Imagining Imperial Futures: Colonization as the Solution for Urban Uncertainty in Battlestar Galactica.

In this essay, I argue that the American science fiction television series Battlestar Galactica (2003–2009) reflects uncertainty over survival in the urban present and in the near future, especially how humanity might survive in a closed system with no outside aid or resources. The Colonial Fleet hi...

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Published in:Canadian Review of American Studies Vol. 50; no. 3; pp. 413 - 438
Main Author: McKagen, E. Leigh
Format: Article
Published: University of Toronto Press Winter2020
Subjects:
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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        atl: Imagining Imperial Futures: Colonization as the Solution for Urban Uncertainty in Battlestar Galactica.
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        au: McKagen, E. Leigh
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        Battlestar Galactica (TV program : 2003-2009)
        Science fiction television programs
        Imperialism on television
        Modernity
        World citizenship
        Apocalypse
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          Battlestar Galactica (TV program : 2003-2009)
          Science fiction television programs
          Imperialism on television
          Modernity
          World citizenship
          Apocalypse
      keyword:
        Battlestar Galactica
        global citizenship
        imperialism/colonization
        modernity
        post-apocalyptic narratives
        science fiction
        urban formations
        citoyenneté mondiale
        formations urbaines
        impérialisme/colonisation
        modernité
        récit post-apocalyptique
        science-fiction
      ab:
        In this essay, I argue that the American science fiction television series Battlestar Galactica (2003–2009) reflects uncertainty over survival in the urban present and in the near future, especially how humanity might survive in a closed system with no outside aid or resources. The Colonial Fleet highlights anxieties of contemporary cities driven to the edge of survivability by disaster. Through an examination of the fleet formation throughout the series—and of its survival in the series' conclusion—I argue that Euro-American colonization provides ultimate salvation, soothing the uncertainty present throughout the series narrative, thus presenting an image of a very certain imperial future.
        Dans cet article, je soutiens que la série télévisée américaine de science-fiction Battlestar Galactica (2003-2009) reflète l'incertitude de la survie au sein du présent urbain et d'un avenir proche, surtout en ce qui concerne la manière dont l'humanité pourrait survivre dans un système fermé sans aide ou ressources externes. La flotte coloniale met en évidence les anxiétés des villes contemporaines qui sont poussées au bord de la capacité à survivre par des désastres. En examinant la formation de la flotte tout au long de la série — et de sa survie à la fin de la série — je soutiens que la colonisation euroaméricaine fournit le salut ultime, mitigeant l'incertitude actuelle tout au long du récit de la série, présentant ainsi l'image d'un avenir impérial très certain.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
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    language: English
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