io9 today links an interesting exploration of Neuroscience and Nostalgia. Included is a bit about why the prequels sparked a wave of Lucas hate:
The reaction can be partly explained by the sense of attack on our previously fond feelings. Watching the new movie automatically calls up memories from the previous series and all the pleasant childhood playtime memories associated with it. But recalling these fond memories in the context of a negative experience begins the process of re-coding, or modifying our old memories. This is an undesirable outcome for nostalgia as it is usually such a pleasant feeling. Naturally there is some resistance and cognitive dissonance when this happens and the brain will try to avoid it like any other unpleasant experience.
So, George Lucas did rape your childhood… From a certain point of view. Ouch.
Alas, it really can’t explain why I spent the late 90’s calling for the head of Kevin J. Anderson… Or does it? We all have our demons, I suppose.
I sometimes wonder if my early disappointment at the hands of KJA is responsible for how chill I was/is about the PT.
I know for sure that’s why it’s hard for me to get pissed off about things like the NJO. Sure, it wasn’t that great, but it still wasn’t as bad as the JAT. (And LOTF wasn’t as bad as the NJO, and hopefully onward…)
I guess I’m one of the few to think KJA wasn’t that bad of an author, but I haven’t read everything and hardly anything since someone flew a star killing ship into a star. (Dating myself?)
Plus, I just went on a tear on that article, but to recap, I don’t think it’s about new stimulus versus memory, I think it’s about standards. Lucas just seems like he doesn’t give a turd about his baby. From a film making standpoint, it makes me feel like he lucked into Star Wars at the right time.