Arts and Literature of the Twelve Colonies

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The Twelve Colonies, like most civilizations, produce objects not merely utilitarian. They have supported literature, including genre pieces, and poetry, allowing for unusual grammatical constructs. Several newspapers are based in various cities, and they have freedom of the press. Colonials have painting, even abstract designs not strictly representative of their reality. They have a variety of musical traditions, as well.

Additionally, many functional items produced on the Colonies adhere to an aesthetic, even at cost to effeciency.

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Literature

Prose

Edward Prima/"Dark Day"

Edward Prima is a Colonial novelist known for his book Dark Day.

Adama, who had Dark Day in his personal library on battlestar Galactica, gives it to Laura Roslin as a gift in the episode "Water". She says that she considers it to be "one of those classics I've never gotten around to reading." Given the context of their conversation, notably Roslin's reference to A Murder on Picon, it is likely a mystery.

Roslin returns the book, to Adama's consternation, after the prognosis of her disease sharply worsens in "Flight of the Phoenix".

"A Murder on Picon"

A Murder on Picon is a mystery novel, apparently taking place on Picon.

Laura Roslin brought the book with her on the trip to Galactica, (Water) prior to its decomissioning ceremonies (Miniseries).

Poetry

Kataris

Kataris was a Caprican poet. Lt. Joe Palladino owns a bound edition of Kataris' poems and threatens Col. Saul Tigh with lines from one:

From the darkness you must fall
Failed and weak, to darkness all.

Kataris is quite well-known amongst colonials. Kara Thrace recognizes the quotation, recalls from which piece it comes, and knows the poem's quality relative to his other works. D'anna Biers identifies Palladino's copy of one of Kataris' books on sight in a recording she is editting (Final Cut).

Periodicals

• Aerelon Gazette
• Caprica Times
• Caprican Life
• Nymph
• Picon Star Tribune

Visual Arts

Representationalist

Monclair

A Monclair original.

Monclair was a Colonial painter. One of his original paintings, a depiction of the Cylon War, adorns William Adama's office on the battlestar Galactica (Bastille Day). He is apparently of considerable renown, given Gaius Baltar's impressed reaction to the piece.

Abstract

Kara Thrace

Abstract paintings by Kara Thrace.

Between tours of duty, Kara Thrace was an enthusiastic painter. Karl Agathon is surprised to discover this side of her when they visit her apartment in Delphi (Valley of Darkness).

Sculpture

In addition to the Arrow of Apollo, the Delphi Museum of the Colonies contains a large collection of ancient pottery. Located in numerous display cases in the exhibit halls spanning the museum's levels, this large collection of vases, jars, pots and stone fragments form a rough outline of the Colonials' artistic history. Many of the artifacts and art pieces are quite elaborate and appear to be in the detailed Corinthian Style.

Music

Dreilide Thrace

Kara's father, Dreilide Thrace, has been described a "frustrated musician." His daughter kept recordings of some of his piano arrangements in her Delphi apartment (Valley of Darkness).

Colonial Anthem

Forthcoming - use of Colonial Anthem/Original Series theme (by Stu Phillips) in "Miniseries", "Final Cut"

Aesthetics

Colonial aesthetics lead to an avoidance of right angles, e.g. [TODO]. TODO: layout of Galactica's corridors vs. those of Pegasus.

Octagons

Colonial printouts, photographs, and videos are not rectangular; the corners are trimmed at 45 degree angles, creating snub rectangles, i.e octagons. The reasoning for this is likely based on their aversion to right angles, as rectangles are, particularly for paper, more effecient.

Hexagons

Colonial playing cards and dogtags are hexagonal. The reasoning for the cards likely parallels that for the paper. The dogtags likely reflect both the dislike of right angles and the simplicity of polygons over curved shapes.

Architecture

Federalist Period

Some Federal Period architecture in Caprica City

This was the style was a kind of mix of older and newer trends, utilizing traditional stone facades along with metallic glass and steel 3-Dimensional shapes (pyramids, cylinders, etc.). This architecture was found throughout Caprica City, Delphi, and other Unnamed Cities of Caprica prior to the Cylon attack.

Ancient Kobol

Bird's Eye View of the City of the Gods and its architecture

The stone ruins of the Opera House

In Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I, Roslin looks at schematics for the City of the Gods on Kobol. Its buildings, such as the Temple, Forum, and the Opera House, were made of stone and range in shape and size, and resemble classical Greco-Roman architecture.

Later, we are given a glimpse of the ruins of the Opera House when Gaius Baltar and others crash-land nearby. The building was made of stone and utilized decorative columns and pillars. While there, Baltar has a vision which may have represented the original appearance of the Opera House before it fell into disrepair.