Buck Rogers and Genetic Perfection

As a series, Buck Rogers frequently plays with the idea of women and men looking for the "genetically perfect mate". Princess Ardala has the genetic hots for Buck and Buck himself is deeply attracted to "Miss Cosmos". The theory in the series goes, in so much as it is a theory and not an excuse for incredibly skimpy outfits, that the bodies of beautiful men and women will be highly sought out genetic commodities in the future. As much as I hate to admit it, the series actually has a fairly interesting point in this regard, though it would have been more interesting if they had just used the traditional genetic collection techniques of a sperm bank. Then again, seeing Gil Gerard pouring his seed into a cup would probably traumatize me for life. On the other hand, many men would love to know more about the lovely Erin Gray, but I digress. Seriously, though, it's interesting to speculate on what the "beauty market" of the future will be like, when that market is genetically, rather than randomly controlled. It may likely produce a new form of racial hygienics based on beauty rather than the fitness of the German or American volk.

Neanderthal Negativity

One aspect of contemporary science fiction that I am greatly concerned about, indeed worried, is the tendency of television sci-fi and film to trivialize the life experience of Neanderthals and other proto-human peoples. This can occur in something as innocous as the Flintstones, or as deeply troubling as Geico commercials. The slogan "So Easy a Cave Man Can Do It" I find personally morally revolting. That slogan is nothing more than human biological chauvinism against a lifeform potentially as advanced and sentient as we are. The sci-fi channel has frequently used the Neanderthal-run-amok plot idea and it also featured in Star Trek:TOS ("Galileo Seven", the TNG episode about a deevolved Worf) and the old BSG. I believe it is imperative for television programs to be respectful in their treatment of Neanderthal life, and I believe this for entirely rational reasons.

The human species may be on the cusp of major technological breakthroughs that will allow us to meld species. Already this has been done at the embryonic level, with human-animal hybrids (usually destroyed after a short time in the womb). The definition of what constitutes humanity is therefore much more problematic today than it was, say, 20 years ago. For that reason, sci-fi fans must demand that science fiction series treat potentially sentient lifeforms with respect. The evidence for Neanderthal sentience is overwhelming. To make fun of "Cave Men" as stupid is, in my opinion, the equivalent of using the N word, and indeed is a conscious play to human racist sentiments. I, for one, will continue to be incensed at how television disrespects our closest sentient relatives, and I hope you will be too.

Mutoids and the Ethics of Genetic Engineering

The woman in the picture is a Mutoid, a genetically modified human being from the Blake's Seven series, who is made vampiric through her modifications. One thing I especially appreciate about Blake's 7 is that it always challenges the core assumptions of the "heroic" cast. In the episode from which this is taken, Duel, Blake and Commander Travis are forced to engage in a fight for survival because both men are considered ideological fanatics by the two powerful priestesses who have captured them. Though Blake is clearly seen as the better of the two individuals, the program does not let him off the hook, rightly pointing out that in some ways Blake is like a terrorist. 30 years before John Crichton carried a nuke
into the Scarran council chamber, Blake was making one small stride for terrorists everywhere.

But I digress. I wanted to talk about genetic engineering and the Mutoids. The Mutoids are hardly positive characters - they prey on humans for their blood except when constrained by the Federation. Yet, the portrayal of the genetically engineered in Blake's 7 is a positive advancement on similar portrayals in Star Trek (1966-68). In Star Trek, Khan Noonian Singh and his followers are depicted as barbarians who the Federation has a moral right and duty to discriminate against, on the basis of their dangerous "genes". The Mutoids, on the other hand, show the dangers of such discrimination. As a species, they are preyed upon by the Terran Federation (not the UFP), because of their genetic vulnerabilities. Indeed, I don't know that American sci-fi has yet attempted a morally neutral analysis of genetic enhancement technology, as it is too often lumped together with Nazi eugenics policies. Therefore, it's quite interesting to see how British and American science fiction contrastingly show the enhanced as victims (Blake's 7) and victimizers (Star Trek). Who, ultimately, is right?