“Feel the Force”: The first 50 years of Star Wars
Online
Organization: PopCRN - The Popular Culture Research Network
“Feel the Force”: The first 50 years of Star Wars
A PopCRN Conference
Join us for a free virtual conference exploring the Star Wars universe and its enduring cultural impact to be held online from 4th-5th May 2027.
From a surprise blockbuster to a galactic empire of multimedia dominance, Star Wars has fundamentally reshaped popular culture, spawned generations of devoted fans, and continues to spark passionate debates about sequels, prequels, spinoffs, and what George Lucas really meant to say. Is Jar Jar Binks a Sith Lord? Are the Ewoks cute and cuddly? Which is the best trilogy? And what order should you watch them in? We want to hear all the academic debates from across the galaxy!
We welcome both individual papers, panels and round table discussions from researchers across the academic spectrum and encourage papers from academic padawans, postgraduate researchers and early career researchers. Selected papers will have the opportunity to be published in a planned venue (details forthcoming).
To whet your appetite, we have provided some topics below. We will also accept topics beyond this scope:
· "I find your lack of faith disturbing" – Fandom, canon wars, and the discourse around Disney's sequel trilogy.
· "These are not the droids you're looking for" – The role of robots, androids and AI in Star Wars narratives and our contemporary moment.
· "I am your father" – Paternity, family structures and generational trauma in the Skywalker saga.
· "Do or do not, there is no try" – Yoda, philosophy, and wisdom.
· "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away" – Nostalgia, retrofuturism and the invention of the past.
· "The Force will be with you, always" – Spirituality, religion and mythology.
· "Laugh it up, fuzzball" – Comedy, camp and levity.
· "That's no moon" – Scale, technology and the sublime in science fiction cinema.
· "I love you." "I know." – Romantic narratives and toxic masculinity in space opera.
· "The garbage'll do!" – Consumption, waste and sustainability in Star Wars merchandising.
· "This is the way" – Community, belonging and parasocial relationships in television fandom.
· The Imperial March – Empire, corruption and war in the Star Wars universe.
· "The Resistance will rise" – Class struggle, labour and economic systems in Star Wars worldbuilding.
· "Strike me down, and I will become more powerful than you can possibly imagine" – Death, resurrection and immortality narratives.
· "I'm just a simple man trying to make my way in the universe" – Labour, precarity and the gig economy in space.
· "That's no way to treat a lady!" – Manners, civility and social codes across species and cultures.
Please email inquiries to popcrn@une.edu.au
Website: www.popcrn.org
Please submit abstracts (200 words) and author details via our online portal By 31st December 2026.
Notification of abstract acceptance is 31st January 2027.
Registration is free. The conference is welcoming of early career researchers, postgraduates, Indigenous scholars, people with diverse identities, and industry experts or food practitioners.
You can also submit via the QR code below or through the URLs below
Submit here - https://unesurveys.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8jjzaWnS732QsFE
Register here - https://unesurveys.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7TGWUYZidtlxVLU
Dr Lisa Hackett