And the meta point? They probably didn't have to pay a penny of royalty to Lucas, because they abstracted it just enough back to vague mythology to be "original," while leaving it recognizable to the (outside-the-movie) viewer.

Though I was amused the wooden sticks they used for swords were painted red and blue.

They probably didn't have to pay a penny of royalty to Lucas

I'm sure the free publicity did nothing to sway George to letting it go. Plus, the man's always seen himself as a myth-maker, so I doubt he's too annoyed at seeing his story being represented as iconic.

A het-male one.

As a het female, I can sure appreciate the value in shirtless lady scenes. It's a thing.

Well, has Kevin Smith had to pay any royalties for the numerous Star Wars references in his movies? At what point does something cease being derivative and becomes simply a part of culture?

As a het female, I can sure appreciate the value in shirtless lady scenes. It's a thing.

Different aesthetics, I suppose. For me male shirtlessness is neither a positive or a negative, it's just there.

Alias was good. But, sarameg, I don't find it as insubstantially plotted and eyerolly as you. Cause really? I'm just in it for the pretty. And this week. Lots of great dialoge.

MEEP! Today was due day for the applications to go to England and Ireland for my students. Already, I have 12 students signed up and I still have to see the other class! What's exciting is the thought of taking kids to see really cool stuff, esp. since so few of them have opportunities to explore life outside their ghetto. But I'm sort of in awe of how difficult it will be to do fundraising.

Gulp.

Thanks for all the vibes and ~ma everyone. Dad is doing well and likely to get to go home tomorrow. I appreciate the kind thoughts so much.

Dad is doing well and likely to get to go home tomorrow

Hubby's been in an out of the hospital for these things in one day--granted we went in at 3 AM and were home by the evening news, but one day is one day.

It just amazes me that something that involved multi-day stays in major care sections twenty years ago can be dealt with so simply now.

Cause really? I'm just in it for the pretty.

I think this may have been my problem. For some inexplicable reason, I was actually paying attention, which I have to admit I mostly don't. Usually, it's for the the wigs and booms. I probably should have been watching Frontline instead.

At what point does something cease being derivative and becomes simply a part of culture?

90+ years after it is published, or after enough change to the original that it is considered a different work. Copyright isn't like the Kleenex or Aspirin trademark; it's still under ownership until the right expires or is specifically waived.

Which is to say, you can refer to a copyrighted thing for free, but actually quoting from it is where the money comes in. If the actors in Reign of Fire had actually called the black knight Darth Vader, and recited text word-for-word, some lawyer somewhere would at least have had impure thoughts about royalty payments. But because it was vagued up so much, it shared more in common with Star Wars's not-copyrightable sources than with Star Wars.

Every time somebody on a movie screen sings "Happy Birthday," some foundation in the midwest gets a HUGE fee. Yes, "Happy Birthday" is under copyright protection, and the owners of that right charge massive amounts for each use in print or other media.