STAR WARS Identities: A Review
I had a chance to experience STAR WARS Identities on April 17, 2012 at a media avant-premiere of the psychology meets sci-fi exhibit, and it was evident before I even stepped foot in the Montreal Science Centre that I was going to have a heavy bias come review time.
See, I love psychology, having studied the soft science and worked in the field for several years as I simultaneously built up my media portfolio.
In fact, I thought I was either going to be a psychologist or a CSIS operative, unwittingly displaying a passion for my mother's footsteps in investigation, lie detection and interrogation. But here's the catch. I didn't even know this is what she did for a living when I was looking into joining CSIS, Canada's counterpart to America's CIA (lonnnnng story). Instead, I ended up living her dream, that of making a living as a writer (when she wasn't chief of security, she was a part-time English composition professor).
Coincidentally, these not-so-coincidental occupational coincidences are a few pieces of the puzzleSTAR WARS Identities attempts to solve. Identity. What is it? Where does it come from? Are we bound by our genetic makeup? Are we forcibly shaped by environmental factors outside of our control? Do we even have free will to choose who we become? Why are we the way that we are and how did we get to be like this?
And the exhibit uses Star Wars characters to examine these fundamentals.
How could Luke Skywalker and Anakin Skywalker, who, as the Star Wars story goes, both share similar genetic makeups, both grow up on the same planet and both lose their parents at a young age, turn out so diametrically different?
The other bias I have to contend with is that I also loveStar Wars. Passionately. Even the ewoks do it for me, though I draw the line at Jar Jar Binks –- a girl's gotta have standards. So I couldn't help but watch all the short films on identity, listen to the exhibit's audio anecdotes regarding Star Wars character development and glimpse at the film franchises conceptual sketches dating back to the '70s, which, in some cases, looked nothing like the characters Star Wars fans have come to worship.
With that mind, what I can say with confidence is this: Star Wars fans will enjoy the experience, which is a little pricey for an exhibit, albeit an interactive one that lasts about 90 minutes, though it might take some visitors as little as 45-60 minutes, considering I was the last media rep to complete the exhibit -- save possibly Radio-Canada, whose minivan was still parked outside the centre when I left -- having, again, listened to all audio recordings and carefully examined exhibit pieces on the premises.
Now here's the thing. I disagree with producers that STAR WARS Identities is for everyone. I'm not entirely convinced someone who's not yet seen the movie franchise will delight in knowing whose eyes Yoda's were modeled after, what went into giving Jabba the Hutt legs, that C-3P0 is hopelessly neurotic and Han Solo ranks almost as low on agreeableness as Darth Vader. Nor do I think young children will jump at the chance to watch a primer on brain plasticity. But they might get a kick out of the ten interactive stations which allow them to build their Star Wars hero, or alter ego (mine is a pink Ewok Jedi Knight bent on achievement).
Since admission gives access to all of the Montreal Science Centre exhibits, which are very kid-friendly, I'd say parents on the fence should consider fronting the expense, especially if they happen to be Star Wars fans. It's a win-win.
STAR WARS Identities Photos: The Garden Gnome
Click here to find out who this gnome ended up being in the Star Wars movie franchise.
STAR WARS Identities Photos: Master Yoda's Eyes Fashioned After a Genius
STAR WARS Identities Photos: Han Solo Personality Analysis Suggests Jerk
STAR WARS Identities Photos: The Pressure of Jabba the Hutt
The above sketch dated from 1983, the same year Return of the Jedi hit theatres, was drawn by staff of Industrial Light & Magic, a special effects division of Lucasfilm Ltd. Rumor has it the drawing served as a sort of rallying cry, illustrating the kind of pressure artists face during film production.
STAR WARS Identities Photos: That's Chewbacca?
STAR WARS Identities Photos: The Ships
I had a chance to experience STAR WARS Identities on April 17, 2012 at a media avant-premiere of the psychology meets sci-fi exhibit, and it was evident before I even stepped foot in the Montreal Science Centre that I was going to have a heavy bias come review time.
See, I love psychology, having studied the soft science and worked in the field for several years as I simultaneously built up my media portfolio.
In fact, I thought I was either going to be a psychologist or a CSIS operative, unwittingly displaying a passion for my mother's footsteps in investigation, lie detection and interrogation. But here's the catch. I didn't even know this is what she did for a living when I was looking into joining CSIS, Canada's counterpart to America's CIA (lonnnnng story). Instead, I ended up living her dream, that of making a living as a writer (when she wasn't chief of security, she was a part-time English composition professor).
Coincidentally, these not-so-coincidental occupational coincidences are a few pieces of the puzzleSTAR WARS Identities attempts to solve. Identity. What is it? Where does it come from? Are we bound by our genetic makeup? Are we forcibly shaped by environmental factors outside of our control? Do we even have free will to choose who we become? Why are we the way that we are and how did we get to be like this?
And the exhibit uses Star Wars characters to examine these fundamentals.
How could Luke Skywalker and Anakin Skywalker, who, as the Star Wars story goes, both share similar genetic makeups, both grow up on the same planet and both lose their parents at a young age, turn out so diametrically different?
The other bias I have to contend with is that I also loveStar Wars. Passionately. Even the ewoks do it for me, though I draw the line at Jar Jar Binks –- a girl's gotta have standards. So I couldn't help but watch all the short films on identity, listen to the exhibit's audio anecdotes regarding Star Wars character development and glimpse at the film franchises conceptual sketches dating back to the '70s, which, in some cases, looked nothing like the characters Star Wars fans have come to worship.
With that mind, what I can say with confidence is this: Star Wars fans will enjoy the experience, which is a little pricey for an exhibit, albeit an interactive one that lasts about 90 minutes, though it might take some visitors as little as 45-60 minutes, considering I was the last media rep to complete the exhibit -- save possibly Radio-Canada, whose minivan was still parked outside the centre when I left -- having, again, listened to all audio recordings and carefully examined exhibit pieces on the premises.
Now here's the thing. I disagree with producers that STAR WARS Identities is for everyone. I'm not entirely convinced someone who's not yet seen the movie franchise will delight in knowing whose eyes Yoda's were modeled after, what went into giving Jabba the Hutt legs, that C-3P0 is hopelessly neurotic and Han Solo ranks almost as low on agreeableness as Darth Vader. Nor do I think young children will jump at the chance to watch a primer on brain plasticity. But they might get a kick out of the ten interactive stations which allow them to build their Star Wars hero, or alter ego (mine is a pink Ewok Jedi Knight bent on achievement).
Since admission gives access to all of the Montreal Science Centre exhibits, which are very kid-friendly, I'd say parents on the fence should consider fronting the expense, especially if they happen to be Star Wars fans. It's a win-win.
- More on:
- STAR WARS Identities: Hours of Operation, Admission and Location Information
- STAR WARS Identities: Photo Preview
STAR WARS Identities Photos: The Garden Gnome
Click here to find out who this gnome ended up being in the Star Wars movie franchise.
STAR WARS Identities Photos: Master Yoda's Eyes Fashioned After a Genius
STAR WARS Identities Photos: Han Solo Personality Analysis Suggests Jerk
STAR WARS Identities Photos: The Pressure of Jabba the Hutt
The above sketch dated from 1983, the same year Return of the Jedi hit theatres, was drawn by staff of Industrial Light & Magic, a special effects division of Lucasfilm Ltd. Rumor has it the drawing served as a sort of rallying cry, illustrating the kind of pressure artists face during film production.
STAR WARS Identities Photos: That's Chewbacca?
STAR WARS Identities Photos: The Ships