I've always been a fan of scifi novels, fantasy novels, and movies that push the boundaries of technological advancement including elements of apocalyptic themes. Watching/reading this genre causes me to consider two things: 1. my own mortality and 2. the possibility of limitless human creativity, resourcefulness, and spirit.
Mortality shows itself as the viewer/reader follows the characters along their adventures - identifying with their struggles, challenges, victories, wrestling with trust, individuality, resourcefulness, and courage as they face unending threats on their lives. I see myself in the stories - or at least, can put myself in the preverbial 'shoes' of the characters quite easily. I ask myself questions as I'm reading/watching
Would I make that decision? Would I have trusted that person? Could I be that strong and vibrant? Could I kick someone's ass so efficiently? How long would it take me to recover from such an ass-kicking? How are MY leadership skills? I think this is the reason humans like movies, novels, tv shows. They are (in their brilliant entertaining way) alternate realities we can identify with that help us cling less fiercely to the reality we identify as our own.
Considering, or believing in, limitless human potential is another point. Maybe MY limitless human potential (Be all you can be - or how much science can one truly understand in one's lifetime) is on the table and considering it motivates me to be less lazy, but to think about the potential of humans to create protective force fields, teleportation devices, magical potions, medical miracles, identify and utilize psychic abilities, storytelling gifts, and (brace yourselves) create a functioning community of trusting individuals gives me a lot of hope. Yes, these communities I watch/read are imaginary, but it does leave me with the feeling that even if we are idealizing how humans live and work together, it must be possible to do so on some level. We wouldn't be imagining these scenarios if we didn't have it in us, right? (See Future Post about my Will Smith Theory).
So with Death and Hope as my overarching themes, this post is just one big justification for spending time watching an entire tv series from first episode to the last one. A good/new friend let me borrow the entire discography of the scifi drama
Stargate: Atlantis.
I'm not a big tv fan - don't own one, never want to. But laptops work for tv on my own time. (I fumble with that justification from time to time - what is it I really *like* about the experience of watching movies and tv episodes... the ability to watch when I want, what I want commercial free? or is this just a big fat time waster. Most probably, the second.) But here goes, anyway!
Here are some themes from the show that I want to keep track of for future teaching purposes (like my Tuckman's stages of group development through
Fellowship of the Ring):
- building trust - how, why, it takes time, how you benefit from it, teamwork and relying on your teammates. Does everyone need to be in a life threatening situation to learn to trust people? Is it true that everyone has their special place in the team - like a comic book?
- Specialization - being a doctor, fighter pilot, weapons master, diplomat. It's the ideal that if a team of specialists are brought together, many parts make a whole. Reinforces importance of specialization rather than being a jack-of-all-trades.
- drawing/maintaining lines - not being pushed around, not dating the people you work with
- making decisions and taking responsibility for them - leadership, ethics, guilt?
- commitment to ideals and to others you trust are working toward those ideals
- working hard - what exactly does this mean? Not taking care of yourself?
- unachievable perfection = perfect humanity
- authority (John subverting it, Elizabeth holding on to it by her teeth, Sam being even, interested, clear, capable, and nondramatic - I don't question her like I questioned Elizabeth's confidence)
- diplomacy (Elizabeth) - negotiations vs. destruction - there's always an ideal for 'peace' and trade relations to exist between civilizations, but do not stand idly by while the other agresses. Not sure I agree with this one... peace as in 'mutual benefit' on both sides, yes. And the negotiators are responsible identify the needs of each society and have an agreed-upon treaty or limit to the exchange. What if one or the other feels they are being taken advantage of? What if they don't? What if one needs help and the other has the means to help?
- development (Explorer teams) - teams explore the galaxy looking for viable trade partners. They have yet to set up a peaceful treaty in almost 60 episodes (end of season three). When the teams arrive on a new planet, they always assume the people are 'underdeveloped' living in 'simpler times' with no technology. Their assumption is that technology + warfare capability = developed nation. (#55 "The Game" where 'Sim City' goes horribly wrong)
- speaking your mind vs. holding your tongue: TACT (Rodney vs. Carson) Making excuses - sometimes it's better just to do it rather than make excuses about things. It can take too much time. (Rodney)
- Never look away from your enemy - it shows weakness.
- power/energy/resources are limited and need to be utilized efficiently
- Small acts of self-protection can be viewed as aggression toward others, even when it's not meant as that. You might have a war on your hands in a few episodes.
- Canadians say "sorry" and "out" differently than US Americans
- If you find a person-sized slimy cocoon/pod/egg thing, don't go looking for the thing that used to be in it.
Things that don't make sense:
everyone speaking english - even the 'alien' human races. only the 'bad guys' don't speak english. The ancients used to speak ancient, but they speak english now.
Good Quotes:
"Draw from your past, but do not let your past draw from you."
