Kylo Ren's helmet

I'm curious about the need for Kylo Ren's helmet as someone yet to watch Star Wars The Force Awakens, or read any of the novels. I understand the life support purpose for Darth Vader's helmet, but is Kylo Ren only wearing a helmet for anonymity, or to emulate Vader?

Unless the helmet is made from light sabre resistant material, what other reason could the writers have given Kylo Ren a helmet?

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The helmet is protective gear, but then so is the mask ....

Please look at the symbolic, not the "rational" -- the "rational" is irrelevant. There is so much "irrational" in all stories that we would end up not paying attention to the story for picking out what doesn't fit our "knowledge". So, let's ditch the "knowledge" -- it isn't needed.

Any Mask, helmet notwithstanding, must be seen in the sense of poetics : personae (gr. : masks) project the phenomenal person - what is presented to an audience. The symbolic sense is the "audience" is the entire World, and we all wear the masks of our learnt - artificial - identities.

Kylo Ren's is no different, nor was Vader's. As is all of ours on a daily basis .... In the case of Vader's - but unfortunately not Kylo Ren's is the "breath". That was of symbolic significance as well, allowing it to be perceived that, underneath all that artificial, systematised crap there was a "living being". The same is true of us as well.

This is what makes meditation healthy for us : we get to take off our masks and pay attention to that "living being" part which we overlook in most moments of any given day ...

Vague spoiler follows... Vague spoiler follows... Vague spoiler follows... Vague spoiler follows... Vague spoiler follows...



Also, we have a specific subforum for Star Wars related posts . Please could a kindly mod move this there?

tzb wrote :

Please could a kindly mod move this there?

Done !

Cheers, Stu ... I hadn't even noticed that ! :blink: :blush:

Alexandre Orion wrote: The helmet is protective gear, but then so is the mask ....

Please look at the symbolic, not the "rational" -- the "rational" is irrelevant. There is so much "irrational" in all stories that we would end up not paying attention to the story for picking out what doesn't fit our "knowledge". So, let's ditch the "knowledge" -- it isn't needed.

to think rational is unneeded in symbolism is unusual to read. without listening to the novels, or watching the movie, prejudice is suffered here.

Any Mask, helmet notwithstanding, must be seen in the sense of poetics : personae (gr. : masks) project the phenomenal person - what is presented to an audience. The symbolic sense is the "audience" is the entire World, and we all wear the masks of our learnt - artificial - identities.

speak for oneself, I'm transparent as can be, no masks or strings on me

Kylo Ren's is no different, nor was Vader's. As is all of ours on a daily basis .... In the case of Vader's - but unfortunately not Kylo Ren's is the "breath". That was of symbolic significance as well, allowing it to be perceived that, underneath all that artificial, systematised crap there was a "living being". The same is true of us as well.

Vader wears his helmet for life support, not symbolism, because there is a man under the helmet. To talk symbolism, the autonomy demonstrated by R2D2 and C3PO symbolises organic character under the machine shell.

This is what makes meditation healthy for us : we get to take off our masks and pay attention to that "living being" part which we overlook in most moments of any given day ...

better to not wear, or just remember to take your mask off, and live honestly

Oh, good, you're already enlightened. I was worried.

Spoiler! Sort of! Vague spoiler! Spoiler! Sort of! Vague spoiler! Spoiler! Sort of! Vague spoiler! Spoiler! Sort of! Vague spoiler! Spoiler! Sort of! Vague spoiler! Spoiler! Sort of! Vague spoiler! Spoiler! Sort of! Vague spoiler! Spoiler! Sort of! Vague spoiler!

Goken wrote:

Warning: Spoiler!

to make pain feed his anger, because otherwise he might let himself feel something other than pain and anger.

nice suggestive analysis


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Alexandre Orion wrote: The helmet is protective gear, but then so is the mask ....

Please look at the symbolic, not the "rational" -- the "rational" is irrelevant. There is so much "irrational" in all stories that we would end up not paying attention to the story for picking out what doesn't fit our "knowledge". So, let's ditch the "knowledge" -- it isn't needed.

Any Mask, helmet notwithstanding, must be seen in the sense of poetics : personae (gr. : masks) project the phenomenal person - what is presented to an audience. The symbolic sense is the "audience" is the entire World, and we all wear the masks of our learnt - artificial - identities.

Kylo Ren's is no different, nor was Vader's. As is all of ours on a daily basis .... In the case of Vader's - but unfortunately not Kylo Ren's is the "breath". That was of symbolic significance as well, allowing it to be perceived that, underneath all that artificial, systematised crap there was a "living being". The same is true of us as well.

This is what makes meditation healthy for us : we get to take off our masks and pay attention to that "living being" part which we overlook in most moments of any given day ...

i enjoyed this analysis

with vader i feel like the mask was also a way to hide

from himself most of all - the mask and suit gave him an embodied alternative to seeing and facing the truth of himself (anakin) by fixating on the exterior vader

maybe im overthinking it, or maybe im just stating the obvious as if its some new discovery lol, but when i read your post thats what came to mind

Spoiler! Spoiler! Spoiler! Spoiler! Definitely Major Spoiler!!!....

Definitely a symbolic mask for a wannabe bad guy. And besides who is going to buy the action figures of kylo ren if he's maskless. Masks/Helmets sell!

Spoilers!Spoilers!Spoilers!Spoilers!Spoilers!Spoilers!Spoilers!Spoilers!Spoilers!

I enjoy the rational view and symbolic views. I reckon since laser's hurt the eyes that shielding is a given for future combat.... and a plasma bolt to the face might fare better behind a mask.
:lol:
It could then be another measure of wealth in ANW, ESB, and RotJ - how much armour an individual can afford. Haven't seen this new one yet but since it is post RotJ, I'm imagining a similar dog eat dog world that the Empire ran in its day, perhaps slightly worse in some parts, so pretty much the same situation in that regard.

CrabbyPaddy wrote: Definitely a symbolic mask for a wannabe bad guy. And besides who is going to buy the action figures of kylo ren if he's maskless. Masks/Helmets sell!

actually I care more for what the ideals a villain employs what actions rather than what they wear

Adder wrote: I enjoy the rational view and symbolic views. I reckon since laser's hurt the eyes that shielding is a given for future combat.... and a plasma bolt to the face might fare better behind a mask.
:lol:
It could then be another measure of wealth in ANW, ESB, and RotJ - how much armour an individual can afford. Haven't seen this new one yet but since it is post RotJ, I'm imagining a similar dog eat dog world that the Empire ran in its day, perhaps slightly worse in some parts, so pretty much the same situation in that regard.

very nice point! I'm actually ordering b helmet with tinted face shield to protect my eyes haha :lol:

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Adder wrote: I enjoy the rational view and symbolic views. I reckon since laser's hurt the eyes that shielding is a given for future combat.... and a plasma bolt to the face might fare better behind a mask. .

Yet didnt bring it too a lightsaber fight,where he did get hit in the face. :pinch:

Khaos wrote:
Yet didnt bring it too a lightsaber fight,where he did get hit in the face. :pinch:

lightsabre would cut through if he did wear a helmet. armour is really restrictive, and better to avoid if the purpose is unserved

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Entropist wrote:

Khaos wrote:
Yet didnt bring it too a lightsaber fight,where he did get hit in the face. :pinch:

lightsabre would cut through if he did wear a helmet. armour is really restrictive, and better to avoid if the purpose is unserved

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Actually, we dont know that a lightsaber would but through, but even aside, it would still add protection to the face. Also, by that rational, it wouldnt stop a blaster/plasma bolt either... I would also argue how restrictive it really is, and again, then why wear it at all?

I thought it was rather ugly anyways >_< I hope they give it a better appearance later

I would also add. Force Academy actually teaches the importance of Armour and Masks Just a side thought...Its a Dark Aspect thing though....

Khaos wrote:
Actually, we dont know that a lightsaber would but through

actually we know lightsabres cut through almost any material.

I would also argue how restrictive it really is, and again, then why wear it at all?

wear a helmet and experience how restrictive wearing a helmet is, then you will know

and again, then why wear it at all?

emulation of Darth Vader was the motivation, and adoption of persona was discussed in this thread as reasons

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Kitsu Tails wrote: I thought it was rather ugly anyways >_< I hope they give it a better appearance later

I would also add. Force Academy actually teaches the importance of Armour and Masks Just a side thought...Its a Dark Aspect thing though....

what's the dark aspect of armour and helmets?

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