A dalek does not exhibit a separate identity it is debatable that it is even self-aware. Instead it is part of a collective intelligence with a rigid focus. A single dalek does not make its own decisions or have an instinct for self-preservation. Whatever individual consciousness it may retain is sublimated to the needs of the whole. Free will was extinguished in exchange for blind obedience. Our well connected world is a paradox of potential. On the one hand, our minds are broadened as we share information and expose ourselves to thoughts and attitudes we might otherwise never have considered. On the other, we allow ourselves to be picked apart tracked and quantified and used in ways that become increasingly more violating. The daleks could well be our future. The more of our identity we give up the easier we are to control. The Doctor recognizes the power of the individual, actively rebelling against passivity and conformity. The Doctor is not an agent of heaven, he is too complicated for that. He is an instigator of constructive conflict a force for inciting change and instilling responsibility. The daleks are rigidity personified they cannot evolve beyond the single-minded path they have set themselves.
Mary Ogle is the author and illustrator of “Orangeroof Zoo” a whimsical tale of magical realism told through the pages of a coloring book for adults. Working as a professional artist in the digital medium, Mary’s commissions have included everything from fine art to fan art, book cover design, illustration and book layout. Find more of Mary’s work at www.maryogle.com. Mary currently finds inspiration in the Ojai Valley, residing in a snug little cottage with a recalcitrant cat.
