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[edit]

Prose[edit]

Edward Prima/"Dark Day"[edit]

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"[edit]

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[edit]

Kataris[edit]

Kataris was a Caprican poet[1]. 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[edit]

Visual Arts[edit]

Representationalist[edit]

Monclair[edit]

A Monclair original[2].

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[edit]

Kara Thrace[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Dreilide Thrace[edit]

Kara's father, Dreilide Thrace, has been described a "frustrated musician."[3] His daughter kept recordings of some of his piano arrangements in her Delphi apartment (Valley of Darkness).[4]

Colonial Anthem[edit]

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

Aesthetics[edit]

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

Octagons[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Federalist Period[edit]

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 before its destruction and in the Unnamed Cities of Caprica.

Ancient Kobol[edit]

Bird's Eye View of the City of the Gods and its architecture
The stone ruins of the Opera House

All that was seen of Kobol's architecture onscreen were the Opera House ruins in Home, Part I. This building was wrought of stone and utilized decorative columns and pillars. In addition to this stone, in the same episode, Roslin looks at schematics for the City of the Gods. It's public buildings, such as the Temple, Forum and the Opera House, were made of stone and range in shape and size. Other structures appear to be akin to structures built in the Federalist Period.

Notes and References[edit]

  1. The name "Kataris" is probably a reference to the Roman poet Catullus.
  2. The original production art is available at Galactica Station.
  3. Skyone biography. See Kara Thrace#Notes for full text.
  4. The piece attributed to Kara's father is actually Metamorphosis One, composed by Philip Glass, from his 1989 album Solo Piano.