| THEMES & SYMBOLS |
| RADIO IS FANTASY! |
| The radio listener's fantasy theme is explored in Graffiti, with the legend himself. With his gravely voice, Wolfman Jack blasts rock 'n' roll tunes, makes prank phone calls (some staged, others real), takes requests, and creates a whole pre-recorded fantasy world that is aired from some undisclosed location. Although every kid in the film has their own idea or fantasy of what they imagine the Wolfman to look like, each feels that they know him personally. He is their friend, father figure, and guardian angel all rolled into one. |
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| Emporer Hudson at work on KFWB in Southern California |
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| Just like OMM in THX-1138 and Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars; Wolfman Jack is a God-like figure to the kids in American Graffiti who listen to him every night. |
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| In Dale Pollock's book, Skywalking, Lucas told the author, "I had always been interested in the phenomenon of radio and originally wanted to do the film with Wolfman Jack, but I didn't know where he was. I was amused by the fact that people have a relationship with a deejay that they've never seen but to whom they feel very close because they're with him everyday. For a lot of kids, he's the only friend they've got." |
| In the past Lucas has said he found people's familiarity with technology particularly radio, to be intriguing. In 1973 he told Seventeen magazine, "Radio creates a fantasy that doesn�t exist at all except in your own mind." He first explored this theme in his 1967 USC student film, The Emperor. The B&W, 24 minute, film is an opus to "Emperor" Bob Hudson a southern California disc jockey. The film comments on the background and popularity of the sarcastic DJ at KFWB and the idea that radio is fantasy. Many people who've viewed this film find it to be Lucas' most enjoyable student effort. Although Hudson is featured in the 16-mm student project, the DJ was not Lucas' first choice for the part. |
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