Lecture Library

Jesse MacKinnon examines the survey of historical memory in the Babylon5 episode "The Deconstruction of Falling Stars".

The American television series Babylon 5 ran from 1994 through 1998. It did something unconventional for prime time drama at the time by presenting its story in a serial format, but most significantly planning the entire arc of the show in advance. At the end of the fourth season, Babylon 5 broke from its trademark continuity, presenting an episode that examines society's methods of remembering the past.


“They probably won't even remember.”

Though this first segment sets up the episode in the present tense, it is interesting to note that in the background a man can be seen holding a sign in Latin reading: “Sic transit gloria mundis.” This roughly translates to “All glory is fleeting,” which is what Roman conquerors would be told during their triumphs. This emphasizes Sheridan and Delenn's humble notion that, in spite of their epic accomplishments, they will likely be forgotten.


“Pause and consider.”

Of course, that is exactly what fails to happen in this clip. ISN functions as a 24 hour cable news network in Babylon 5. This segment functions as a critique of the talk shows that predominate on those networks, with the guests totally lacking any real discourse. All the pundits are concerned with are their own agendas and add nothing substantiative to the discussion. It is interesting to note that The O'Reilly Factor had just been launched a year before. Henry Ellis serves as an effective analogue for that controversial host, using ad hominem attacks with minimal recourse to facts.


“You wish only to speak.”

This segment examines the notions of Marxism and postmodernism in history. Postmodernists assert that the individual self is an ideological construct, a myth perpetuated by liberal societies whose legal systems depend upon the concept of individual responsibility. Marxists posit that the individual makes little impact upon history; instead, mass movements not predicated on the individual are what drive historical events. Yet the omniscient narrative of the series, which depicts heroic figures single-handedly galvanizing mass movements and changing the course of history stands in stark contrast to such ideas. And of course, Delenn herself sharply rebukes the academics, accusing them of hyperbolic discourse for its own sake.


“Provide reverse-correct infospeak.”

This segment delves into a homage to George Orwell's 1984. Daniel's language is reminiscent of Orwell's “doublespeak,” which dealt heavily with the relationship between language and propaganda. It is also interesting to note that the term “psychohistory” is derived from Isaac Asimov's “Foundation” novels, in which science can predict large scale human societal behaviour.


“They could all be fables.”

The final segment of the episode ruminates on society's tendency to make myths out of our historical past. In many ways it bears similarities to Walter Miller's novel “A Canticle for Leibowitz.” It is interesting to note that the episode posits that historical objects will inevitably become objects of faith; that the further society gets from the event, the more people draw inspiration from it, much as many contemporary Americans do with the Founding Fathers.


“History will attend to itself.”