Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Little Seen Star Wars Promotional Art


When it comes to Star Wars (and Star Trek) items, I've resolved myself to the fact that I'm not likely to dig up anything that's new to the die hard fans. But every once in a while, I do come across stuff that's new to me - like this early Star Wars advertising campaign concept art.

The graphic design is strong, and from a marketing perspective, it's an interesting approach. There was a lot of pop culture nostalgia in the air in the mid-Seventies, so I can see why someone at Fox might propose that angle as a way to sell George Lucas' space opera to the masses. Of course, what's so ironic about this is that it was the spectacular success of Luke Skywalker that paved the way for both Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon to return to the big screen over the next few years.


 
 

5 comments:

M. D. Jackson said...

Wow! I have NEVER seen that untill now! Cool!

Kal said...

It was knew to me as well.

Erik Johnson Illustrator said...

There is something nostalgic about the classic good vs evil/ swashbuckler/ ideology of Star Wars that I'm sure was a breath of fresh air the cynical attitude.

Theres a great simplicity to this poster that I doubt we'd see the likes of today. Nostalgia just isn't as marketable as "the next new thing".

Kal said...

'Nostalgia just isn't as marketable as 'the next new thing'. The latest STAR TREK movie is testament to that. The more I think about it the more I dislike all the ways they played on my love for the original show.

Erik Johnson Illustrator said...

If ever a marketing campaign mentions another movies, its something the director or producer had worked on less than five years ago. Otherwise they'll just use familiar to iconic images to pander to the wide demographic that will recognize those images, thus creating shortcuts in your brain to positive feelings of association.