Do We, As Artists, Have The Right to Change Our Work?

After watching the documentary entitled The People Vs. George Lucas, I began to ponder whether or not if we, as artists, truly reserve the right to change our artistry based on any arbitrary whim or firm conviction?

The premise of the documentary, in the proverbial “nutshell”, is that hard-core devoted fans of Star Wars (like myself), believe that Lucas has no right to go back and make changes to our beloved films, especially the original trilogy. Now, before I reveal on whose side I reside, I will further discuss the fundamental issue at hand: does Lucas maintain the right to change his work as he sees fit?

Many fans in the film argued that once Lucas filmed and released the movies, they no longer belonged to him, that they essentially became the property of us: the fans. We are the reason why SW is so successful; without us, he never would have been able to make the ensuing films.

Let’s explore one of the most infuriating changes Lucas made, and it occurred in episode IV “A New Hope”. In the cantina scene where Han Solo is confronted by Greedo, a bounty-hunter looking to turn him over to Jabba the Hutt, Solo and the alien sit down at the table and discuss the situation. This is where the now famous geek war-cry of “HAN SHOT FIRST” comes into play. While bantering with Greedo, Solo surreptitiously shoots the would-be bounty-hunter under the table before Greedo has the chance of capturing him. In the revised version of the film released in ‘97, Lucas chose to portray Greedo as having shot at Han first (and MISSING his target, at POINT BLANK RANGE!), and Han retaliating by shooting him in return. Millions on geeks screamed out in horror and agony as this was deemed a deplorable decision on the part of Lucas. Solo was meant to be perceived as a dangerous smuggler, and not one to be crossed. What Lucas did essentially was change the very nature of this character whom we had all grown so fond of and thought we knew so well, and the justification he gave for changing this scene was that it was too “violent”; that Han had acted erroneously; that Since Greedo had not shot first, Han had no right to shoot him so callously in cold alien blood. Fans scream “HAN SHOT FIRST!” but the reality is, Han was the only one who shot period, in the original film.

Other changes, less infuriating but no less irritating, have nettled fans since the re-release of the original trilogy. Some of the more zealous fans have come out and proclaimed, “George Lucas ‘raped’ my childhood!” (which I find silly and extreme). While I don’t like or agree with many of the changes George has made to the movies, what we are really discussing is whether or not this was his right, being the creator.

It made me start thinking about my own art, and how I go back and make routine revisions in the hopes of improving my work. Hypothetically speaking, what if da Vinci were alive and decided to go back and make the Mona Lisa’s smile into a smirk or grimace or sneer (etc.)? This is one of the most famous works of art in the world and we are all accustomed to seeing that portrait in one particular way, so what if he decided he wanted to change her expression? And the same argument can be made for any work of art, including music. Once we create a work of art, is it still ours or does it belong to the “fans” or “admirer’s”?

I must say that I believe that Lucas has the right to make the changes to his art that he believes appropriate. I may not agree with his revisions, but I must respect his right as the creator to make the changes he wants. In the end, George Lucas has given me much more joy than grief through his films; despite any anger, anguish, frustration or aggravation I have experienced since he changed the movies, he has enriched my life with a fantasy world that I deeply love and I cannot imagine my life without Star Wars. He may have changed some scenes, but he didn’t destroy the integrity of the films or dampen the happiness his artistry has provided me over the years.

So I ask you, fellow artists: whose side are you on? The People or George Lucas?