• CookieOfFortune@lemmy.world
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    4 days ago

    There’s plenty of one handed lightsaber usage. Ashoka famously dual wields.

    I think it more like how some samurai considered firearms dishonorable.

    • lennivelkant@discuss.tchncs.de
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      3 days ago

      There’s plenty of one handed lightsaber usage.

      The only one that I’m aware of that uses them exclusively one-handed is Dooku, and he’s a bit of a special case. Otherwise, the cases I’m aware of switch between one- and two-handed strikes, which means they’d want their offhand free.

      Ashoka famously dual wields.

      Hence my point: Space Wizards can do that, but that still means there’s no offhand free for a blaster.

      I think it more like how some samurai considered firearms dishonorable.

      Samurai did use bows and other weapons beside their sword, so it’s not that they strictly adhere to one weapon like the Jedi seem to, but yes, Obi-Wan does describe it as “uncivilised”, so that is an element as well.

      Since you brought up the analogy, I’ll point out that the Samurai diminished in power and importance as firearms spread, coming to a head with the Satsuma Rebellion that ended with their whole class being disbanded. To a degree, the Jedi being shot down by the newly formed professional army at the behest of the Emperor very much mirrors… well, the Japanese Imperial Army shooting down the Samurai that opposed the reforms (except the Jedi weren’t even given the chance to oppose and rebel, which probably would have gone quite differently).

      • CookieOfFortune@lemmy.world
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        3 days ago

        Samurai did use bows and other weapons beside their sword,

        Did George Lucas know that? Or maybe he just wanted to emphasize the mysticism around katanas.

        But anyways, weapons and abilities are plot devices in Star Wars and hardly consistent.

        • lennivelkant@discuss.tchncs.de
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          3 days ago

          Did George Lucas know that?

          I don’t know. There is a certain tendency in western media to overrepresent the significance of swords in pre-gunpowder combat (at least when they’re not treating bows like they’re guns and catapults like artillery).

          On the other hand, with well-made swords often serving as a status symbol (due to being more expensive in terms of required material, labour and skill of the craftsman) it makes sense for the Jedi to wield them as a symbol of affiliation and the reputation that accompanies that affiliation. Everyone can buy a Blaster, but a Lightsaber?

          Or maybe he just wanted to emphasize the mysticism around katanas.

          It doesn’t have to be either/or, I think both are plausible.