Why do people think Star Wars is dead? (Page 3 of 4)

I'm not so sure there.

I mean, Star Wars was one of the first films to produce the vast variety of merchandise targeted at children that we all benefit from today. It is common for films to make action figures based on the characters now  but before Star Wars that was not really done on any scale. And there is the sea of other merchandise, everything from children's underwear to educational materials (The Star Wars question and answer book about space, 1979).  I think Star wars was able to achieve the overall success that it did largely because of the younger audience.

Also, I think a strong argument could be made that projects aimed at kids, Droids and Ewoks cartoons for example (regardless of how good or bad they were), kept Star Wars on the media radar during the late 80s and early 90s.

I think I understand what you are saying but people my parents' age were "adults" when the films were in the theaters and you do not see nearly as many 55 year old SW fans as you do 40 year old fans. People my age and a little older, I was seven when SW came out in the theaters, are the first group of consumers to contribute directly to the financial success of the films and related merchandise.

I think what is really different is that kids have changed, society has changed. I know a lot of people don't like a lot of the new material being produced but a lot of people hated the prequels too. I can't even watch the prequels and the original films on the same day without getting a stomach ache. But on the other hand, for a lot of people "their" Star Wars IS the prequels.  For me It's Star Wars, Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi---- NOT episode V,IV and VI.

So anyway, maybe it's just a generational thing like with Star Trek.

Star Wars is very much for adults as it is kids! Why do you think you only hear kids talk about all the lightsaber fighting, and adults about the philosophical components and such! People have written books on this stuff!

Star Wars is not a kids thing. It is for everyone. If anything Episodes 3, 5 and 6 are more for adults(except the ewoks in 6, the rest was adulty)

Most Star Wars stuff is aimed for adults yet also works for kids.

What makes Star Wars figures different from Halo figures?  I fail to see the path of your logic.

I think my post above may have turned this thread in a not so productive direction. Of course, there are aspects of SW that appeal more to adults and a those that appeal more to the younger folks. What I was trying to point out was something a little more simple. Star Wars is built on its merchandising empire as much as it is on anything else.
Let's be frank,The story in not that complicated. The characters are archetypes that can be found in any number of the world's mythologies. (See Joseph Campbell's work for more on this, especially the interview he did with Bill Moyers at Skywalker Ranch back in the 80s). What made the first film a success, in my opinion, was 1.) the fantastic visuals, this includes design work (costumes, sets,vehicles etc., special effects and art direction etc. and 2.) all the crap that people my age moaned and whined to our parents to buy for us when we were kids. As I pointed out above, before SW that kind of merchandising was unknown. "Adults" today were kids then so there is also a continuum to the purchasing pattern. That's one of the reasons why modern figures are so well done compared to the originals, Adults can collect them and kids can play with them or in my case you can do both. 

So, I'm not saying it's a kid's thing or a grown up thing so much as I am saying it's a discursive phenomenon that has transcended its original concept. By which I mean, it has a life of its own now but in the beginning, as has been pointed out countless times by myself and others, Lucas did not have all this worked out. Things just evolved. And I think, to bring it back on topic, as long as things keep evolving we will have Star Wars!

No its not. o.O I very much prefer the adults who still play with the figures to the ones who keep them in a box neatly lined up in a giant room. Toys are made to be played with, and there is nothing wrong with playing with action figures, even if you are an adult. Or a girl. Or both. Its like saying cartoons are for kids only. Or that video games are just a kids thing.

Sounds like you ran into some Dead Heads LOL.... yeah I've known a few too... I guess they are just not fans or simply out of touch with reality.

LOL just a joke... that fell flat.

I've definitly heard the word before, but to be honest, no, I cannot recall its definition. What kind of a test are you puttin on us?

There's a reason that is relevant to the topic that I am asking this question  "How many of you know what the word "insidious" means?" so please don't feel bad if you don't know or think that I am trying to be a "smart guy"

After a few more people chime in I will go into more detail.

The only poeple I have witnessed say that Star Wars is dead are those who are old and used to be Star Wars fans back during the original Trilogy. I guess most poeple used to hold a perception of Star Wars that was twisted during the new trilogy movies, the comics, the novels, and the cartoons. Star Wars definatly isnt dead, but I guess it is to THEM.

TW