If you’ve read my blog for a while, then you know that I have a goofy love of science fiction. No, I don’t own a Klingon dictionary or a light saber but I do love a good story. One of the biggest draws of sci-fi is the escapism factor. Few other book, movie, or TV genres can provide such a complete mental vacation from the real world.
My favorite aspect of sci-fi is its child-like truth. Writers can use the science fiction medium to speak plainly and openly from the heart without coming under fire. For decades sci-fi has offered fantastic contemporary social commentary often without being satirical.
For example, consider the original Star Trek TV series. This program was on the air during the height of both the Cold War and the Civil Rights Movement. On the bridge of the Enterprise there is a Russian officer, an Asian officer, and a female African-American officer. How global thinking is that?
A few months ago, the guys and I watched Battlestar Galactica on DVD. One of the episodes dealt with an extremist, militant religious group. It was handled wonderfully and spoke volumes about what’s going on in the world currently. But no one could really take offense because the people, religion, gods, etc… were ALL MAKE BELIEVE.
There are dozens of other examples that could be cited. Probably enough for someone to write a term paper on the subject. But since I don’t have more than 12 brain cells working together at the moment, that someone won’t be me.
Going back to the Star Trek universe for a moment, there is something that has bothered me over the years until recently. Despite the equality displayed in all of the Star Trek TV shows, there has always been a female singled out to wear a skin-tight outfit. This always bothered me because I thought that it objectified the woman. Then suddenly I realized that with the exception of the original TV series, all of the “objectified” women have been aliens.
THE HOT CHICKS ARE ALIENS!!!
So while the writers made these female characters more desirable to male viewers they also deftly and subtly crossed racial (species) barriers. I’m okay with that for the time being. I guess even sci-fi can't battle both sexism and racism in one sweep. But at least they’re making more progress than the rest of us.
Photos courtesy StarTrek.com
7 comments:
OH to be an Alien and look that good in that suit. Of course she would have to be an alien the normal human doesn't look like that. Mind you I said normal. I now there are some in LA LA land that do.
Your 12 brain cells seem to be working just fine the morning. I love the SYFY channel. Such great escape from reality.
You're right, I never thought of it like this. At the library Battlestar Gallactica goes in and out all the time. I think I need to take a look.
Hot alien chicks; I'll never see it the same way!
Never thought about it, but you're right. Hubby and the sons love sci-fi. me, not so much...now, I know they like the alien hot chicks!
I love my sci-fi! And yes, all the alien women ARE hot. Look at BSG - Six, Boomer. Hot. A while back on my blog I wrote about the time I did a guest shot on Deep Space Nine, and the wardrobe department issued D cup bras to every woman on the show - they called them Deep Space D Cups! They claimed that it was so everyone's Star Fleet uniforms looked...uniform. But I wasn't playing a Star Fleet officer. I was an alien, and wore tight pants, leather thigh boots and big ass boobs. Hysterical.
My husband is the sci-fi nut, alas not me. But I will watch X-Files or Flashforward. Guess I need something that is marketed to the masses.
Hi Redhead,
You won't believe this...My name is Anne Lindsay and I'm creating a book called Redheads and More Redheads AND we are going to try to initiate a Guinness World Record for "largest gathering of natural redheads" here in Sammamish Washington. AND I live on Pine Lake. There you go. Contact me at anne@redheadsandmoreredheads.com
Uncanny. Maybe there are Aliens.
I never made the connection before and I love syfy! Especially all the Star Treks and Stargates.
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