#70214

hmm interesting. (I wouldn neither describe Andor as 'westernized' nor the PT and OT as a combination of East and West.)

short answer:

No, it didn't really cross my mind, if anything, I think Andor is more British than American anything, from its cast and crew to the filming locations.

From a design point of view, the way production designer Luke Hall and costume deisnger Michael Wilkinson puts it, they would first think of the planet's climate, envoriment, raw materials, then build the culture form there. and they draw inspirations from all over the world. (so it's not just clear-cut 'east' or 'west')

The most notable Eastern influecne comes in Mon Mothma's apartmet, however, that's just one of the tnes of locations the show explored. What I see as kimono-inspired, another could see cross-collars already ingrained in Star Wars' costume language as folk costumes or on the Jedi. What I see as a twist on the "stable" octagonal arch doors or elaborately carved screens, could read as art deco to another.

There maybe some contention about the use of eastern aesthetics in its stereotype to represent Chandrilan orthodoxy, and I’m not sure how I stand on it. I would raise my eyebrow and smell something, but it’s doesn’t constitute as harmful in my eyes? More like the same mistakes hollywood always make dealing with eastern elements. (In other words, the design could’ve originated from eastern tradition but they’ve changed enough i don’t recgonize them as eastern anymore? because I know the details don’t go like that? but it’d still register as eastern to a western audience?)

Also, what do we consider 'eastern' influence? Is Coruscant taking inspirations from a mega-city like Tokyo not Eastern but Leida's hakama is? Then are we not walking into the same trap of East = conservative & West = progressive?

I sound inconclusive. What I mean is, maybe I'm already too familiar with Hollywood's wonky portrayal of "the East" it's becoming a blind spot to me. It feels like I'm describing all the ways Andor "westernized" eastern elements while denying that statement simply because I love the outcome.

But if you're referring to plot elements like "an energy field created by all living things" or warrior monks, do I think Andor incoporate "Eastern" tropes in that sense?

No, I think the answer is still no. To me, Andor tells a modern story, but also an age-old one about the struggles to freedom and one there's still hope. I don't know how much the showrunners are inspired by current events, or even history of uprisings, but to me, as a hker in these times, it hits close to home, and i've seen comments in the tags about it reminding them of their own histories. So I think Andor is more than that, more than limited to either "East" or "West" but strives to tell, a human story.

but if you go into comparison, if Andor gives me a "lol this is just an American remake of that Buddhist cautionary tale on attachment", no, that belongs to the original Star Wars.