Thursday, July 30, 2009

The Star Wars Chronology Project

Greetings.

My name is MKB and I have decided to pursue my PhD in StarWars-ology, the study of all things Star Wars.

The purpose of this project is to read, watch, listen to, and play, every piece of Star Wars media ever produced, and to do so in the chronological order of events contained within the Star Wars universe. When I have completed a particular piece I will report my thoughts and reactions here.

Though this, of course, will not result in my actual achieving of a PhD. I do believe, however, after completing some initial research into what this all entails, that this task is no less than monumental in nature, and therefore worthy of a self appointed PhD in Star Wars-ology.

But before I begin I'll tell you a little bit about myself so as to set up some context as to why I'm doing this.

Firstly, I am a fan of Star Wars, and not simply the movies, but of all things relating to it. It is the universe I like to escape to.

Secondly, I have always wanted to do this, and by "this" I mean engage with everything ever produced relating to Star Wars. In the past, when I have faced off with the extreme volume of Star Wars novels, games, and comics that have been created, I've crumpled under the sheer weight of words and images before me. But not this time.

Thirdly, I think my life should contain more reading and writing. This project will enable me to do both, while also setting a goal with a final objective in mind.

I am a teacher by day. I teach religion, literature, and philosophy at the high school level. I teach from grade 9 basic English to grade 12 university bound Philosophy. I have a Bachelors of Arts in English and Religious Studies, a Bachelors of Education, and a Masters' degree in Humanities. Like many English grads I have delusions of grandeur centering around the idea that I may one day produce the "Greatest Novel Ever Written". Maybe this is a first step.

There are well over one thousand pieces of Star Wars related media in existence today with many more being produced on an almost daily basis. Before I started this blog I googled a chronological list of Star Wars stories, and I came up with Joe Bongiorno's website http://timelineuniverse.net/History.htm . Of all the websites I visited this one seemed to me the most thorough and comprehensive. This list will be the one I follow, and indeed my compass, for the purposes of this project. It is my intention to read everything contained on this list, and complete my education in Star Wars-ology.

So, without further ado, let the Star Wars Chronology Project begin...