-time favorite of the series.

Rogue One was really good too.

64 posted on 12/26/2019 6:45:46 PM PST by Left2Right (Keep America Great!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: CaliforniaCraftBeer

In a weird, backhanded way, that creature was pretty funny.


65 posted on 12/26/2019 7:29:29 PM PST by BradyLS (DO NOT FEED THE BEARS!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: Colorado Doug

At the time, it was a big theater. I do not, unlike Charles Boyer, remember the theater well..


66 posted on 12/27/2019 7:24:09 AM PST by Terry L Smith
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 60 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-66 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson