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Just watched Stargate--the movie from 1997. Not only was it extremely weird to see Jaye Davidson as a Pharaoh (even if he was an alien underneath), but I was also reading an article in the new Harper's during the commercials ("Our Present Disillusionment" by Jacqueline Rose) discussing the narcissism of our war in Iraq. It made the movie look a lot like the war. A few brave Americans come zapping in out of nowhere, immediately comprehend the situation the poor dumb inhabitants can't figure out, vaporize the inhuman despot, are cheered and loved by all (including young boys who immediately start acting like the American soldiers), go zapping home all safe and sound, and everyone lives happily ever after.
Why didn't it work out that way?
Why didn't it work out that way?
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From:
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No, seriously, you're right that this movie (and many others of this kind -- like, say, Independence Day?) are incredibly simplistic and even subtly racist. I remember reading an article criticising it, and pointing out some things I hadn't noticed before. You remember how Daniel makes friends with the mastage (big cow-horse thingy) by giving the animal a piece of his chocolate bar? Then when he meets Kasuf (the Abydonian chieftain) he does the same thing -- tries to gain Kasuf's trust by giving him a chocolate bar.
In the TV series (which I'm sure you've noticed I've become a huge fan of!) Daniel does the same thing another time, when he meets a big scary green alien who is very much like a caveman in terms of "development". Well, actually the Unas (http://photobucket.com/albums/v431/sg_appreciation/Chaka2/) look more like Buffyverse demons than aliens, but anyway. Daniel is initially captured by an Unas, and he tries to make friends with it by sharing a powerbar. (Not chocolate this time, but the parallel is pretty clear.)
I don't think Daniel himself is racist in any way; in fact, he's more likely to side with and understand his Abydonian friends and the Unas way more than he would with the average American military officer. (In fact, he's something of a cultural relativist.) But the fact remains that the meta of the movie and the TV series has an underlying... not a "message", because that connotes an agenda... but an insidious kind of racism which is presumed to be true. An assumption that "primitive" people, and that means anyone not American, are often akin to animals or demons. You have to feed them chocolate and give them American make-overs before they become socially acceptable.
It's funny though. The fundamental message of Stargate, both movie and TV series, is that freedom is something valuable, something worth fighting for. And Americans are the champions of that freedom. I can't argue with the belief that freedom is valuable, etc. It's just that... Yeah. As much as I adore the TV show and all the characters, sometimes I really want to smack them for being so... so American. Colonel O'Neill is extremely prejudiced against Russians, and the Stargate program is very resistent to international co-operation.
(Ironically, the show is shot in Canada. Yeah.)
I still love it though! Love it to pieces!
From:
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I'm not surprised to hear from you about this one! Thanks, since you know it so well. I did like the characters, especially Daniel. And yes, that bit about the chocolate was really telling.
I have a feeling that the series, which I may start watching now, actually is a little less simplistic than the film. And I agree that freedom's a good thing--but what was worrisome to me about the movie and the situation in Iraq is the idea that you can create freedom just by killing a bad guy. Even the history of the US is a good example that holding on to freedom is a lot more complicated than that. George Orwell's *Animal Farm* is just one version of what freedom can lead to with some additional work. As were the wars in the former Yugoslavia. Basically, just killing the bad guy and leaving means that you can have "the war of all against all" or that some other bad guy will step in to fill the vacuum.
Actually, the history of China in the 20th century could also be an example of what can happen after the bad guy is gone.
From:
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Yes, definitely. Just as Buffy the TV series is much more complex than the movie, so is Stargate SG-1 more complex than its movie counterpart. Though I think Stargate takes itself much less seriously than Buffy, and is both not as complex and also much more "subtle" -- or at least, not as explicit -- about its themes and goals.
Agree that just killing the bad guy isn't enough. I don't think it'd be spoiling you for the series to say that killing Ra didn't mean all Abydonians suddenly converted to atheism. The oppression of humans and the pervasive nature of Egyptian mythology is such that you can't unravel the good from the bad so easily. Fundamental beliefs must be challenged.
Actually, the history of China in the 20th century could also be an example of what can happen after the bad guy is gone.
How sad is it that I don't even know my own heritage, really? My father has no love for communism at all, but the chaos that came after wasn't necessarily any better, I think. Necessary, maybe, but not better.
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What I meant about China was that they overthrew the emperor early in the century, only to wind up with Mao and some other terrible things, later--and similarly in Russia they overthrew the Tsar and got Stalin in his place. Freedom's not easy to hold on to!
From:
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The other disturbing thing is how the "north" chooses benevolent aliens to make into Gods, and the "south" chooses the demons. And of course, the religion of SG1 is a true religion.
When it comes to culture and how it talks about it, SG1 is just terrible. THough in the series the Abydonians resist that kind of stereotping but only cuz I love Share and Kasuf, and they both seem such wonderful characters. Also Chaka. I love Chaka to bits.
From:
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The other disturbing thing is how the "north" chooses benevolent aliens to make into Gods, and the "south" chooses the demons. And of course, the religion of SG1 is a true religion.
I have to wonder how conscious the decision to make the Norse gods the White Hats was for the writers. They were already stuck with the Egyptians as bad guys, and if they wanted another ancient pantheon it was either the Norse or the Greeks/Romans. But yeah, I know what you mean about the north/south divide. (Of course, then we later see how almost every ancient culture's gods ended up as bad guys except the Norse gods and, um, Buddhism. Which, hmm.)
The religion of the SG-1, however... I think the show itself is actually very atheistic. Or at least promoting an "all gods and religions should be approached with P-90s locked and loaded" mentality. Except for General Hammond who says things like "Godspeed" and "pray for your safe return", we don't really get any positive representation of Christianity. Jack (or at least my Jack (http://www.livejournal.com/users/scrollgirl/106035.html)) doesn't have much use for God. Sam is portrayed as too scientific for religious beliefs, and Teal'c looks at Christianity as merely another aspect of Tau'ri culture. (Daniel... is another matter. I'm not sure if he got religion, or just enlightenment. It's hard to say!)
And of course we have Kinsey, who is the stereotypical fundie Christian, foaming at the mouth, with more "faith" than brains.
I do find it all fascinating though! Heh, which you can tell by my very long posts :)
From:
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Also, there was an ep where Daniel said something like "no Gouald could be capable of the behaviour that might allow itself to pass off as the God of the Bible".
LOL re the Norse Gods and the Buddhists being the only ones left who weren't "bad". Actually, the minute Thor showed up, I thought to myself "wonder when they are going to have an episode where Loki is mischievous?"
How I laughed when that ep did turn up!!
From:
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Hmm. If this was from that Season 1 ep where Sam's ex-fiance is playing God, I haven't seen it yet. Most of the time, though, I think they portray Sam as too logical and scientific to believe in things like miracles or acts of the divine. Like in "Maternal Instinct" when they first meet Oma Desala, she immediately suspects hidden technology as being the explanation for Daniel's new "powers".
But you could be right that she's still a Christian and/or believes in a God -- many of us, I suspect, would be sceptical of our friends suddenly developing telekinetic powers too!
Also, there was an ep where Daniel said something like "no Gouald could be capable of the behaviour that might allow itself to pass off as the God of the Bible".
Actually, that was Teal'c ;)
And I loved that ep with Loki! Great use of the ultimate trickster! And of course Mini!Jack is adorable and terrific fun :)
From:
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Hmm. And I realise that these two sentences together might be construed as disparaging of Americans. And... Yeah, I guess I am being kind of disparaging, which I do apologise for. Jack O'Neill is definitely a man to admire -- the kind of soldier who never leaves his men behind, who protects the innocent, who stares evil dictators in the face and makes cracks about their mothers. He is the All American Everyman, and I adore him. But there are times when he's also the All American Everyman in bad ways. His prejudice against Russians --and pretty much any alien who doesn't look like a human, as well as artificial life-forms -- is an ugly flaw that I can't admire.
Daniel, OTOH, is the voice of morality in fits and starts. Sometimes depending on the script and the writers, sometimes depending on how much of an emotional connection he feels with those being wronged. He easily empathises with the disenfranchised alien (no matter if they are green and demonic) which often puts him at cross-purposes with Jack. And, well. I'll just stop there before I write another page or two! *g*
I hope you still enjoyed the movie though, mamcu. I really loved the sets and costumes! Plus, if you ever want to join this fandom, you'll already know somebody *ahem* in it who can show you the ropes :)
From:
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Jack O'Neill seemed to me to actually be a little better than many real Americans in similar situations. At least he didn't "kill them all and let God sort it out," or start shooting as soon as he saw somebody different from him.
My husband will leave home if I get addicted to another series, but I have noticed some Stargate the series marathons...we'll see!
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Heh. Yeah, I had noticed that!
Check out the marathons! Get your husband to watch with you. Stargate is a pretty guy-friendly TV series. Lots of explosions and big battles and cool technology. Apparently cjl is something of a fan as well. He's not totally fannish the way I am, but he does like it. He calls it a "cracking good sci-fi adventure" :)