September 07, 2007
Though Hollywood was slow to portray the war in theatrical features, now a whole batch of Iraq movies are set to come out –- including Paul Haggis’ In the Valley of Elah. But as cultural critic Laura Miller tells us, one of the first, most surprising attempts to deal with the war was on TV. The latest incarnation of a cheesy sci-fi show from the 70s: "Battlestar Galactica." Produced by Eric Molinsky.
I'm glad someone noticed the hard-hitting social commentary of BSG. Of course you got the geek details wrong (the android Cylons were made by other Cylons, not by the humans), but there's one thing I want to point out.
The Cylons are NOT more spiritual than the humans. They are just more monotheistic, and more dogmatic. The humans FOLLOW AN ANCIENT PROPHECY to find their way; one of the major characters has visions repeatedly. They're always talking about the Gods.
You've fallen into a common prejudice, which is that polytheists aren't spiritual. I don't think the Islamists in the ME or the Christianists here (who I think are every bit as dangerous) are more spiritual than I am.
In closing, it's nice to see television finally showing dogmatic monotheists as the bad guys -- just as they are in the real world!
Hi Christopher,
Sorry this is a very late, but I just discovered that the staff is allowed to respond on the website to listener comments. I'm glad you enjoyed this segment. Initially we tried to explain the whole complicated mythology of BSG, but we decided to simplify the language as much as possible. The back story had to be understood quickly and verbally before we got to the political analogies. But I am a BSG fan, so I know the "toasters" built the android Cylons.
In terms of the monotheism versus polytheism, we were trying to explain that the Cylons are more dogmatic in their absolute belief in a single God. They're certain that God is on their side and they're following God's wishes. Among the humans, there is more doubt and questioning about the existence of a pantheon of Gods and what those Gods desire.
Thanks for your comment.
Eric
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