Post by martok2112 on Jan 25, 2005 6:40:14 GMT -5
Although I am a fan of both TOS and TNS Galactica, I feel I must speak on defense of the TOS fans.
Chaceldony, hopefully I can help paint another perspective for you here. :) (Note: Anywhere that I use allcaps for a word or phrase is not intended to come across as flaming...simply emphasis.) :)
Xenu, ya kinda sorta hit it on the head with your psychoanalysis in that many TOS Traditionalists (I hate calling them "purists" because that suggests that they want NO changes whatsoever) hang on to their childhood memories about the Classic Galactica.
However, Classic Galactica fans are being painted with too broad a brush, and too revulsing a color, by the media, and those who have absolutely NO UNDERSTANDING WHATSOEVER about what it was that made Battlestar Galactica so great for them.
Everyone who either opposes a continuation, or simply doesn't see one happening, tends to think that hardcore TOS Traditionalists absolutely HAVE to have the original cast in order to pull off a continuation, or even a more faithful retelling. Some of these people who use this rather unwieldy and unflattering paintbrush also seem to think that these TOS fans want to see the 70's hairstyles, men in robot suits, and a chimp in a daggit suit.
In many cases, nothing could be FURTHER from the truth.
Granted, the Colonial Fan Force ad that was put out in Variety and Cinescape does specifically mention that they would love to see the original cast back on the screen (either big or small) where they belong.
However, that does NOT mean that they want to see the 70's hairstyles and disco motifs, the men in clunky robot suits, and a chimp in a daggit suit.
These fans realize the need for, and WANT certain elements of Classic Galactica to be updated to contemporary storytelling.
But they also associate Battlestar Galactica with family fare....something they would be happy to sit down with their children and watch...and know that their kids are not going to be scarred for life by controversial subject matter.
They want to see the darker premise of humanity's holocaust and exodus be further exploited. They feel it did not have to be SO dark as the new show had made it.
(Personally, I love the much darker feel....but many of these fans want their classic "white hat/black hat" clear cut heroes and villains....not characters who are overly flawed to the point of dysfunction, and villains who are more questionable (and perhaps sympathetic?) than despicable.
There are just core elements of TOS that still appeal to the traditionalists of today.....family, friendship, hope, triumph in the face of overwhelming odds, and a clear definition of who is the good guy/bad guy, and even a fairly positive view of pseudo-Judeo-Christian faith (Mormons in space)...and it is something that they feel the new Battlestar Galactica is just totally missing the mark on, in all respects.
But, around those core elements, a more mature story can be told, without entirely compromising those cores.
Many TOS traditionalists would be overly joyed to see a more faithful retelling of the Classic Battlestar Galactica, even if it had a completely new cast. They just want to see something that takes them a little closer to their childhood memories in terms of story, and core values.
Now, I am sure you've noticed that I have used the term "TOS Traditionalist" here, as opposed to "TOS Purist". A friend and I kinda worked out the difference between the two.
TOS Traditionalist= Someone who loved the core values of the Classic Battlestar Galactica series: Family, friendship, clear cut good and evil, and a definitive sense of otherworldliness, yet understands that the storytelling can be updated and matured without compromising those core values. In fact, you will find many of these kinds of fans who could do without Muffit...just to name one element that appealed to kids in the classic show. These traditionalists WANT to see the darker elements of the holocaust/exodus premise brought to the foreground, but not overwhelmingly so. They feel that the current version of Battlestar Galactica simply does NOT do proper respect to the original, and often leaves them depressed instead of uplifted as with the traditional heroic sagas.
TOS Purist= By definition, a purist is someone who wants NO CHANGES WHATSOEVER to the original formula. So, to use that definition, a TOS Purist wants NO CHANGES WHATSOEVER to the motifs, stories, appearances and cores of Classic Battlestar Galactica.
However, these "purists" are extremely rare. Pretty much everyone else who is a staunch, dyed in the wool supporter of TOS is better defined as a TOS Traditionalist.
I will grant you that (barring a sudden change of heart in the American societal consciousness that embraces larger than life heroes like it did in the past) a Classic Galactica based movie would probably not do well at the box office. In fact, I would be surprised if it lasted two weeks. Even with the countless numbers of TOS fans who would go out to see such a movie repeatedly, given todays theatre prices, they could not keep it up for a prolonged period of time.
But for many of these fans....all they want is to see their heroes (whether played by the original actors, or simply more faithfully portrayed by new actors) and the original Big G and those nifty Vipers and Cylon Raiders, and the robotic Cylons on the big screen just one more time. Their dreams that have been dashed for 26 years will have been realized. Just one last time. Something to give closure to the story that had barely had a chance to begin just over 26 years ago.
Many of these fans are also NOT CONCERNED with how much starpower these actors have. These are the people who personified their heroes. Granted, several of the older actors (Lorne Greene, Lloyd Bridges, John Colicos) have long since passed, but the continuation stories can be made to suit those sad losses.
And although I am a fan of the new show....I am also one of their brethren, who shares the same desire.
One of the reasons why I would love to see my Dark Exodus fanfic take off to be something more than just fanfic. I call it, my contribution to all our hopes. :)
Cha, I hope I have helped paint the other side of the picture for you, and given you an understanding of the mindset of the TOS Traditionalist.
Respectfully,
Martok2112
LONG LIVE BOTH BATTLESTARS GALACTICA!!!
LONG LIVE ALL GALACTICA FANS!!!
Chaceldony, hopefully I can help paint another perspective for you here. :) (Note: Anywhere that I use allcaps for a word or phrase is not intended to come across as flaming...simply emphasis.) :)
Xenu, ya kinda sorta hit it on the head with your psychoanalysis in that many TOS Traditionalists (I hate calling them "purists" because that suggests that they want NO changes whatsoever) hang on to their childhood memories about the Classic Galactica.
However, Classic Galactica fans are being painted with too broad a brush, and too revulsing a color, by the media, and those who have absolutely NO UNDERSTANDING WHATSOEVER about what it was that made Battlestar Galactica so great for them.
Everyone who either opposes a continuation, or simply doesn't see one happening, tends to think that hardcore TOS Traditionalists absolutely HAVE to have the original cast in order to pull off a continuation, or even a more faithful retelling. Some of these people who use this rather unwieldy and unflattering paintbrush also seem to think that these TOS fans want to see the 70's hairstyles, men in robot suits, and a chimp in a daggit suit.
In many cases, nothing could be FURTHER from the truth.
Granted, the Colonial Fan Force ad that was put out in Variety and Cinescape does specifically mention that they would love to see the original cast back on the screen (either big or small) where they belong.
However, that does NOT mean that they want to see the 70's hairstyles and disco motifs, the men in clunky robot suits, and a chimp in a daggit suit.
These fans realize the need for, and WANT certain elements of Classic Galactica to be updated to contemporary storytelling.
But they also associate Battlestar Galactica with family fare....something they would be happy to sit down with their children and watch...and know that their kids are not going to be scarred for life by controversial subject matter.
They want to see the darker premise of humanity's holocaust and exodus be further exploited. They feel it did not have to be SO dark as the new show had made it.
(Personally, I love the much darker feel....but many of these fans want their classic "white hat/black hat" clear cut heroes and villains....not characters who are overly flawed to the point of dysfunction, and villains who are more questionable (and perhaps sympathetic?) than despicable.
There are just core elements of TOS that still appeal to the traditionalists of today.....family, friendship, hope, triumph in the face of overwhelming odds, and a clear definition of who is the good guy/bad guy, and even a fairly positive view of pseudo-Judeo-Christian faith (Mormons in space)...and it is something that they feel the new Battlestar Galactica is just totally missing the mark on, in all respects.
But, around those core elements, a more mature story can be told, without entirely compromising those cores.
Many TOS traditionalists would be overly joyed to see a more faithful retelling of the Classic Battlestar Galactica, even if it had a completely new cast. They just want to see something that takes them a little closer to their childhood memories in terms of story, and core values.
Now, I am sure you've noticed that I have used the term "TOS Traditionalist" here, as opposed to "TOS Purist". A friend and I kinda worked out the difference between the two.
TOS Traditionalist= Someone who loved the core values of the Classic Battlestar Galactica series: Family, friendship, clear cut good and evil, and a definitive sense of otherworldliness, yet understands that the storytelling can be updated and matured without compromising those core values. In fact, you will find many of these kinds of fans who could do without Muffit...just to name one element that appealed to kids in the classic show. These traditionalists WANT to see the darker elements of the holocaust/exodus premise brought to the foreground, but not overwhelmingly so. They feel that the current version of Battlestar Galactica simply does NOT do proper respect to the original, and often leaves them depressed instead of uplifted as with the traditional heroic sagas.
TOS Purist= By definition, a purist is someone who wants NO CHANGES WHATSOEVER to the original formula. So, to use that definition, a TOS Purist wants NO CHANGES WHATSOEVER to the motifs, stories, appearances and cores of Classic Battlestar Galactica.
However, these "purists" are extremely rare. Pretty much everyone else who is a staunch, dyed in the wool supporter of TOS is better defined as a TOS Traditionalist.
I will grant you that (barring a sudden change of heart in the American societal consciousness that embraces larger than life heroes like it did in the past) a Classic Galactica based movie would probably not do well at the box office. In fact, I would be surprised if it lasted two weeks. Even with the countless numbers of TOS fans who would go out to see such a movie repeatedly, given todays theatre prices, they could not keep it up for a prolonged period of time.
But for many of these fans....all they want is to see their heroes (whether played by the original actors, or simply more faithfully portrayed by new actors) and the original Big G and those nifty Vipers and Cylon Raiders, and the robotic Cylons on the big screen just one more time. Their dreams that have been dashed for 26 years will have been realized. Just one last time. Something to give closure to the story that had barely had a chance to begin just over 26 years ago.
Many of these fans are also NOT CONCERNED with how much starpower these actors have. These are the people who personified their heroes. Granted, several of the older actors (Lorne Greene, Lloyd Bridges, John Colicos) have long since passed, but the continuation stories can be made to suit those sad losses.
And although I am a fan of the new show....I am also one of their brethren, who shares the same desire.
One of the reasons why I would love to see my Dark Exodus fanfic take off to be something more than just fanfic. I call it, my contribution to all our hopes. :)
Cha, I hope I have helped paint the other side of the picture for you, and given you an understanding of the mindset of the TOS Traditionalist.
Respectfully,
Martok2112
LONG LIVE BOTH BATTLESTARS GALACTICA!!!
LONG LIVE ALL GALACTICA FANS!!!
