This gets into a big philosophical question but Star Wars is simultaneously both a work of art and a product. George wanted to tell interesting stories while simultaneously selling toys. That’s clear from the beginning, when Lucas bargained for full merchandising rights for the first film, which continued into the other films (what is that Lucas quote about Ewoks and Benji?) as well as the prequels. So are you saying the new films are more product and less art than George’s films, which were more art and less product? I think that’s splitting hairs, and a bit unfair to the new storytellers who might being in fact trying to tell interesting stories despite it still being a product.
Star Wars was always both art, and product before Lucas sold his company, but the only thing that was sold was the product, and the brand, not the artistry. Art, and the artist in my view are always indelibly connected. There’s a uniqueness, and style to art that flows directly from the artist. The current creators attempt to emulate that style, but uniqueness is not really part of the equation, because the brand has to stay recognizable. Now, it may be possible to do something truly unique within this universe, or add some style, that separates it enough from Lucas’ work, that it would be considered a true work of art in its own right, like Kubrick’s adaptation of the Shining, or Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings (you will note, that this is often in another medium, that the original work the more modern artist adapts), however the ST to me at least doesn’t fall into this category. It’s far too obsessed with nostalgia, and recycling Lucas’ work to be considered art in my view. Disney is a cover band playing Lucas’ songs with some updated arrangements, but they’ve yet to release a truly original song, that manages to incorporate elements of Lucas’ work, whilst also having a unique voice of its own, that touches us in a way we didn’t know was possible. True art resonates with us, because it touches us in ways we never expected, not because it reminds us of how a past work of art resonated with us.