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Who Loves Dinosaurs Who loves dinosaurs
(about 3 hours later)
As part of the mini blog festival to celebrate the new Dr Who, I’ve invited Marc Vincent to write this piece on the changing dinosaurs on screen as seen from behind sofas everywhere.As part of the mini blog festival to celebrate the new Dr Who, I’ve invited Marc Vincent to write this piece on the changing dinosaurs on screen as seen from behind sofas everywhere.
Just as the science of palaeontology has advanced (occasionally stutteringly) over the years, so pop culture depictions of dinosaurs have changed as new knowledge filters down to a mass audience. Once seen as blundering, lethargic lizard-like beasts that lounged around in swamps all day until their long and boring reign was mercifully and mysteriously ended, dinosaurs are now known to have been lively, active, and even if not particularly smart, highly successful and adaptive animals (and that’s without mentioning birds). Film and television makers have taken to these new, more exciting and dangerous dinosaurs with great enthusiasm – and mixed results.Just as the science of palaeontology has advanced (occasionally stutteringly) over the years, so pop culture depictions of dinosaurs have changed as new knowledge filters down to a mass audience. Once seen as blundering, lethargic lizard-like beasts that lounged around in swamps all day until their long and boring reign was mercifully and mysteriously ended, dinosaurs are now known to have been lively, active, and even if not particularly smart, highly successful and adaptive animals (and that’s without mentioning birds). Film and television makers have taken to these new, more exciting and dangerous dinosaurs with great enthusiasm – and mixed results.
The problem arises in suspending an audience’s disbelief at seeing long-dead creatures up on screen, which requires a great deal of money, time and special effects expertise. Perhaps rather wisely, given the show’s infamous shortage of all of these things over the decades, dinosaurs have been (comparatively) seldom seen in Doctor Who. All the same, when they have appeared, they’ve proven to be as sure a reflection of contemporary attitudes as the Doctor’s accent, the delivery of lines by minor characters, and the wobbliness of the sets.The problem arises in suspending an audience’s disbelief at seeing long-dead creatures up on screen, which requires a great deal of money, time and special effects expertise. Perhaps rather wisely, given the show’s infamous shortage of all of these things over the decades, dinosaurs have been (comparatively) seldom seen in Doctor Who. All the same, when they have appeared, they’ve proven to be as sure a reflection of contemporary attitudes as the Doctor’s accent, the delivery of lines by minor characters, and the wobbliness of the sets.
In the 1974 serial Invasion of the Dinosaurs, Jon Pertwee’s Third Doctor runs into a spot of bother with some barmy scientists, who happen to be phasing rubbery-looking dinosaurs (and, er, medieval peasants) in and out of existence smack in the middle of London. In the face of the threat from these doddery, incessantly growling and rather clumsy invaders, martial law has been declared in the city, and the place is mercifully free of politicians, investment bankers and journalists on the make (well, mostly).In the 1974 serial Invasion of the Dinosaurs, Jon Pertwee’s Third Doctor runs into a spot of bother with some barmy scientists, who happen to be phasing rubbery-looking dinosaurs (and, er, medieval peasants) in and out of existence smack in the middle of London. In the face of the threat from these doddery, incessantly growling and rather clumsy invaders, martial law has been declared in the city, and the place is mercifully free of politicians, investment bankers and journalists on the make (well, mostly).
Zipping about in his adorably retro-futuristic ‘Whomobile’ hovercraft/tricycle, the Doctor must contend with occasional attacks from one of the most ineffectual tyrannosaurs ever to appear on screen. Although seemingly impervious to bullets, grenades and brick walls, the Tyrannosaurus in Invasion seems far too slow-moving to ever be able to sink into its teeth into anything – besides, of course, the equally lethargic “Brontosaurus” that wobbles into view to save the Doc in one memorable scene.Zipping about in his adorably retro-futuristic ‘Whomobile’ hovercraft/tricycle, the Doctor must contend with occasional attacks from one of the most ineffectual tyrannosaurs ever to appear on screen. Although seemingly impervious to bullets, grenades and brick walls, the Tyrannosaurus in Invasion seems far too slow-moving to ever be able to sink into its teeth into anything – besides, of course, the equally lethargic “Brontosaurus” that wobbles into view to save the Doc in one memorable scene.
Of course, a perception of dinosaurs as slothful reptilian flesh-barges only just about clever enough to eat, toddle after prey, eat, roar, and eat, remained prevalent in the popular literature at the time. Although dinosaur science was in the process of being reinvigorated by the work of John Ostrom (who described the small carnivore Deinonychus, a clearly compact and active creature, in 1969), his student Robert Bakker, and others, the pretty radical ideas of the ‘Dinosaur Renaissance’ took decades to be fully absorbed by popular culture. One could well argue that the slow-moving, slow-witted dinosaurs in Invasion are typical of contemporary attitudes towards the animals.Of course, a perception of dinosaurs as slothful reptilian flesh-barges only just about clever enough to eat, toddle after prey, eat, roar, and eat, remained prevalent in the popular literature at the time. Although dinosaur science was in the process of being reinvigorated by the work of John Ostrom (who described the small carnivore Deinonychus, a clearly compact and active creature, in 1969), his student Robert Bakker, and others, the pretty radical ideas of the ‘Dinosaur Renaissance’ took decades to be fully absorbed by popular culture. One could well argue that the slow-moving, slow-witted dinosaurs in Invasion are typical of contemporary attitudes towards the animals.
In addition to moving positively glacially, the dinosaurs in Invasion display a number of contemporary misconceptions about the animals’ anatomy. In the 1970s, the idea that theropods (the bipedal dinosaurs that include birds) walked near-horizontally, with their tails well clear of the ground, was starting to be widely accepted. Contrary to this, Invasion’s Tyrannosaurus is of the good-old-fashioned tripodal variety, its tail a necessary prop lest it collapse through over-exertion. This kind of posture, with a near-vertical neck and precariously splayed legs, would’ve been pretty damn uncomfortable (if not impossible) for the real animal – its bones simply didn’t fit together that way. (And that’s quite apart from the three fingers.)In addition to moving positively glacially, the dinosaurs in Invasion display a number of contemporary misconceptions about the animals’ anatomy. In the 1970s, the idea that theropods (the bipedal dinosaurs that include birds) walked near-horizontally, with their tails well clear of the ground, was starting to be widely accepted. Contrary to this, Invasion’s Tyrannosaurus is of the good-old-fashioned tripodal variety, its tail a necessary prop lest it collapse through over-exertion. This kind of posture, with a near-vertical neck and precariously splayed legs, would’ve been pretty damn uncomfortable (if not impossible) for the real animal – its bones simply didn’t fit together that way. (And that’s quite apart from the three fingers.)
Likewise, the “Brontosaurus”, its mismatched head the relic of a mistake by a 19th century palaeontologist, is an example of a classic pop culture trope that managed to stagger on long after palaeontologists thought they’d slain it. As with all the other dinosaurs in Invasion, Ol’ Bronto drags its lumpen tail awkwardly behind it. It’s now known that dinosaur tails were often stiffened and strengthened, held horizontally out behind the animal, and held a role in the animal’s locomotion as well as balancing the front end.Likewise, the “Brontosaurus”, its mismatched head the relic of a mistake by a 19th century palaeontologist, is an example of a classic pop culture trope that managed to stagger on long after palaeontologists thought they’d slain it. As with all the other dinosaurs in Invasion, Ol’ Bronto drags its lumpen tail awkwardly behind it. It’s now known that dinosaur tails were often stiffened and strengthened, held horizontally out behind the animal, and held a role in the animal’s locomotion as well as balancing the front end.
In the end, though, these dire dinosaurs were also the result of special effects done on the cheap. Even for the early 1970s, Invasion’s barely-mobile puppets were pretty cringeworthy, especially given the astonishing feats in both puppetry and stop-motion that had been seen on TV and in cinemas in the 1960s. Even earlier Doctor Who episodes managed better monsters.In the end, though, these dire dinosaurs were also the result of special effects done on the cheap. Even for the early 1970s, Invasion’s barely-mobile puppets were pretty cringeworthy, especially given the astonishing feats in both puppetry and stop-motion that had been seen on TV and in cinemas in the 1960s. Even earlier Doctor Who episodes managed better monsters.
One can contrast the shonky saurians in Invasion with the Hollywood-worthy CGI dinosaurs in modern-day Who. Dinosaurs on a Spaceship, aired in 2012 and starring Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor (or twelfth...or technically thirteenth...oh, whatever), benefits not only from the revived show becoming one of the Beeb’s most merchandisable big-budget money-spinners, but also from an understanding of dinosaurs that had radically altered since Pertwee’s time.One can contrast the shonky saurians in Invasion with the Hollywood-worthy CGI dinosaurs in modern-day Who. Dinosaurs on a Spaceship, aired in 2012 and starring Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor (or twelfth...or technically thirteenth...oh, whatever), benefits not only from the revived show becoming one of the Beeb’s most merchandisable big-budget money-spinners, but also from an understanding of dinosaurs that had radically altered since Pertwee’s time.
Not content with posing a somewhat overstated threat to stiffly moustachioed soldiers, the dinosaurs in Spaceship occasionally threaten to out-act their mammalian co-stars. Certainly, they’re more than capable of outrunning them. An early encounter with a pair of enormous ankylosaurs (exceedingly chunky, spiky, armoured dinosaurs) sets the tone promisingly – the show appears content to move beyond the saurian ‘usual suspects’ and bring some more obscure animals to the fore.Not content with posing a somewhat overstated threat to stiffly moustachioed soldiers, the dinosaurs in Spaceship occasionally threaten to out-act their mammalian co-stars. Certainly, they’re more than capable of outrunning them. An early encounter with a pair of enormous ankylosaurs (exceedingly chunky, spiky, armoured dinosaurs) sets the tone promisingly – the show appears content to move beyond the saurian ‘usual suspects’ and bring some more obscure animals to the fore.
What’s more, they aren’t too horrendously reconstructed, which is more than can be said of a great many of the smeary-textured computer-rendered dinosaurs that appear in certain coffee table books these days. When a suspiciously friendly (although quite charming) Triceratops appears, it certainly has a few nitpicky anatomical faults, but is certainly close enough for a sci-fi show. The only pixel-o-saurs to leave a bad taste are the inevitable, post-Jurassic Park half-naked ‘raptors’. While we dinosaur geeks have learned not to expect too much, it would have been fantastic to see Who bring up-to-date dromaeosaurs to a wider audience. Thanks to myriad discoveries of feathered dinosaurs in the last couple of decades, mostly in China but also elsewhere, we now know that dromaeosaurs – or ‘raptors’ if you prefer (and I rather don’t) – would have resembled nothing so much as birds with long tails and horrific-looking claws on the feet...and wings. In fairness, CG feathers are expensive and difficult to create and animate, as Pixar would testify after Up! All the same, the show could’ve had a lot of fun with the characters’ reactions to such animals, while also playing with the audience’s preconceived notions of what a ‘dinosaur’ should be.What’s more, they aren’t too horrendously reconstructed, which is more than can be said of a great many of the smeary-textured computer-rendered dinosaurs that appear in certain coffee table books these days. When a suspiciously friendly (although quite charming) Triceratops appears, it certainly has a few nitpicky anatomical faults, but is certainly close enough for a sci-fi show. The only pixel-o-saurs to leave a bad taste are the inevitable, post-Jurassic Park half-naked ‘raptors’. While we dinosaur geeks have learned not to expect too much, it would have been fantastic to see Who bring up-to-date dromaeosaurs to a wider audience. Thanks to myriad discoveries of feathered dinosaurs in the last couple of decades, mostly in China but also elsewhere, we now know that dromaeosaurs – or ‘raptors’ if you prefer (and I rather don’t) – would have resembled nothing so much as birds with long tails and horrific-looking claws on the feet...and wings. In fairness, CG feathers are expensive and difficult to create and animate, as Pixar would testify after Up! All the same, the show could’ve had a lot of fun with the characters’ reactions to such animals, while also playing with the audience’s preconceived notions of what a ‘dinosaur’ should be.
Dinosaurs are set to appear again in modern Who in this week’s episode, with trailers depicting a large tyrannosaur of some sort once more rampaging around London (albeit Victorian London, this time). Deep Breath also sees the return of the ever-popular Madame Vastra, a ‘lizard woman from the dawn of time’. In fact, she’s a member of the Silurians, humanoid reptilian creatures that dominated the Earth during the ‘time of the dinosaurs’ – the Mesozoic era.Dinosaurs are set to appear again in modern Who in this week’s episode, with trailers depicting a large tyrannosaur of some sort once more rampaging around London (albeit Victorian London, this time). Deep Breath also sees the return of the ever-popular Madame Vastra, a ‘lizard woman from the dawn of time’. In fact, she’s a member of the Silurians, humanoid reptilian creatures that dominated the Earth during the ‘time of the dinosaurs’ – the Mesozoic era.
While the Silurians almost certainly aren’t intended to be exceptionally brainy dinosaurs, in spite of their provenance, they nevertheless represent one of many such flights of fancy in what is termed ‘speculative zoology’. Many have wondered what might have happened if dinosaurs had evolved human-like intelligence, occasionally even seriously. In 1982, the palaeontologist Dale Russell published a reconstruction of the small carnivorous dinosaur Troodon alongside a speculative reconstruction of what it might have evolved into had the infamous mass extinction not taken place.While the Silurians almost certainly aren’t intended to be exceptionally brainy dinosaurs, in spite of their provenance, they nevertheless represent one of many such flights of fancy in what is termed ‘speculative zoology’. Many have wondered what might have happened if dinosaurs had evolved human-like intelligence, occasionally even seriously. In 1982, the palaeontologist Dale Russell published a reconstruction of the small carnivorous dinosaur Troodon alongside a speculative reconstruction of what it might have evolved into had the infamous mass extinction not taken place.
The result was an upright, three-fingered, tailless, round-skulled, and unsettlingly humanoid creature dubbed the ‘Dinosauroid’. While it became a fixture of dinosaur books in the 1980s, the reasoning behind this idea – essentially, that a humanoid (or anthropomorphic) body shape is inevitable in a creature that converges on humans in terms of intelligence – was met with some scepticism. As many animals that share our world demonstrate, you don’t have to be a tottering biped with a daft flat face and rubbish teeth to be smart.The result was an upright, three-fingered, tailless, round-skulled, and unsettlingly humanoid creature dubbed the ‘Dinosauroid’. While it became a fixture of dinosaur books in the 1980s, the reasoning behind this idea – essentially, that a humanoid (or anthropomorphic) body shape is inevitable in a creature that converges on humans in terms of intelligence – was met with some scepticism. As many animals that share our world demonstrate, you don’t have to be a tottering biped with a daft flat face and rubbish teeth to be smart.
When we humans declare that any highly intelligent life form must surely resemble ourselves, we are probably displaying a rather unwarranted sense of our own superiority. Such is the genius of Who, it’s even played on this in the past. When credulous humans point out that the Doctor resembles one of them, the Time Lord is quick to retort that to him, they look like members of his own species – one that happened to evolve first.When we humans declare that any highly intelligent life form must surely resemble ourselves, we are probably displaying a rather unwarranted sense of our own superiority. Such is the genius of Who, it’s even played on this in the past. When credulous humans point out that the Doctor resembles one of them, the Time Lord is quick to retort that to him, they look like members of his own species – one that happened to evolve first.
But I digress. Significantly. Here’s hoping that prehistoric creatures will continue to make occasional appearances in Who, be it knocking down hangars in London or serving as pets/experiments for demented Time Lady, the Rani (who’d be a great opponent for Capaldi). Budget and attitude of BBC bosses permitting, of course. If Jenna Coleman is set to quit the show, the writers could do worse than have chirp-o-matic Clara lose a battle to something large, hungry, and feathered.But I digress. Significantly. Here’s hoping that prehistoric creatures will continue to make occasional appearances in Who, be it knocking down hangars in London or serving as pets/experiments for demented Time Lady, the Rani (who’d be a great opponent for Capaldi). Budget and attitude of BBC bosses permitting, of course. If Jenna Coleman is set to quit the show, the writers could do worse than have chirp-o-matic Clara lose a battle to something large, hungry, and feathered.