Caprica and the Sacred Nature of Integrity

I realize I have written extensively about how media re-enchants the world this semester, but I am really fascinated by the concept.

In Caprica’s most recent episode, “Things We Lock Away,” Zoe Graystone demonstrates how completely a character can exhibit qualities of strength, meaning, and the importance of defending what is sacred.

Graham Murdock emphasized that, while we live in a society that assigns high value to production and material possessions, “things” do not make up for contentment and confirmation of personal identity.  Zoe emphasizes how important and beneficial it is to know who you are while her virtual “copy” fights in a caged arena.  The audience is shown, through a vision, how the real Zoe appears to virtual Zoe.  The real Zoe tells virtual Zoe to “own herself” and fight back against the people attacking her (for the bombing).  The real Zoe places extraordinary value in self-worth.  She encourages virtual Zoe to claim her identity and understand the virtue of self-acceptance.  In the face being ganged up on by the crowd, she needs to find strength within.  She fights with gusto for her life, believing in herself despite the ridicule and savage nature of the crowd.

Zoe’s virtual self understands the message and therefore passes on the message to Tamera.  She implores Tamera, while fighting, to not be swayed by the crowd by declaring, “You’re better than this.”  She asks, “Is this what you want to be?  Entertainment?”  Virtual Zoe understands that the people in New Cap City are slaves of negative impulses.  She convinces Tamera that the crowd does not care which one of them bleeds.  The only way to counter the environment of negativity and debauchery is to understand the personal dignity and the higher meaning of their existence.  She says, “I have a purpose.  I know that now.”  She believes that Tamera’s purpose is to help her achieve something meaningful, perhaps while fighting evil, in this “City of Sin.”

Jesus Martin Barbero said that “modernity has drained off the sense of the sacred..because it has rationalized the world.”  True love of self can only be defined as sacred.

Those who choose to spend their leisure time in Caprica this week will no doubt find reflections of what Murdock called the “meaning and justification of life.”