Editor's Weekly Ramblings 4

Friday 28th March 2003

Taken? No Thanks.

Alien abduction is not for the faint hearted. A fictional series called 'Taken' has just finished its last episode in the UK on Saturday (Praise the Lord! I'm Free!) and so the issue has been on my mind of late. 'Taken' was a 96 part series (it was actually 10 x 90 minutes, but it certainly felt like 96 episodes at times) by Steven Spielberg which covered a period of 60 or so years as aliens set about the inter-breeding of humans and aliens to produce that rarest of breeds, an alien with emotions.

The ending was all rather a let down actually. It was a bit like the scene in Back to the Future where Martys parents kiss, and we know that the future has miraculously been saved. Ultimately cheesy stuff. 'Taken' was one of those irritating programs that knaws at you enough to make sure you watch the next episode, but ultimately leaves you feeling unsatisfied, and wishing that the editor had flayed his scissors around a good deal more liberally (a bit like these ramblings at times come to think of it!).

The thing about 'Taken' and other programmes of its ilk, is perspective. It is a different view of humanity, ourselves and our value, and as such provides an interesting counterpoint to species cabin fever. Might there not be different ways of doing things? On balance probably not if you are Steven Spielberg. The aliens are lacking. We are lacking. Lets get it on and become complete seems to be the prevailing wisdom. It always seems odd to me that it is emotions that filmakers pick up on as our greatest distinction and the thing that will set us apart from aliens. As though if we imbue the aliens with feelings we somehow limit or castrate our own humanity. Feelings are not to be shared.

Taking a look around the internet at people who have supposedly been abducted by aliens is a sobering experience. You can take an Alien Abduction Survey here which points to some surefire signs that you have probably been seized by other-worldly beings. My personal favourites are:

11/ As a child or adult, did you ever hear a voice inside your head talking to you which wasn't your own?

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