Sexuality in the Twelve Colonies (RDM): Difference between revisions

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*[[Ellen Tigh]] and various men
*[[Ellen Tigh]] and various men
*[[Simon O'Neill]] and [[Giana O'Neill]]
*[[Caprica-Six]] and [[Gaius Baltar]]
*[[Caprica-Six]] and [[Gaius Baltar]]
*[[Gina Inviere]] and [[Helena Cain]]
*[[Gina Inviere]] and [[Helena Cain]]
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*[[Number Six#Lida|Lida]] and [[Gaius Baltar]]
*[[Number Six#Lida|Lida]] and [[Gaius Baltar]]


Three of the four post-apocalypse marriages depicted are between humans and Cylons:  Cylon [[Sharon Agathon]] and human [[Karl Agathon]], human [[Kara Thrace]] and Cylon [[Samuel Anders]], and human [[Callandra Tyrol]] (née Henderson) and Cylon [[Galen Tyrol]].  Of the three, the Agathons were the only marriage entered into while both (or either) spouse was consciously aware that one was a Cylon.  The only post-apocalypse marriage shown between humans is that of [[Anastasia Dualla]] and [[Leland Adama]]. The only pre-apocalypse marriage depicted as surviving both the Cylons and Adm. Cain is that between [[Final Five]] Cylons [[Ellen Tigh]] and [[Saul Tigh]].
Cylon Simon and human Giana O'Neill were married before the apocalypse. Three of the four post-apocalypse marriages depicted are between humans and Cylons:  Cylon [[Sharon Agathon]] and human [[Karl Agathon]], human [[Kara Thrace]] and Cylon [[Samuel Anders]], and human [[Callandra Tyrol]] (née Henderson) and Cylon [[Galen Tyrol]].  Of the three, the Agathons were the only marriage entered into while both (or either) spouse was consciously aware that one was a Cylon.  The only post-apocalypse marriage shown between humans is that of [[Anastasia Dualla]] and [[Leland Adama]]. The only pre-apocalypse marriage depicted as surviving both the Cylons and Adm. Cain is that between [[Final Five]] Cylons [[Ellen Tigh]] and [[Saul Tigh]].


== Practices ==
== Practices ==
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* The spines of some [[Humanoid Cylon|humanoid Cylons]] have been seen to emit a red glow during copulation.<ref>Caprica Six is shown glowing atop Baltar in the [[Miniseries]], Sharon Agathon is shown glowing atop Helo in [[Six Degrees of Separation]] and writer commentary for [[The Face of the Enemy]] confirms that "Sweet Eight" similarly glowed while mating with Felix Gaeta on New Caprica.</ref> It is unclear whether or not this is visible to the human eye and could be used to detect Cylons. Nevertheless the real-world metaphorical use of the term "glowing" is used by Colonials to describe women sexually satisfied and/or in love.<ref>Laura Roslin refering to Tory Foster in "[[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?]]", Felix Gaeta refering to Anastasia Dualla in "[[Sometimes a Great Notion]]".</ref>
* The spines of some [[Humanoid Cylon|humanoid Cylons]] have been seen to emit a red glow during copulation.<ref>Caprica Six is shown glowing atop Baltar in the [[Miniseries]], Sharon Agathon is shown glowing atop Helo in [[Six Degrees of Separation]] and writer commentary for [[The Face of the Enemy]] confirms that "Sweet Eight" similarly glowed while mating with Felix Gaeta on New Caprica.</ref> It is unclear whether or not this is visible to the human eye and could be used to detect Cylons. Nevertheless the real-world metaphorical use of the term "glowing" is used by Colonials to describe women sexually satisfied and/or in love.<ref>Laura Roslin refering to Tory Foster in "[[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?]]", Felix Gaeta refering to Anastasia Dualla in "[[Sometimes a Great Notion]]".</ref>


* Marriage and engagement are practiced by the humans of the [[Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Twelve Colonies]], and were practiced by the Cylons of the [[Thirteenth Tribe (RDM)|Thirteenth Tribe]] on [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]]. In the Colonies, marriage vows are considered sacred oaths. Women generally take their husbands' surnames, but not always. Men do not change their name, except in the group marriage example noted below. There is no evidence of any similar practice to marriage among the [[Significant Seven|modern Cylons]].
* Marriage and engagement are practiced by the humans of the [[Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Twelve Colonies]], and were practiced by the Cylons of the [[Thirteenth Tribe (RDM)|Thirteenth Tribe]] on [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]]. In the Colonies, marriage vows are considered sacred oaths. Women generally take their husbands' surnames, but not always. Men do not change their name, except in the group marriage example noted below. There is no evidence of any similar practice to marriage among the [[Significant Seven|modern Cylons]], though two of them got married to humans.


* Marriages between more than two people have been shown to be legal on Caprica, though unusual. Upon learning that [[Clarice Willow]] is part of a group marriage, [[Lacy Rand]] is surprised but accepting and mentions knowing classmates who are children of group marriages. The Willow family surname comes from [[Desiree Willow]].
* Marriages between more than two people have been shown to be legal on Caprica, though unusual. Upon learning that [[Clarice Willow]] is part of a group marriage, [[Lacy Rand]] is surprised but accepting and mentions knowing classmates who are children of group marriages. The Willow family surname comes from [[Desiree Willow]].

Revision as of 05:54, 31 January 2010

For sexuality depicted in the Original Series, see: Sexuality in Battlestar Galactica (TOS).

Sexuality in the Re-imagined Series and its prequel, Caprica, mirrors sexuality in the real world, in terms of the presence of hetero-, homo- and bi-sexual relationships.

According to comments from Michael Taylor, the Colonials do not make an emphasis "of the distinction between hetero- and homosexual preferences. I tend to think that in this respect, at least, they’re a bit more enlightened than we are."[1]

Heterosexuality

William Adama and Jaycie McGavin in coitus (Razor Flashbacks).

Relationships depicted in the series tend to be overwhelmingly heterosexual in nature. Amongst these relationships are:

Homosexuality

Helena Cain dining with Gina Inviere.

Homosexuality in the series was formally introduced in "Razor", with the revelation that Helena Cain and Gina Inviere were engaged in a lesbian relationship.

The revelation of the Cain-Inviere relationship does not seem to surprise Pegasus personnel. Kendra Shaw is slightly shocked, but more due to the surprise that Cain is dependent on anyone. Jurgen Belzen and Jack Fisk do not seem to be at all fazed or uncomfortable with this relationship during the formal dinner after the Fall of the Scorpion Fleet Shipyards (Razor). Therefore, this is in keeping with writer Michael Taylor's comments that "the point about Cain’s and Gina’s relationship is that the fact that they had a same-sex relationship was no big deal".[1]

Sam Adama casually mentions to his nephew William Adama that he used to try to flirt with men in a district the two are visiting (Rebirth).

Bisexuality

Caprica-Six, Three and Baltar sleeping (Hero).

Bisexuality has not been seen until "Hero", with the culmination of a ménage à trois between Caprica Six, Number Three, and Gaius Baltar. It is uncertain how this is viewed in Colonial society, but since it is apparent that the Cylons model their behavior after their human creators, it is more than likely that sexual acts involving multiple partners is derived from Colonials.

Also, Gina Inviere can be considered bisexual due to her involvement with both Helena Cain and Gaius Baltar (at different times), though her relationship with Baltar is marred by the psychological effects of Inviere having been gang-raped on Pegasus.

In the webisode series The Face of the Enemy Felix Gaeta is revealed to be in a relationship with Louis Hoshi. Flashbacks to New Caprica also show him being involved with a Number Eight. Gaeta's sexuality had been teased early on behind the scenes, notably with the Season 3 gag reel where Alessandro Juliani attempts to hit on a marine protecting James Callis's Gaius Baltar, and later appears to be having a sexual dream about "Gaius".

Gaeta and Hoshi kiss (The Face of the Enemy).

In an interview, Ronald D. Moore stated that the bisexuality of Caprica Six and Inviere may or may not be typical of all the Six copies, or all the twelve Cylon models: "We sort of always talked about the Cylons being basically bisexual in all formats. They didn’t really have gender roles within the twelve models kind of thing, but we never really played that idea out so I don’t know if we ever really established that as part of the mythos, but that was something we sort of talked about. We pretty much established that some of the Sixes, there was the Six that was in a relationship with Admiral Cain so we know that that’s part of some of the Sixes, whether that means that applies to all the Six models, we just never got into that depth, that kind of detailed stories of them." [3]

Moore also said that "We’re in the process now of starting to think about what Caprica the series will be and what the storylines are and it is something that we’re talking about in our sort of nascent writers’ room where we have some people together and we’re just talking about what it could be and we are talking about it as an active thing, like okay, how can we work in gay, lesbian and bisexual storylines into this and that – it’s just not there yet, but it is part of the discussion."[3]

Sister Clarice Willow is married to both women and men (Rebirth).

Inter-racial and Inter-species

Inter-racial/ethnic

Although there are periodic mentions of prejudice between the quasi-castes of different colonies, no dialogue has indicated any taboo among Colonials regarding relationships between humans of different [real-world] ethnic or racial groups, nor even an acknowledgement of real-world ethnicity; each of the twelve colonies appears to be composed of a mixture of real-world human ethnicities.

In addition to the many inter-racial and inter-ethnic relationships not resulting in marriage (well, confirmed marriage), a full one half of the post-apocalypse marriages depicted are between spouses of different real-world races: African Anastasia Dualla and Caucasian Leland Adama, and Korean Sharon Agathon (née Eight) and Caucasian Karl Agathon (cf Kara Thrace and Samuel Anders, and Callandra Tyrol (née Henderson) and Galen Tyrol [all four appear predominantly Caucasian]). Moreover, interbreeding between what would be real-world Caucasians and East Asians is presumably so commonplace that Dr. Cottle had a still-born Eurasian infant readilly available, to secretly switch with Hera Agathon on President Roslin's order.

Inter-species

Humans and humanoid Cylons can and frequently do engage in consensual sexual intercourse. Relationships between humans and Cylons are viewed negatively by those who see Cylons as nonpersons, a viewpoint which becomes less and less common.

Cylon Simon and human Giana O'Neill were married before the apocalypse. Three of the four post-apocalypse marriages depicted are between humans and Cylons: Cylon Sharon Agathon and human Karl Agathon, human Kara Thrace and Cylon Samuel Anders, and human Callandra Tyrol (née Henderson) and Cylon Galen Tyrol. Of the three, the Agathons were the only marriage entered into while both (or either) spouse was consciously aware that one was a Cylon. The only post-apocalypse marriage shown between humans is that of Anastasia Dualla and Leland Adama. The only pre-apocalypse marriage depicted as surviving both the Cylons and Adm. Cain is that between Final Five Cylons Ellen Tigh and Saul Tigh.

Practices

Multiple real-world coitus positions have been depicted, including female superior (a.k.a. "cowgirl")[4] and the so-called missionary position[5]

Heterosexual fellatio among Colonials is implied by Laura Roslin's statement to Tory Foster, "I don't really care if you have to spend the night on your knees praying, or just on your knees. I want a name." ("Guess What's Coming to Dinner?")

Other notes

  • The religious controversy surrounding Rya Kibby's abortion suggest that the Colonial faith (or the Gemenese interpretation thereof) contains doctrine pertaining to sexuality, possibly in a similar fashion to many real world religions (The Captain's Hand).
  • The presence of child prostitution under Phelan's black market indicates the presence of pedophilia within Colonial society. The practice of child prostitution is viewed with loathing disdain by Colonials such as Lee Adama, who ultimately kills Phelan after discovering this practice aboard Prometheus (Black Market).
  • Prostitution is legal in Colonial society, with consenting adult women such as Shevon offering their services to adult men such as Lee Adama (Black Market). This fact is a nod to the socialator practices touched upon in the Original Series.
  • In addition, the Colonials have pornographic material like Nymph magazine (Scar), although it is uncertain whether or not pornography is viewed in the same controversial light as it is in America and some other cultures.
  • The spines of some humanoid Cylons have been seen to emit a red glow during copulation.[6] It is unclear whether or not this is visible to the human eye and could be used to detect Cylons. Nevertheless the real-world metaphorical use of the term "glowing" is used by Colonials to describe women sexually satisfied and/or in love.[7]
  • Marriage and engagement are practiced by the humans of the Twelve Colonies, and were practiced by the Cylons of the Thirteenth Tribe on Earth. In the Colonies, marriage vows are considered sacred oaths. Women generally take their husbands' surnames, but not always. Men do not change their name, except in the group marriage example noted below. There is no evidence of any similar practice to marriage among the modern Cylons, though two of them got married to humans.
  • Marriages between more than two people have been shown to be legal on Caprica, though unusual. Upon learning that Clarice Willow is part of a group marriage, Lacy Rand is surprised but accepting and mentions knowing classmates who are children of group marriages. The Willow family surname comes from Desiree Willow.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Ryan, Maureen (16 November 2007). Answers to your 'Razor' questions and clues about 'Battlestar Galactica's' final season (backup available on Archive.org) (in ). Retrieved on 16 November 2007.
  2. Tighs wear wedding rings in the flashback to the destruction of Earth at the end of "Sometimes a Great Notion"
  3. 3.0 3.1 Jensen, Michael (7 October 2008). Scoop on "Virtuality", the first U.S. science fiction series to include gay characters (backup available on Archive.org) (in ). Retrieved on 7 October 2008.
  4. Caprica-Six mounts Baltar thus in the Miniseries
  5. Baltar is shown atop Kara Thrace in "Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I", and Tory Foster in Faith, Lee Adama is shown climbing off of Thrace in "Unfinished Business", et al.
  6. Caprica Six is shown glowing atop Baltar in the Miniseries, Sharon Agathon is shown glowing atop Helo in Six Degrees of Separation and writer commentary for The Face of the Enemy confirms that "Sweet Eight" similarly glowed while mating with Felix Gaeta on New Caprica.
  7. Laura Roslin refering to Tory Foster in "Guess What's Coming to Dinner?", Felix Gaeta refering to Anastasia Dualla in "Sometimes a Great Notion".