What are some good ideas for a space opera.

Iv been digging an old Judas Priest album these last few days, "Stained Class" Which by the way sounds freaking awesome, anyway, the song "Invader" has a scifi based lyric. Its contemporary setting but has a global anthem feel.
 
I always associate the term 'space opera' with Star Wars. It's probably just a really loose and subjective term, but from my view it would have to be sort of an epic drama in space.

Again this is all subjective, but IMO Spaceballs is not a space opera. The Wrath of Khan is. Galaxy Quest is not a space opera. 2001 definitely is.
 
Interesting. Star Wars and 2001 are so different yet they
are both "space operas" I think Star Wars and Wrath of
Kahn are very similar yet one is and the other isn't. I have
never heard the term before this thread and now I'm more
confused than I was before.

So to some it's an epic drama set in space, to others it's a
melodramatic adventure set in space.
 
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directorik said:
Interesting. Star Wars and 2001 are so different yet they
are both "space operas" I think Star Wars and Wrath of
Kahn are very similar yet one is and the other isn't. I have
never heard the term before this thread and now I'm more
confused than I was before.

So to some it's an epic drama set in space, to others it's a
melodramatic adventure set in space.
Click to expand...

Yeah, it's sort of a silly term. Kind of meaningless. I've personally never used it, other than in this conversation.
 
As I interpret the term, "space opera" implies an action/adventure film; just as a "horse opera" implies a "Western" film that is a fun bang-bang shoot-em up. So "2001: A Space Odyssey" is not a space opera, "Star Wars" is.
 
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directorik said:
Interesting. Star Wars and 2001 are so different yet they
are both "space operas" I think Star Wars and Wrath of
Kahn are very similar yet one is and the other isn't. I have
never heard the term before this thread and now I'm more
confused than I was before.

So to some it's an epic drama set in space, to others it's a
melodramatic adventure set in space.
Click to expand...

Well I did say that I think Khan is a space opera by my 'feel' of it. But I haven't seen 2001 since I was a kid, so my memory may be clouding my judgement on that one.

But yeah, it's more likely just some subjective/meaningless word. :)
 
Dreadylocks said:
But yeah, it's more likely just some subjective/meaningless word. :)
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I am getting that feeling from this discussion.

While we may disagree on what is funny there is no confusion
on what a "comedy" is. And we may personally disagree on what
is scary, but there is an understanding what "horror" is.

"space opera" almost seems derogatory. "horse opera" is. I see
"Star Wars" as an adventure film and "Empire" as a romantic
adventure.

Anyway, it's interesting. I can't believe I never heard of this until
now.
 
I think I've only ever heard the term used to describe star wars.. I MAY have heard it used to describe the Video game "Mass Effect".

For some reason familial relations (opera) and an interplanetary setting (space) seem integral. If I were going to write something I'd start there. Good Luck!
 
Strange that there is a lot of confusion in this thread, to me a space opera has always meant one thing, a dramatic narrative with strong conflicting character motives, in space. Or Eastenders in space. I think it just needs to focus on the relationship between a close group of characters.
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_opera

Space opera is a subgenre of speculative fiction that emphasizes romantic, often melodramatic adventure, set mainly or entirely in outer space, generally involving conflict between opponents possessing advanced technologies and abilities. The term has no relation to music and it is analogous to "soap opera" (see below). Perhaps the most significant trait of space opera is that settings, characters, battles, powers, and themes tend to be very large-scale.
Click to expand...
(bold is mine)
 
In reference to the original question, I've always thought that a space opera-style story that doesn't revolve around the heroes and leaders of a massive intergalactic conflict would be very interesting. As in: the story itself focuses (at least, initially) on a fairly insignificant personal or familial issue in the same way that a down-to-earth drama would, except that the BACKDROP to this story is a very large-scale, futuristic ticking-clock plotline that becomes more and more clear as the main characters interact with their world. They're not generals, heroes, or even plucky moisture farmers who just HAPPEN to be the evil emperor's son. They're normal people, living through a dystopian crisis, and they have their own problems to worry about. Not sure if that qualifies as a OPERA in the way that Dreadylocks just defined it, though...

Case in point would be the film CHILDREN OF MEN, which I just rewatched last night. The main character (Theo's) personal journey is, at first, completely unrelated to the tragic, end-of-the-world backdrop that is the setting... there's a very "trudging through the everyday" feeling about it, despite the adrenaline and mystique of the setting.

Just thoughts.
 
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