There were very good picks this edition, but there were also some intriguing ones. I’ll follow the order it is presented on the post.
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Shreek’s “On the usage of the Force” displays a very good exegesis about the metaphysical energy field, in an informal language with a conversational tone that seems I’m engaging on a healthy discussion with a friend on a bar and drinking wine. The perspectives he presents are not too far fetched from the most debated common ones, and I also share many of his thoughts, but I need to agree with him that this is not his best work (even though it has the same level of quality), specially because it ends abruptly, as if there were more things to be talked about… or simply it does not end at all. At least to me, I don’t sense any de facto conclusion in it, as if it was lacking something else.
Making another of my musical analogies: it is a rule within the musical structure that a piece must end with the tonic, whether is from the original key or not, but anything needs to end with the tonic chord in order to give a proper sense of conclusion. Shreek’s essay does not have this tonic, as if he was writing the perfect cadence but left the chord of dominant hanging there, waiting for its tonica to arrive when it never came. Or maybe another interpretation - instead of a perfect cadence, made a false cadence (also named deceptive or interrupted cadence), when instead of finishing with the chord of tonic (I) it finished with a submediant (VI), giving the sensation of “it lacks something else”.
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CommanderRex’s “Seven Sister Theory” is a fan speculation that was already debunked, so I don’t know why it was even nominated.
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Ain’t commenting Jonax’s.
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Saga’s “Like Father, Like Son” is one of the best essays written recently on this forum, analyzing a very misunderstood topic through the lens of two fan favorites, breaking down their narrative arcs and journeys, and paralleling them with each other, presenting a very well convincing hermeneutic about Lucas’ main message with his films.
One might argue that her work is a ripoff of WriterBuddha’s and it is, thereupon, redundant. That said, I believe Saga illustrates a crucial topic that must be debated every now and then on Discussions, specially because of how misunderstood it is. Correctly acknowledging the whole thing about the Jedi Order and the tragedy of Anakin, Luke’s journey in comparison to his father’s, and the role of attachments in SW according to Lucas’ vision would spare us endless and senseless debates about those topics. Therefore, I strongly believe that Saga’s dissertation is not only an excellent addition to the catalog of HoF, but I’d even dare to call as an obligatory essay for those who wish to understand better these subjects, as much as Buddha’s. This is why Saga’s is my personal pick this edition.
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Infantry’s “An Analysis on Anakin Skywalker” is hands down his magnum opus on this forum. It basically encompasses almost all of Anakin’s appearances and interactions (Canon wise at least) and breaks down all of them at minimum detail. This dissertation represents not only a significant evolution on Infantry’s study and analysis’ methodology, but also an overall maturation of his interpretation about the franchise as a whole. Even though I cringed hard a lot in many parts, specially when referring to himself in first person, Infantry’s unique writing style is what marks the singularity of his work, regardless it has more than one hundred pages or not. And I’m sure that, as he grows up in age and mind, also will his future theses. Infantry’s dissertation surely became a reference to me regarding the character, regardless I don’t agree with everything it is written, and I’d recommend to anyone interested on reading an interesting take on Anakin.
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One of the most curious things about TWB’s writing is that it is cohesively well written, but coherently ambiguous, and this is the case here with his “The Mandalorian Fascists” - in my modest opinion, it feels forced, and therefore, out of place. The Warrior Brothers has interesting and cool ideas, but the way he illustrates them might be bewildering sometimes. This was the impression I had with his first essay on the Jedi and Sith, as well as this one nominated, even though it’s much better written.
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I’ll be straight forward regarding Infantry’s drawings on pfp’s hub - it shouldn’t have been nominated, because of two reasons that, in my opinion, explain and justify themselves:
The mod team even discussed about its validity and finally suggested to Infantry keep his project reserved in a hub. Just like Artoo’s Wook Interviews (from which Infantry got his inspiration), because they’re user-focused, they shouldn’t be a thing nor mainstream on the forum. And despite of what Fisto said about not existing any stablished criteria regarding what kind of posts can be nominated to HoF (something I believe it should be created) I think it’s an implicit common sense that the post must contain a valid SW discussion and be focused on that. Infantry’s hub doesn’t fit that classification, and at some point, I was about to lock it because of the echo chamber adulation it became for a short time.
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Finally, Aragorn’s “King that shall’t be hereafter”is indeed a great dissertation, but one of the weakest of Aragorn, in my humble opinion. Just like TWB’s, it feels forced, and not because of the writing quality, but how the content itself was illustrated. Sidious’ story is not a tragedy per se, and despite SW has many Shakespearian elements (though not well executed), Macbeth’s tragedy fits more Anakin’s than Palpatine. I actually made a formal response on the post itself in which I properly explained my reasoning, so I’m not going to repeat myself here. Aragorn’s opuses are always worthy of a HoF fame nomination, nonetheless, I particularly think this one is being overrated.
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Choose the post you think deserves the most, rationally and wisely. Good luck to all the nominees.
MTFBWY.