Tired old SF clichés

[vilakins]

Some further thoughts and a rant about the script of the Farscape episode Coup by Clam.

I was surprised to find this was written by a woman, Emily Skopov. There were some very good bits--the shellfish containing neurologically-linked bacteria which gave the people who ate them the same symptoms, and Crichton in drag which had me laughing out loud--but we had [rolls eyes] yet another society which oppresses women. Just what goes on here? Do writers think to themselves, "I know! I'll write about a culture in which woman don't count. That'll be original--it's only been done 5000 times, and it's not like it happens on this planet."

Bloody hell, why not write something really different, like a race with several sexes, all of which are needed for procreation, or one with a hive-mind? Or confound our expectations: I loved the garbage-collecting alien, Staanz, in The Flax who appeared male but was actually female, though he was cancelled out by the bloodhound couple Rorf and Rorg in Till the Blood Runs Clear who regarded females as inferior and owned by males. I think I've read only one or two stories in which females were dominant and usually this 'unnatural state' has been corrected by the end. Not that I approve of that sort of society either, but it would have been much more original, and also fun to see Aeryn and Sikozu in drag.

Sexist societies appear in every SF show I can think of. Hey, script-writers, how about a little more thought and invention and a lot less tired and offensive cliché?

Comments

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I liked those bits too. And oh, yes, Scorpy being altruistic, and no-one seemed at all concerned about him either.

Farscape features more body fluids than any other show I've watched. :-p

[kalypso-v.livejournal.com]

I loved the idea that [almost] the entire crew had to sit round touching Scorpy's skin for hours afterwards.

Did we ever see him undress?

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I loved the idea that [almost] the entire crew had to sit round touching Scorpy's skin for hours afterwards.

I was hoping for that but I'm not sure they did, since we saw him vomit the clams back up. Maybe he knew he'd be all right because it's a Scarran talent?

Did we ever see him undress?

No, because I'm certain I'd remember that. I don't think he can because he has to stay cool.

[kalypso-v.livejournal.com]

Maybe he knew he'd be all right because it's a Scarran talent?

Oh, but then it's not nearly so big a gesture from him! Nor would it create such exquisite social embarrassment afterwards.

[kalypso-v.livejournal.com]

I don't think he can because he has to stay cool.

They all have to sit around touching Scorpy in a specially chilled room!