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> Not even (the stories in) The Orville was free of power politics, as utopian as it was. I had always seen The Orville as a simple form of entertainment. I di

> Not even (the stories in) The Orville was free of power politics, as utopian as it was. I had always seen The Orville as a simple form of entertainment. I didn't notice there was some deeper meaning where it wants to teach us about some utopian future. At the very least not to a degree that makes it a prime example for that.

vidarh 4y ago
MacFarlane is a massive Trekkie, and has not exactly been subtle about copying early Trek's "morality play in space" model.
brainchild-adam 4y ago
It was simply my first, slightly tongue-in-cheek go-to, since I appreciate the show's setup so much. On that note, what would you suggest as a prime example for some utiopian future?
- codeulike 4y ago
  what would you suggest as a prime example for some utiopian future? Good question, there aren't many these days. First thing that springs to mind is Iain M Banks "Culture" series.
  - brainchild-adam 4y ago
    Thanks! I will check them out.
    - codeulike 4y ago
      Its hard to have a plot in a utopia, so most of the books are about Contact between the Culture and other societies. Some of it is 30 years old now so perhaps my enthusiasm for the early ones is because I was 30 years younger when I read them. But still they stick in my head as a positive vision of future society. I can't think of that many other futures that have stuck with me in the same way. You can read them in any order. The earliest one (Consider Phlebas) I never much liked. Use Of Weapons was my favourite. Player Of Games was good too. If you were only going to read one, probably Excession - it is the most sweeping, epic one. Some of the later ones are good. If you just want the overarching ideas, they are explained in an essay called A Few Notes On The Culture which he posted to newsgroup rec.arts.sf.written in 1994. Copied here: http://www.vavatch.co.uk/books/banks/cultnote.htm http://www.vavatch.co.uk/books/banks/cultnote.htm
      - brainchild-adam 4y ago
        Thank you!
- at_a_remove 4y ago
  Bear in mind this: every dystopian fic or film you'll read always started off as somebody's utopia. Someone thought it was a grand idea, and got others go along with them. Utopias, I think, are probably more personal than your underwear.
TheSpiceIsLife 4y ago
The Orville definitely has done a lot of socio- / politico- / econo- commentary. I'd have thought it was hard to miss, especially with the discussion of genocide against the Kaylon. It also features a race of homosexuals who have a thing going on with gender reassignment surgery. The Orville teaches us that, throughout history, and with all likelihood in to the furthest reaches of time, humanity will struggle, or not, with approximately foibles and philosophical issues. Probably nothing new to most viewers of the overall genre. Star Trek TNG wasn't particularly funny, certainly not comedy. It'd have been great if The Orville was on when I was watching TNG the first time.

vidarh 4y ago

MacFarlane is a massive Trekkie, and has not exactly been subtle about copying early Trek's "morality play in space" model.

brainchild-adam 4y ago

It was simply my first, slightly tongue-in-cheek go-to, since I appreciate the show's setup so much. On that note, what would you suggest as a prime example for some utiopian future?

codeulike 4y ago
what would you suggest as a prime example for some utiopian future? Good question, there aren't many these days. First thing that springs to mind is Iain M Banks "Culture" series.
- brainchild-adam 4y ago
  Thanks! I will check them out.
  - codeulike 4y ago
    Its hard to have a plot in a utopia, so most of the books are about Contact between the Culture and other societies. Some of it is 30 years old now so perhaps my enthusiasm for the early ones is because I was 30 years younger when I read them. But still they stick in my head as a positive vision of future society. I can't think of that many other futures that have stuck with me in the same way. You can read them in any order. The earliest one (Consider Phlebas) I never much liked. Use Of Weapons was my favourite. Player Of Games was good too. If you were only going to read one, probably Excession - it is the most sweeping, epic one. Some of the later ones are good. If you just want the overarching ideas, they are explained in an essay called A Few Notes On The Culture which he posted to newsgroup rec.arts.sf.written in 1994. Copied here: http://www.vavatch.co.uk/books/banks/cultnote.htm http://www.vavatch.co.uk/books/banks/cultnote.htm
    - brainchild-adam 4y ago
      Thank you!
at_a_remove 4y ago
Bear in mind this: every dystopian fic or film you'll read always started off as somebody's utopia. Someone thought it was a grand idea, and got others go along with them. Utopias, I think, are probably more personal than your underwear.

TheSpiceIsLife 4y ago

The Orville definitely has done a lot of socio- / politico- / econo- commentary. I'd have thought it was hard to miss, especially with the discussion of genocide against the Kaylon. It also features a race of homosexuals who have a thing going on with gender reassignment surgery. The Orville teaches us that, throughout history, and with all likelihood in to the furthest reaches of time, humanity will struggle, or not, with approximately foibles and philosophical issues. Probably nothing new to most viewers of the overall genre. Star Trek TNG wasn't particularly funny, certainly not comedy. It'd have been great if The Orville was on when I was watching TNG the first time.