OBI-WAN KENOBI’S JEDI ROBES
Anonymous asked:
Since I spend an inordinate amount of time staring at Obi-Wan, I cannot help but noticed that he wears his robe differently from other Jedi. Granted, the Jedi’s outfit are not identical but they has similar design. Obi-Wan, even though is wearing pretty much the same as Mace, has his inner robe collar higher and more tightly wrapped. This is remarkably different from when he was a Padawan/Knight, now that he is a Master. What do you think? As a writer, do you have any headcanon or theories?
Ah, my dear Anon, you have touched a nerve here!! Yes, I have noticed it.
WHAT ARE JEDI ROBES BASED ON?
I think to begin we need to at least put into context what the Jedi costumes are modeled after. There are 2 major historical reference points for Jedi robes.
1. Tunics and Tabards worn by knights:
Tunics are worn under the tabard, and sometimes there’s even an under-tunic that goes, you guessed it, under the main tunic. The tabard went over the tunic and was often split between the legs so the warrior could walk, fight, and ride a horse more easily.
2. The Japanese Kimono:
Do you have any idea how hard it is to find a picture of a proper men’s kimono that isn’t a bathrobe???? The pic I ended up finding isn’t exactly what I wanted but I think you get the general idea. Fun side fact: the large belt worn around a kimono is called an obi 🙂 How interesting…
So, as you can see, the Jedi wear something that is a mix of these two historical vestments:
WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OBI-WAN KENOBI’S ROBES??
In The Phantom Menace Kenobi’s attire is quite open and loose. Both Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon have loose fitting tunics and tabards that are open at the neck.
In Attack of the Clones Obi-Wan is wearing considerably more layers… and is sporting the infamous Bee Gee Jedi mullet…
And in Revenge of the Sith Kenobi is practically swallowed up and choking on an massive amount of fabric…
WHAT’S THE SYMBOLISM?
Symbolically you can say that Obi-Wan became more set in his ways as he transitioned from TPM to ROTS, that he became more constricted by his beliefs and less able to stray from the Jedi Code. His costume develops more layers and thicker fabric and it’s bound very tightly around his throat. It looks rather heavy and stifling and suffocating.
However, if you take CW Kenobi into account, it kind of makes that transition from AOTC to ROTS a little harder to understand. He’s less fanatical in The Clone Wars; you can see little moments of Obi-Wan’s conflict – there’s a lot of “do as I say, not as I do” in CW Kenobi.
As a writer I guess I see his costume in 2 different ways. In ROTS Obi-Wan is a Jedi Master in his prime, wearing all the symbolic pieces of a powerful uniform. It’s bigger and more imposing because he is bigger and more powerful than ever. However, he has been through incredibly painful experiences. And though he has remained true to the Jedi Code, the harder he clings to his ideals, the more suffocating and toxic they become. The very fact that his tunic creeps higher and higher up his neck makes me feel almost as if it were going to choke him.
