caprica

[sophiaserpentia]

I've been watching Caprica with cowgrrl, and she posed this question last night. It's a good one, so I'm curious to see what other people think.

Caprica is a society with legalized pot, sanctioned group marriage, total acceptance of homosexuality, and general sexual freedom. But since this is a prequel to Battlestar Galactica, we know that there is soon going to be a war between Cylons and Humans leading to the eventual destruction of Caprica and the other 11 colonies.

So... is this portrayal of Caprica as a pleasure-permissive society an indication that the writers and producers believe these are features of an advanced human civilization? Or, do they indicate that Caprica is a decadent society ready to fall due to its own hubris? Or is it wrong to interpret this portrayal as delivering any sort of political statement?

Comments

[lassiter.livejournal.com]

In those post-AIDS horror films of the 80s, the teens who were making out or having sex early in the film were always the ones to die horribly at Freddie or Jason's hands.

[stacymckenna.livejournal.com]

I'm almost completely behind having just watched the pilot miniseries last week, but based on the brief description you've given, I'd likely take away:

Evolved/advanced civilizations are highly susceptible to destruction by barbarism.

Kind of a social entropy of sorts... the lowest common denominator in time will eventually succeed.

irrelevant trivia

[el-christador.livejournal.com]

I saw them filming Caprica outside my building on the UBC campus some months ago. I think it was last summer.

[legolastn.livejournal.com]

I might guess that rather than clearly answering, the series might play on all of those themes. For example, once trouble begins, perhaps some members of the colony will begin to place blame on pleasure-permissiveness as a contributing factor. But these claims might be portrayed as self-serving and/or misdirected.

[revulo.livejournal.com]

I don't know, but I think I'd want to live there see it, now.

[kittenkissies.livejournal.com]

If it is a political statement, it is a Sysiphian one.

[matthardwick.livejournal.com]

I'll put it this way: after watching Caprica, I could understand why the United Nations would invite the cast and crew of Battlestar Galactica over to tour n' talk.

I'm obviously on the side of "this portrayal of Caprica as a pleasure-permissive society (as) an indication that the writers and producers believe these are features of an advanced human civilization." But, oh, what indications they give. Just by the way they convey the look of a polytheistic, technological society...and the ease in which they do so...Well, I find myself thinking about how the Chinese and Indians might make huge strides in biotech all because the Xtians here in this country are queasy about stem cell research. But I digress.

I can also see why Dirk "Starbuck" Benedict would want to make a sexist tush of himself, btw.;-) The reimagined series is far less two-tone (i.e. black-and-white) than the original. And not just because CGI offers more chance for detail than models, matte backgrounds, and (in order to depict Caprica itself) big-ass stage sets ever could...

[akaiyume.livejournal.com]

So... is this portrayal of Caprica as a pleasure-permissive society an indication that the writers and producers believe these are features of an advanced human civilization? Or, do they indicate that Caprica is a decadent society ready to fall due to its own hubris?

I think the series, and the post series movie "The Plan" have already answered this question.

It was not the inclusive, or what certain segments insist on calling "decadent," aspects of the culture that brought about destruction. It was the intolerance - both societal and personal. For example, it wasn't the fact that Baltar liked sex that allowed Six to play him in the pilot - it was his sexism and sense of self superiority, his attempt to use her for his own gain that backfired on him.

It was a pretty common theme that self-righteous closed mindedness led to problems and seeing the "other" as non-other and worthy of equal love and respect that led to moments of salvation in BSG.

[coyotegoth.livejournal.com]

Huh; this makes me think of an analogy to Rome.