Space colonization is a pretty common trope in scifi but if I am being honest I got somewhat reminded of colonialism circa 1492-present.
It definitely does. It’s just an extension of we’re told in the west - everything has to be done for the parasitic growth of capital. All westerners know is colonialism and imperialism. The exploitation of the many to serve the needs of capital.
It’s especially clear when you look at western billionaire’s ideas of what space should be used for, compared to the Chinese space program, or the historical Soviet space program.
There’s a whole joke with Star Trek when they “boldly go where no one has gone before” they always end up meeting someone.
I almost forgot this was in the SciFi community because I instantly thought “yeah, it makes me uncomfortable when billionaires, like Elon, gush about colonizing Mars and Space in general.”
That’s easily the least concerning imo. Promises of an extraplanetary colony to escape climate change is pretty much a distraction. Besides the process of even establishing an outpost on the moon would be a nightmare, let alone Mars or some other star system.
I honk its the language itself that is bothersome rather than the reality, because colonizing space i so out of the realm of possibility right now but the way its talked about is telling to me. Its just a reflection of colonial mindset.
This.
In scifi it serves two purposes:
- Adressing colonalism.
- Wish fulfilment, colonialism without the pesky natives and moral abysses.
It’s in the name, man…
First as a possible tragedy (1492 Columbus visits the Carribeans)
Then as a farce (insert year we meet aliens)
Yeah. Personally I think we’d be colonized by the aliens, which sucks ass either way.
Who said we will be colonized? Could go either way…
Don’t worry mate we will just call them explorers like we do now in Western history lessons
