Behind the Force: Philosophy prof. can talk about mythological foundations of “Star Wars,” depiction of "good vs. evil"

The final installment of the latest “Star Wars” trilogy arrives in theaters in December. Mark Peterson can talk about the parallels of characters like Luke Skywalker and Rey to the “Hero’s Journey” story arc by the late author Joseph Campbell. Star Wars creator George Lucas has cited Campbell’s work as an inspiration for the sci-fi movie franchise. A professor of philosophy, Peterson co-teaches a course on superheroes and mythology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the College of General Studies. He also speak about how symbolic structures of “good vs. evil” have been depicted through pop culture and why it resonates with moviegoers.