Battlestar Galactica Forums

What is your definition of "camp"?  For the past five years, since the inception of the current BG, I have  read OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN

 in a multitude of sources (websites,  magazines, newspapers, even from real live persons at science fiction  conventions), 

that contemporary viewers of the current series consider  the original series as "campy."

 But the term is being used differently than its original meaning and I  am wondering when and why the meaning changed.

I'm looking at an actual dictionary, The American Heritage College  Dictionary, third edition, copyright 1997  (a real book, not online), 

 and it says camp is (1) An affectation or appreciation of manners and tastes  commonly thought artificial, vulgar or banal; or

 (2) Banality,  vulgarity or artificiality when deliberately affected or appreciated for its humor. 

 I think the term, in general public usage, means deliberately silly and ridiculous so that it is humorous, even hilarious.  That DOES NOT,

 I repeat, DOES NOT, fit the description of the original Battlestar Galactica.  Pompous and overblown at times, yes.   Inconsistent, yes, 

but that was a problem of short production times, not for lack of trying.  Occasionally funny and often sweet, yes.   However, the "feel" 

of the show, with the huge cast, beautiful costumes, elaborate sets and occasional long speeches, was meant to be  "epic," not 

laugh-out-loud funny.

So the original BG is not "campy" in the original definition.   Deliberately written to be humorous and silly, absolutely not.

However, I've come to realize that in the past decade, the definition of camp has come to mean something different.  Apparently 

anything in pop culture made before the year 2000 can be considered campy.  Why?   Because it doesn't fit 21st century standards. 

  I'm talking about both pop culture in general and Galactica in particular, because BG is so often singled out.

I would like to know why so many contemporary critics have felt the need to change the definition of a slang term so drastically.  I've 

gotten the impression that today's "camp" simply means the following in regards to the original series are not up to their standards: 

 the attractive hair and clothing that were current when the series was made; special effects that were state-of-the-art for the time; and a 

positive outlook on life despite incredible odds.  The current definition has nothing to do with humor, other than the fact tht some 

modern viewers are too immature to be able to watch anything from a different decade without snickering.  By their reasoning--

that because the styles are not up to today's ugly fashions, the special effects are not CGI, and the show isn't depressing or cynical

--these aspects are reasons that the show was made to be laughed at.   In other words, today's definition of "campy" is anything that 

wasn't made in the past 10 years.

 After writing all this, I realize that "campy" today most likely just means "more than 10 years old" and it is very much a compliment, 

not an insult!  

Hey, skipper. Had to read your entire post on the home page for BSG. 25 percent of what you wrote is missing on the forum page.

The following is verging on being just as lengthy, but I love this show, so bare with me here...

Anyway.. I'm a lifelong fan of the original, as well as the current. I think there's room for both. I really found your post interesting for many reasons.

I think that people refering to the original as campy in a derogatory way.. are people who , if they mention the original at all.. are smearing the 1978 original as cheesy as well, and needlessly doing it to compare the old to the new. Those references and attitudes need to be ignored. When using those terms to soely start a turf war of sorts.. the points begin to loose credibility, and become non-sequitor.

I, myself.. may have, from time to time.. given it a camp reference or two,, but only in an affectionate way. Camp, or campy in that case would mean comic-bookish. Epic, larger than life. At time, blown to exaturated perportions, perhaps.. as well as other examples you stated. If I have done that, it's all out of pure love, and a warm feeling in my heart.

Could it be silly at times?.. yeah. Let's be honest. I mean, Hector and Vector in "Greetings From Earth ".. the unnesesary humor that absolutely ruined ( in my opinion) the " beings of light" subplot in Experiment In Terra. let's not even mention the Borays, shall we? Lol.

But ya know what? Anybody, as far as I'm concerned, constantly feeling they need to compare "old" Sci-fi with New sci-fi ( anything, not just BSG) needs to get a life, and find something else to occupy their time. It's silly and pointless.

The original BSG was a product of it's time, just like the current one is.. and it was wonderful. Right now, we live in a different world.. the post 9/11 world. It's almost like the invsible, yet quite apparent barrier between before Kennedy was shot, and after. People judge things a lot more harshly, and more in terms of "realism", for lack of a better term.

Back then.. in 1978, no such attitude was present. We were in a state of denial of the horrific and scandal ridden events in society, and across the globe. We wanted to get as far away from reality as possible... especially as a kid.. and that's when the world of Sci-Fi and fantasy came in, in all it's glory!

At that time, sci-fi fantasy was exploding in a thousand directions with the discovery of Star Wars.. and everybody jumped on the bandwagon. It was the networks who pushed for silly gimmicks, and never prioritiesed what was budgeted properly and what wasn't, and to some extent Larson.. who went a little to far at times into the "formulaic" solution for plots. As a result..I've always seen BSG as the sacrificial lamb for the Star Wars wanna-be's.. when in fact, it was nothing of the kind. Larson had started work on his space opera, belive it or not, at the same time the original Star Trek was on the air in first run! It was the effect of Star wars mania that gave larson his golden opportunity. But people didn't want to see that at the time. They just saw another Star Wars rippoff. And the budget wars..and the constant last minute re-writes, as you stated! People just don't realise how much those many WORKING computers on the bridge cost to lease out from Techtronics, (sic) ! That, belive it or not.. was a very large part of the budget right there. 1 million per episode, my friends.

And it was never given the chance to flurish and grow. It's a shame.

I'd love to see Hatch do his Second Coming show. This proposal to do another re-imaganing.. if that's what it is.. would be stupid. For better or worse... the re-make has been done. Give the fans of the original the conclusion they deserve. And Richard's the only man for the job, thank you. But it should be a TV project.. not a big screen event. To much to loose.

But I wish people would let themselves enjoy the new, or the old ... of ANYTHING, without constantly comparing the two. Totally ruins the experience of enjoying either to the fullest degree.

So, campy in the negative light?.. absolutely not.

Campy in a loving affectionate way.. and in hindsight only? Yeah.. I can buy that.

But is that so bad a thing?

It was also epic, and grand, and glorious!