From memory (youthful memory of growing up in the 60s and 70s), because you trust what's put on the telly (and why wouldn't you? so far as you know what you're being presented with is truthful, it's the view of your people, especially if it's the BBC), you understand what you're supposed to boo and hooray to, and you understand that's what will get you social approval so you can get ahead in life.
I remember a particular influence on me was Till Death Us Do Part. As a young person I automatically identified with the young couple, and so took on their scornful attitude to the old man's rants.
I've been waiting for the Monster of Peladon (1974) essay for a while, and this is a good teaser.
It has the best costume and alien design in all of Colour Who.
I recommend watching it, but must warn you that it includes a scene where Sarah Jane lectures the Queen of Peladon on women's lib. (I muted this scene.)
I've only seen it once, but I would argue that it reflects some level of jadedness with the EEC's promises.
For those who haven't seen it, the plot revolves around a group of ice warriors who have grown disillusioned with their role as mere peacekeepers, and so are creating instability on Peladon in order to trigger a peacekeeping mission. It's not until episode 4 or 5 (out of 6) that this plan is revealed, and the whole thing is dripping with 70's paranoia.
It portrays the Pel miners as backwards, superstitious, averse to change and easy to manipulate, but the main villains are a faction within the Federation that has grown disillusioned with its new, bureaucratised role.
Furthermore, the death of the real Aggedor (i.e. the spirit of Peladon/Britain) is presented with real sadness. Perhaps the writer realised, in the 2 years between the two stories, that an essential part of Britain had died.
That said, the Federation as a whole still comes off as a force for good.
Heck you could say that's what's happened to Paganism too. This "federation" is a religion. Hive mind. Paganism is a lot more individualistic because it has no handbook for it; it's seeing the world as it truly is, understanding Natural Law, which is no different from quantum physics. Paganism has been under attack for centuries, and even the crusaders were too busy fighting for "the Holy Land" whilst Europe was suffering under the control of the Moors and Iberian caliphate. Then they just obliterated the Cathars and went after any remaining Pagans they could find. Seems like history repeats itself.
Also, apparently the Unarius UFO cult out of California during the 50s-70s (and still is active) was also greatly influencing Star Trek and Star Wars with this New Age “galactic confederation” idea too, pushing this idea of establishing “world peace”. But it’s not world peace, it’s world suppression. The likes of Dolores Canon and others talk about the glory of being a part of such a galactic confederation in the afterlife, and honestly I think it’s one of the most depressing ideas. NPC hell.
It is a typical leftism to see any unwillingness to submit to their vision as 'irrational fear.' Well, some fears are justified. "All we want to do is absorb and enslave you. Why are you afraid?"
Progress isn't always progress. This story's Federation featured non-binary Alpha Centauri and the peaceful Ice Warriors. They should have invited the Daleks too for a a touch of parody. Then again, maybe Terry Nation saw the story and re-used the name 'the Federation' for his totalitarian regime in Blake's Seven.
I'm not sure how the character of King Peladon should be seen in this story. He seems good-hearted but a bit weak and naive, perhaps like a British liberal of the 1970s. His ancestors might well suffer the results of his naivety. But in 1972 when this story came out, British people could still be complacent about their place in the world. If the writer of 'Curse of Peladon' could see the Britain of 2026, as you suggest in your last paragraph, he might realise Hepesh was right after all.
It reminds me of the related messaging when I was a lad that not being interested in or averse to homosexuality was an 'irrational fear', in retrospect a sinister piece of gaslighting likely propagated by much older men.
This trick (the dishonest allegory) is actually really widespread and a powerful tool to get the midwit masses. It is easy on the brain and therefore, once it has been accepted, replaces the original complex view of reality and the person only thinks in terms of the fiction. Hence "Harry Potter" signs at protests and such.
The Steelman vs the Strawman fighting in the Motte-and-Bailey.
Though sometimes they f-up giving the strawman too much pathos and the audience starts coming up with better arguments & justifications for them (e.g. Falling Down, Watchmen, Starship Troopers etc.)
Doctor Who was always on the nose lefty propaganda. As I recall, the youthful king was cartoonishly progressive and in tune with the 70s vibe and also a bit gay, saying Hepesh with a lisp.
The great thing about reality is that it always wins in the end.
The EU died the day of the Brexit vote and no amount of bandaids or elastoplasts or traitorous Starmers/Blairs/Browns/Johnsons/Mays/Sunaks/etc etc etc are going to put that Humpty Dumpty back together again.
I wonder how easy it would be with AI to make an edit of this story where the doctor saves Earth er Peladon er Ukayion Prime from the evil predatory lying Federation?
I made it up. The English version of “inside baseball” which means something like “abstruse niche discussion” ie Dr Who in the 70s x EU x liberal biases.
Oh, rightr. Well, I think it's worth doing this kind of thing because it helps us to have a more accurate perspective on how what we got here. And also, our opposition have fabricated their own history of the 20th Century so we should be offering our own.
Totally agree. It’s a classic example of the liberal elite using all bandwidth on all channels (literally and metaphorically) to insert their agenda as the “baseline”. It’s a great call out. And actually the BBC was being more subtle in 1972 than they have ever been with the godawful Dr Woke reboot series.
The culture, in this case Dr Who, reflects the thinking of the time very well. As a boy, I absorbed its propaganda message only unconsciously. It is well worth going back and analysing some of these episodes, especially from the Jon Pertwee era.
I have also written an overview of the Pertwee era. It will be published in due course. (I need to space out these "cultural" essays or people will get annoyed.)
I'm a fan of the cultural essays as the subject matter is fascinating in its own right, it's good to know 'how we got here' and they present a point of difference as many writers just end up writing about the 'latest thing' and so perhaps become solely reactive rather than contemplative.
I would be fascinated to read that. Pertwee is definitive Dr Who for me (showing my age). I can see the nonviolent, internationalist values that were projected. I still support those to be honest. I wonder though what I’m NOT seeing. Looking forward to it.
From memory (youthful memory of growing up in the 60s and 70s), because you trust what's put on the telly (and why wouldn't you? so far as you know what you're being presented with is truthful, it's the view of your people, especially if it's the BBC), you understand what you're supposed to boo and hooray to, and you understand that's what will get you social approval so you can get ahead in life.
I remember a particular influence on me was Till Death Us Do Part. As a young person I automatically identified with the young couple, and so took on their scornful attitude to the old man's rants.
I've been waiting for the Monster of Peladon (1974) essay for a while, and this is a good teaser.
It has the best costume and alien design in all of Colour Who.
I recommend watching it, but must warn you that it includes a scene where Sarah Jane lectures the Queen of Peladon on women's lib. (I muted this scene.)
I've only seen it once, but I would argue that it reflects some level of jadedness with the EEC's promises.
For those who haven't seen it, the plot revolves around a group of ice warriors who have grown disillusioned with their role as mere peacekeepers, and so are creating instability on Peladon in order to trigger a peacekeeping mission. It's not until episode 4 or 5 (out of 6) that this plan is revealed, and the whole thing is dripping with 70's paranoia.
It portrays the Pel miners as backwards, superstitious, averse to change and easy to manipulate, but the main villains are a faction within the Federation that has grown disillusioned with its new, bureaucratised role.
Furthermore, the death of the real Aggedor (i.e. the spirit of Peladon/Britain) is presented with real sadness. Perhaps the writer realised, in the 2 years between the two stories, that an essential part of Britain had died.
That said, the Federation as a whole still comes off as a force for good.
Interesting. I'll have to rewatch this story.
Heck you could say that's what's happened to Paganism too. This "federation" is a religion. Hive mind. Paganism is a lot more individualistic because it has no handbook for it; it's seeing the world as it truly is, understanding Natural Law, which is no different from quantum physics. Paganism has been under attack for centuries, and even the crusaders were too busy fighting for "the Holy Land" whilst Europe was suffering under the control of the Moors and Iberian caliphate. Then they just obliterated the Cathars and went after any remaining Pagans they could find. Seems like history repeats itself.
Also, apparently the Unarius UFO cult out of California during the 50s-70s (and still is active) was also greatly influencing Star Trek and Star Wars with this New Age “galactic confederation” idea too, pushing this idea of establishing “world peace”. But it’s not world peace, it’s world suppression. The likes of Dolores Canon and others talk about the glory of being a part of such a galactic confederation in the afterlife, and honestly I think it’s one of the most depressing ideas. NPC hell.
Unfortunately all leftists, without a single exception, get absolutely all their opinions from fiction such as this.
Ah yes, Hepesh the 'Little Englander.'
It is a typical leftism to see any unwillingness to submit to their vision as 'irrational fear.' Well, some fears are justified. "All we want to do is absorb and enslave you. Why are you afraid?"
Progress isn't always progress. This story's Federation featured non-binary Alpha Centauri and the peaceful Ice Warriors. They should have invited the Daleks too for a a touch of parody. Then again, maybe Terry Nation saw the story and re-used the name 'the Federation' for his totalitarian regime in Blake's Seven.
I'm not sure how the character of King Peladon should be seen in this story. He seems good-hearted but a bit weak and naive, perhaps like a British liberal of the 1970s. His ancestors might well suffer the results of his naivety. But in 1972 when this story came out, British people could still be complacent about their place in the world. If the writer of 'Curse of Peladon' could see the Britain of 2026, as you suggest in your last paragraph, he might realise Hepesh was right after all.
It reminds me of the related messaging when I was a lad that not being interested in or averse to homosexuality was an 'irrational fear', in retrospect a sinister piece of gaslighting likely propagated by much older men.
This trick (the dishonest allegory) is actually really widespread and a powerful tool to get the midwit masses. It is easy on the brain and therefore, once it has been accepted, replaces the original complex view of reality and the person only thinks in terms of the fiction. Hence "Harry Potter" signs at protests and such.
The Steelman vs the Strawman fighting in the Motte-and-Bailey.
Though sometimes they f-up giving the strawman too much pathos and the audience starts coming up with better arguments & justifications for them (e.g. Falling Down, Watchmen, Starship Troopers etc.)
Doctor Who was always on the nose lefty propaganda. As I recall, the youthful king was cartoonishly progressive and in tune with the 70s vibe and also a bit gay, saying Hepesh with a lisp.
Your memory is correct.
The great thing about reality is that it always wins in the end.
The EU died the day of the Brexit vote and no amount of bandaids or elastoplasts or traitorous Starmers/Blairs/Browns/Johnsons/Mays/Sunaks/etc etc etc are going to put that Humpty Dumpty back together again.
I wonder how easy it would be with AI to make an edit of this story where the doctor saves Earth er Peladon er Ukayion Prime from the evil predatory lying Federation?
Inside cricket.
But I wholeheartedly agree with you.
Thank you, but I don't know what "inside cricket" means. I've googled the phrase and found nothing!
I made it up. The English version of “inside baseball” which means something like “abstruse niche discussion” ie Dr Who in the 70s x EU x liberal biases.
Oh, rightr. Well, I think it's worth doing this kind of thing because it helps us to have a more accurate perspective on how what we got here. And also, our opposition have fabricated their own history of the 20th Century so we should be offering our own.
Totally agree. It’s a classic example of the liberal elite using all bandwidth on all channels (literally and metaphorically) to insert their agenda as the “baseline”. It’s a great call out. And actually the BBC was being more subtle in 1972 than they have ever been with the godawful Dr Woke reboot series.
The culture, in this case Dr Who, reflects the thinking of the time very well. As a boy, I absorbed its propaganda message only unconsciously. It is well worth going back and analysing some of these episodes, especially from the Jon Pertwee era.
I have also written an overview of the Pertwee era. It will be published in due course. (I need to space out these "cultural" essays or people will get annoyed.)
I'm a fan of the cultural essays as the subject matter is fascinating in its own right, it's good to know 'how we got here' and they present a point of difference as many writers just end up writing about the 'latest thing' and so perhaps become solely reactive rather than contemplative.
I would be fascinated to read that. Pertwee is definitive Dr Who for me (showing my age). I can see the nonviolent, internationalist values that were projected. I still support those to be honest. I wonder though what I’m NOT seeing. Looking forward to it.