Editorial: A Tribute To Carrie Fisher

Somewhere out there, a galaxy weeps as a pop culture icon becomes one with the force.
Growing up as a comic book fan, and as an older sibling of two, I always read stuff with science fiction and fantasy. I always read stuff in fiction that reflected themes in real life. I remember hearing a teacher of mine when I was in elementary school who used to tell me not to argue with my younger sister here and there. Although I already knew about Star Wars, I remember my old teacher Luke once said to me that as an older sibling, I had to have my sisters back in the same way as Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia does the same. I always lived with that thought in my head.

When I think of cool characters, especially female characters, Wonder Woman, Huntress, X-Men’s Storm, Rogue, Psylocke are a few that come to mind, but of all fictional characters, Princess Leia was always at this top. A daughter born of royalty, and warrior heritage, raised to be a soldier, sarcastic as she is beautiful, yet feminine and sexy in attitude even in the face of danger. Whether it’s Darth Vader, Storm Troopers or Jabba the Hurt, Princess Leia was a character that was a three-dimensional character that left an impression on audiences regardless of genre, race, religion nor gender.

As I am typing up a statement for my blog, I felt the need to reflect on how much this actress who brought such a character to life had an effect on everyone in pop culture. To wake up to the news of an actress who played a character that meant so much in the same way that Alan Rickman playing Severus Snape is just something you don’t expect.

Obviously, people don’t last forever, but you always hoped that people could go peacefully instead of painfully. With that said, Carrie Fisher may be gone, but her mark as Princess Leia will forever be remembered. To play a character, let alone a female character that wasn’t a typical damsel in distress and took no bullshit was a thing not so often seen in science fiction or any visual medium until her. It’s not till Ridley Scott introduces Ripley in the Alien franchise that women in fiction would have a more prominent presence and authority. And not in a Fem-nazi way.

While Wonder Woman was a big icon, especially with Linda Carter in the 70s, she was still looked at as a joke in mainstream media (unless you were a genuine comics fan then you knew she was more than the outfit that people always want to complain about or adore). But once Star Wars came around, not only did it show and introduce the technological wonders and innovations that changed the film industry, and not only did it change storytelling, but it introduced the world to a character, who happened to be a female that wasn’t helpless nor was a cliche air head that most media prior tend to dish out.

Carrie Fisher is the face of what broke the usual standards that were placed on women when playing princess Leia. You could be smart, and be strong, yet still be feminine, have respect for yourself in your sexuality without being trashy, but walking with a style and grace that can’t be hated on. That’s what I got from Carrie Fisher and Princess Leia, that you can be you without the approval of anyone, while simultaneously not compromising one’s composure. Most people may have never seen star wars and may think nothing of it beyond special effects and sci-fi babble, but so many things we have today were all pioneered by Star Wars, and one of the best role models, especially for women, truly was princess Leia.

Carrie Fisher and Princess Leia broke the mold and opened the door to such characters that we have in today’s world. Whether it’s Alien’s, Hunger Games, Pacific Rim, the vault for interesting, confident, self-assured female characters of any medium all owe a debt to Princess Leia, and any actress that plays humorously sarcastic roles of strong characters that are well rounded all owe a bow to Carrie Fisher in terms of how she played an iconic role. Fisher may not have had many memorable roles that are as big Princess Leia, but without a doubt, it’s a feat to leave a huge impression. A feminist icon in one aspect, and an overall hero in a variety of other ways to anyone who grew up without someone to look up to, or have a mom figure, a sister figure, an aunt figure, or an overall heroic figure in a variety of ways. Forever immortalized, and Sarcastic till the end.

May you be one with the Force as the Force is one with you, and may the Force be with you in the endless twilight forever. Rest in harmony Carrie Fisher, born on October 21, 1956, and ascended with the Force alongside R2D2 December 27, 2016.