Why is humor lacking in so much modern sci-fi?

Discussion in 'Science Fiction & Fantasy' started by BoredShipCapt'n, Nov 26, 2012.

  1. Lapis Exilis

    Lapis Exilis Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Camp is most often quite good - if your taste runs to camp.

    I think you all are having a bit of a semantical argument. For the record, camp is a style characterized by ostentatious, exaggerated, affected, and theatrical mannerisms. Often included in that definition is males acting with extreme effeminacy.

    I don't actually think that the original BSG was strictly camp - though I didn't care for the show and have only ever watched a very small amount of it, so I may be wrong. For instance, I have no idea what the casino planet episode was. But, from what I recall of original BSG, it, like TOS in many ways, moved along a spectrum from fairly serious treatment of high concept story ideas to slap-you-on-the-back, wink-wink sort of jokes that were broadly telegraphed and ended with affected chortles by the actors. It was basic late 70s early 80s sitcom style humor that doesn't really include ostentatiousness or effeminacy. There's a certain affected quality to all early SF that often gets it plopped into the camp, er, camp, but it's not on the same scale as great masters of camp like Liberace.

    Honestly I think the issue is that BSG's humor, like TOS's, isn't really funny. It's lame, obvious humor that makes you cringe in its rather painful effort to get a laugh. It tries too hard - but not really hard enough to be camp.

    Now if Lorne Green had ever come out and given a full throated rendition of a Ethel Merman tune while wearing a pink feather boa...