Star Wars Borrowing from Ethnography
 

Greetings folks,


There was a Star Wars costume exhibit in Cincinnati a couple of years ago (and yes I'm just getting to post now).

Some of the garb was taken literally from ethnography. This character is from Tatooine. Notice the pineapple Fijian club (upside down).

Though not a weapon, this character is wearing an Igorot boar tusk arm bracelet on the bag.

There might be other things you see that I missed.

Cool!
I remember noticing that when I saw the original movie again as an adult.
I also thought the rifle used was by the Tusken Raiders was inspired by Jezails.

photo from:
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Tusken_Cycler_rifle

OK, it's different franchise, but in Game of Thrones, in one scene, Night's King uses something that looks an awful lot like a panabas (except that it's made of ice, bigger, and sharp on the wrong side, but still).

This can be seen here, and I'm attaching a still from the gif (which is sadly, too big to upload to the site).

https://dreamgifs5.files.wordpress.c...-421.gif?w=760

Also, when I saw this while watching the show, I literally yelled at the screen.

Have fun,
Leif

Filmdom has been doing this for years. In 'Star Trek:The Next Generation', you have the Firangi, obviouly a play on the Indopersian sword, the Jem Hadar, from the word representing an Indian feudal lord, Xena-Mystic Warrior used a big chakram, etc, etc. I'm not offended by it and just view it as a form of respect. :shrug:

And the bandoleer for the Tuscan warrior in the film is a Swedish model 1910

I wonder did they really chop up a Fijian club? as it looks quiet good

Regards,

Ken

Nice pictures and it is absolutely obviously, that the filmmakers got no idea how this Fijian war club is used. With that strange protrusion, which looks like a rocket-tail, the club is pretty useless. Or is it a rocket driven Club (german: "Raketenkeule"= "Rocketclub" :))? Imho this is now a club, which would hurt its owner. And ist is unintentional funny.
At least i hope, this is a reproduction of a Fijian Club.

To me it seems that they studied ethnographic arms and said "Hey let us use the most unusual and exotic looking weapons!" This would be ok, if they just get inspired by ethnographic arms but the direct usage is quite poor and without fantasy in my eyes.

Roland

No offense, just a note of how they borrow to create new items and ideas. Babylon 5 Minbari comes from the minbar, which you would find in any mosque, while their culture is very Japanese oriented.

The Babylon 5 Narn use a japanese katana and lots of katars.............

I particularly enjoyed the old stained white West African tilbi or boubou (robe) that Anakin wears (traveling incognito) about 30 minutes into Star Wars Attack of the Clones. The embroidery is briefly obvious as is a light blue inside lining - obviously the real ethnographic artifact. I wonder if the stains were also genuine.

I suppose someone should also mention the obvious debt the Star Wars series designers owe to Japanese traditional costume and armour.