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{ | {| class="infobox" style="text-align:center;" | ||
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| colspan="2" | <small>An article from</small><br /><font size=3>'''[[Science in the Re-imagined Series]]'''</font> | |||
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| style="font-size:13px; text-align:left" | | |||
*[[Gravity in the Re-imagined Series|Artificial gravity]] | |||
*[[Computers in the Re-imagined Series|Computer technology]]<br /> | |||
*[[Substances in the Re-imagined Series|Elements and substances]]<br /> | |||
*[[Life sciences in the Re-imagined Series|Life sciences]]<br /> | |||
*Naturalistic science fiction<br /> | |||
*[[Navigation in the Re-imagined Series|Navigation]] | |||
*[[Propulsion in the Re-imagined Series|Propulsion physics]] | |||
|} | |||
NSF is | {{NPOV}} | ||
'''Naturalistic science fiction''' ('''NSF''') is a realistic take on the SF genre, avoiding typical SF [[Wikipedia:cliche|cliches]], utilizing visual and artistic elements from such dramas as "[[Wikipedia:The Sopranos|The Sopranos]]", "[[Wikipedia:24 (television)|24]]" and "[[Wikipedia:The West Wing|The West Wing]]". Naturalistic SF blends the best elements of [[Wikipedia:Soft science fiction|"soft" science fiction]] (where characterization is of prime importance) and [[Wikipedia:Hard science fiction|"hard" science fiction]] (where plausible technical accuracy is preferred). Fundamentally, it is a drama with sci-fi elements. | |||
== Ron Moore's Essay on NSF == | == Ron Moore's Essay on NSF == | ||
| Line 9: | Line 22: | ||
== Analysis of NSF Principles in the Show== | == Analysis of NSF Principles in the Show== | ||
===Characters=== | ===Characters=== | ||
For | For [[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|the new ''Battlestar Galactica'' series]] naturalistic SF means that '''characters''' are viewed as normal, everyday people, complete with flaws, neuroses, and even addictions. There will be no stereotypical SF characters such as the "smoking chauvinist," "loyal soldier," "heroic lead," "spiritual commander," "whiz-kid genius," or "sexy doctor." | ||
As a general rule, the characters of ''Battlestar Galactica'' aren't carbon copies of character archetypes found in other TV science fiction. For example, instead of the "lovable, irascible doctor" like Dr. McCoy on ''Star Trek'', Major [[Cottle]] is the exact opposite being very rude and arrogant to his patients. | |||
====Counterpoints and Aired Contradiction==== | |||
Some characters in ''Battlestar Galactica'' do act like cliched sci-fi characters, though. Starbuck, as the rude and cocky pilot, is similar to [[Wikipedia:Han Solo|Han Solo]] of ''[[Wikipedia:Star Wars|Star Wars]]''. Both Solo and Starbuck have back-stories explaining their behavior, although in Solo's case this is revealed only in the Star Wars [[Wikipedia:Expanded Universe|Expanded Universe]]. | |||
=== | ===Technology=== | ||
'''Technology''' is far enough advanced for star travel to be possible (see: [[FTL]] travel) and plausible, yet every other aspect of Colonial technology is humbly realistic. Instead of using technology such as [[Wikipedia:Star Trek|"Star Trek's"]] transporters, people need to be physically shuttled between ships on smaller craft like [[Raptor|Raptors]]. | |||
Colonial ships are not powered by "dylithium crystals" housed inside "warp cores" , but from [[tylium]], a powerful solid substance with interesting properties that's mined from planets and asteroids and refined. The one similarity is that neither substance actually exists. | |||
Energy weapons such as "Star Trek's" phasers and photon torpedoes are replaced with ordinary projectile weapons and Earthly mass-destruction ordnance: guns, bullets and nuclear bombs. Other SF "[[Wikipedia:deus ex machina|deus ex machina]]"-style comparatively fanciful technologies are avoided entirely or replaced with technology more in line with what's seen in modern life on Earth today. If [[the Fleet (RDM)|the Fleet]] runs out of water, ''Galactica'' can't "invent" some device to reclaim the water molecules from space borne hydrogen molecules--they search for a planetary body that has water ([[Water]]). Technology looks familiar to the viewer, from the phones, computer screens, and even the bathrooms. | |||
Much like [[Aaron Doral]] noted in the opening of the [[Miniseries]], form follows function when it comes to the ship designs. ''Galactica'' is designed as a battle cruiser / aircraft carrier in space; the hull is lined with armor plating, strengthened by [[Frame|structural ribbing]] and insulated from external explosions by internal structures such as water tanks ([[Water]]). The command center of the ship, the [[CIC]], is buried deep within the ship and protected from any attacks, unlike ''Star Trek's'' starships, whose bridges are openly exposed at the top-center of the ship on most classes, as few are technically designated for war. | |||
Many Colonial civilian ships are space borne variations of ships you may see in the air or at sea in the real-world Earth. ''[[Colonial One]]'' is designed to be a [[Intersun|jetliner in space]] and is set up similar to a real world passenger airliner with rows of seats separated into various classes down the fuselage, cramped airplane bathrooms, cargo bays in the ship's underbelly and private cabins for VIPs. (They may even have those dry complementary peanut snacks or the free drink.) | |||
====Counterpoints and Aired Contradiction==== | ====Counterpoints and Aired Contradiction==== | ||
Sometimes that the lack of substantial technology discussion by characters creates situations where a matter just "resolves itself.", because the writers do not want to throw a long and convoluted explanation at the viewer. One of the larger violations of this may include Laura Roslin's unlikely and highly problematic cancer cure in "[[Epiphanies]]" and the ability of Cylon and human to conceive children such as [[Hera]], given the unlikely blend of Cylon physiology to human physiology and the Cylon's continued use of [[Silica Pathways]] in Cylon agents. This was illustrated on copies of [[Aaron Doral]] and [[Leoben Conoy]] at [[Ragnar Anchorage]]. The series is intent on avoiding silly technobabble explanations (which at their worst, are little more than a deus ex machina), but this has resulted in some situations also being given little explanation ([[Miniseries]]). | |||
===No "Deus Ex Machina" Concepts=== | |||
Characters like [[Saul Tigh|Colonel Tigh]] are annoyed by endless '''[[technobabble]]'''. Complex procedures needed to further the plot are often explained in context to the episode in simple and down-to-earth terms, if they're ever explained at all. | |||
Characters like [[Saul Tigh|Colonel Tigh]] are annoyed by endless [[technobabble]]. Complex procedures needed to further the plot are often explained in context to the episode in simple and down-to-earth terms, if they're ever explained at all. | |||
When technology is mentioned, it | When technology is mentioned, it's typically analogous to something found on the real-world Earth. Dialogue such as "[[Stims|stims]]", "[[Morpha|morpha]]", "[[DRADIS]]" and "[[wireless]]" will seem familiar enough when used in context to most casual viewers. | ||
''Galactica'' and its Fleet have to be creative with the very limited resources in the Fleet. They cannot barter with other civilizations (as there aren't any) or make parts with "replication technology." They have a limited supply of everything: [[Viper (RDM)|fighters]], ammunition, food, water, and people. | ''Galactica'' and its Fleet have to be creative with the very limited resources in the Fleet. They cannot barter with other civilizations (as there aren't any) or make parts with "replication technology." They have a limited supply of ''everything'': [[Viper (RDM)|fighters]], ammunition, food, water, and people. Specialized crew members, such as [[List of Pilots|pilots]] and [[Cottle|doctors]], are in even shorter supply. In "Battlestar Galactica's" world, they don't have a home-base or a parent government: What they are and what they have is literally visible in every episode--and everything is wearing or running out, adding to the drama of the characters. This is can be seen in the deteriorating conditions of ''Galactica'''s Vipers, which began the [[Miniseries]] in pristine condition, but, through extended use, all now have significant battle damage, burns, scars, scrapes and dents; several have been damaged beyond repair ([[Flight of the Phoenix]]). | ||
====Counterpoints and Aired Contradiction==== | ====Counterpoints and Aired Contradiction==== | ||
Again, Roslin's cancer cure by [[Gaius Baltar]] | Again, Roslin's cancer cure by [[Gaius Baltar]] suggest a sudden and undesirable use of the deus ex machina tactic to further a plot line (the survival of the child later known as [[Hera]]). Also, [[Boomer]] always just happens to find water and tylium or whatever the fleet is in desperate need of. | ||
===Space Remains Big...and Lonely=== | |||
There are no "planet-of-the-week" episodes. The Fleet does not encounter a new planet or culture every week as is typically done in episodes of "Star Trek" and "Stargate." The universe remains so big as to appear almost empty, with the odds of meeting other intelligent beings (excluding, perhaps, remnants of the [[Earth|Thirteenth Tribe]]) practically nil. A majority of [[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Battlestar Galactica's]] episodes primarily focus on internal Fleet survival issues ("[[Water]]", "[[Bastille Day]]", and "[[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]"). | |||
There are no "planet-of-the-week" episodes. The Fleet does not encounter a new planet or | |||
Humanoid or other intelligent life (save that of the Fleet's nemesis, the human-created [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]]) does not exist, as almost all of the encountered planets will be mostly uninhabitable and lifeless. | Humanoid or other intelligent life (save that of the Fleet's nemesis, the human-created [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]]) does not exist, as almost all of the encountered planets will be mostly uninhabitable and lifeless. | ||
The characters do speak of animals from the now Cylon-occupied Colonies, and they share most of the names we use in the real-world Earth: [[Life Forms of the Twelve Colonies|chickens, dogs, cattle, and cats]] existed on their worlds. This naming is done mostly to make it easier for the viewers to identify with the characters and to prevent writers from having to invent a new animal. | |||
Curiously similar animals have been observed, after a fashion, on other worlds besides the Twelve Colonies. [[Socinus]] notes while on [[Kobol]] that he is able to listen to the birds in the trees for the first time since the Cylon attack ([[Scattered]]). | |||
====Counterpoints and Aired Contradiction==== | ====Counterpoints and Aired Contradiction==== | ||
Laymen and some scientists argue that the sparseness of Earth-like worlds is implausible, based upon the assumption that a significant fraction of star systems in the [[Wikipedia:Milky Way|Milky Way]] have life-bearing potential. However, this is based on a contested judgement of available information, as Earth-based scientific resources are incapable of detecting such planets beyond our solar system. While a numerous amount of large gas giant planets have been located surrounding other stars in the galaxy, they are unlikely to be life-supporting. Further, in the fictional (and more technologically advanced) universe of the show, ''Galactica's'' own resources have proved incapable of finding life-supporting worlds; they find [[Kobol]] and [[New Caprica]] out of happenstance and not design. | |||
===Storytelling and | Arguably, despite the lack of conclusive evidence, worlds with life-bearing potential should be quite common, given the tremendous number of solar systems in the galaxy. Even in our own solar system, Earth is not the only world with life-bearing potential; the ice moon [[Wikipedia:Europa|Europa]] is highly likely to have an ocean of water beneath its icy surface, making it a candidate for bearing at least primitive bacterial life. There is also evidence that [[Wikipedia:Mars|Mars]] had oceans[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4727847.stm] and could have once born at least primitive forms of life. Additionally, the element of extraterrestrial life in the show would have arguably introduced the topic of human fear of the unknown. | ||
[[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|''Battlestar Galactica'']] avoids the thematic elements found in ''[[Wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]]''. The series | |||
===Storytelling and Music=== | |||
[[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|''Battlestar Galactica'']] avoids the thematic elements found in ''[[Wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]]''. The series story is told chronologically in episodic storytelling, using a [[Wikipedia:Documentary film|documentary-style, ''cinema verite'']] visual feel and tribal music that gives the series a more multicultural sound texture than the overly-used "flags-and-banners" overtures used in ''Star Trek'', ''Star Wars'', and the [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|original]] ''Battlestar Galactica''. | |||
====Counterpoints and Aired Contradiction==== | ====Counterpoints and Aired Contradiction==== | ||
Debatably, several ceremonies conducted on the show were appropriate times for traditional Western martial overtures or marchs ([[Miniseries]], [[Act of Contrition]], [[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]), and they would have been used based on the parallels between the [[Colonial Fleet]] and modern armed forces; given this, their exclusion is a loss of authenticity, even if they are too frequently chosen by other series. | |||
Perhaps due to conventions established by their heavy use in other science fiction series, such "flags-and-banners" themes feel more appropriate for the setting to many than tribal music they consider to sound too primitive. Of course, this association is artificial. | |||
== External Links == | == External Links == | ||
*[http://www.galactica2003.net/articles/concept.shtml Reprint of RDM's Take on Naturalistic SF] | |||
*[ | *[[Wikipedia:Hard Science Fiction|Hard Science Fiction]] | ||
[[Category:A to Z]] | [[Category:A to Z]] | ||
[[Category:Hollywood Buzzwords]] | [[Category:Hollywood Buzzwords]] | ||