Not so long ago in a galaxy not very far away….
A planet divided: Two factions battle for control: The Republic Alliance and the Democratic Independant Union. But behind the scenes, a dark power is manipulating both sides to instigate an all-powerful New World Order….
Readers familiar with my blogs will know of my fondness for comparing science fiction plots to real-world politics and conspiracies, so I was amused to see that New Zealand Labour Party’s new leader, the charismatic and much-hyped Jacinda Ardern, has now been compared to Star Wars character Princess Leia, in association with the phrase “A New Hope”:
Not so long ago in a city, far, far away, Sam Sharpe held a sign different from all others.
That sign – a stencil picture of Jacinda Ardern as Princess Leia – was spotted among the hundreds of supporters who gathered to hear the Labour leader speak in Dunedin on Friday.
Ardern called out Sharpe’s name, thanked him for his artwork, and later posed for a photo with the artist.
Ardern, who was shown the Princess Leia ‘A New Hope picture’ before her Dunedin visit, said the work was “pretty flattering”.
It wasn’t the first time she had come across Sharpe’s work, with Ardern owning a stencil piece of Michael Joseph Savage.
“When she does her interviews it is always there behind her,” Sharpe said.
Sales of the Ardern prints had “gone bananas” and he was fielding sales request from all over the country.
The Princess Leia piece was easily his most popular artwork.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/96245638/Princess-Leia-Wonder-Woman-and-Jacinda-Ardern
So something becomes clear from the details. Jacinda Arden was already familiar with the work of this artist, and the placard in question has made a somewhat contrived and pre planned appearance. I’ve even noticed that Arden appears to be wearing a white robe in her new bill boards!
But the Star Wars comparisons, as I hinted in the intro to this article, run deeper.
The Star Wars galaxy is initially controlled by two forces: the Republic and the Trade Federation. But a crafty senator is manipulating these powers to his own ends, instigating The Empire, which is opposed by group of rebels known as the Alliance, who wish to re-instate the Old Republic.
Republic…Alliance? And does not the Trade Federation evoke comparisons to the DIU and their TPPA ?
Here’s George Lucas’s own explanation of the meaning of Star Wars:
“People who don’t play by the rules…”
Related:
Blue Vs. Red: NZ Opposition Accused Of Trying To “Bring Down” Australian Government!