Seite - 118 - in JRFM - Journal Religion Film Media, Band 06/02

118 | Jade Weimer www.jrfm.eu 2020, 6/2, 114–118 aginary world as a world that can be understood […] as a virtual world” (157). And these imaginary worlds have to be maintained and authorized in order to exist, which means they are subject to continual interpretation. Overall, this volume offers an interesting and novel approach to Star Wars through a religious studies lens. The emphasis on fandom reflects a common line of inquiry in religious studies that focuses on the reception history of texts or mythologies. In fact, this approach is one of the greatest strengths of the book, because it goes beyond mythological hermeneutics and presents a more nuanced analysis which accounts for the significance of this franchise in pop- ular culture. The relationship based on mutual influence between the mythol- ogy, the creator George Lucas, and the fan base provides insights for other aspects of religious studies that examine the role of “adherents” in legitimizing mythologies and perpetuating those mythologies in varying forms. The distinct emphasis on the newest films, such as The Force Awakens, highlights both the comparative approach taken by several contributors who distinguish be- tween “parts of the canon” and the attempt to trace the impact of the changes to the “original mythology”. The book proved both accessible and valuable to a scholar who previously had very little knowledge of the Star Wars franchise. It would be a terrific addition to any course (graduate or undergraduate) on reli- gion, media, and film, but it also has broader appeal and utility to the non-ac- ademic fans of Star Wars, who are often the focus of the volume. Filmography The Original Trilogy Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (George Lucas, US 1977). Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (Irvin Kershner, US 1980). Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (Richard Marquand, US 1983). Prequel Trilogy Episode I: The Phantom Menace (George Lucas, US 1999). Episode II: Attack of the Clones (George Lucas, US 2002). Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (George Lucas, US 2005). Sequel Trilogy Episode VII: The Force Awakens (J. J. Abrams, US 2015). Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (Rian Johnson, US 2017). Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (J. J. Abrams, US 2019). Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (Gareth Edwards, US 2016).