UMF - Arts and Entertainment

The cultural diversity and social freedoms of the UMF foster a diverse array of arts and forms of expression. When combined with corporate marketing techniques and the endless desire to make money, it is little surprise that the UMF is the entertainment and media capital of CNCS and a major force across Terra Nova. Mercantile corporations are involved in a wide range of projects, from trideo shows and movies to sports and books. Furthermore, several corporations exist solely to exploit the media and entertainment trends, while most companies have active public relations and marketing divisions.

This is not to say the UMF media is entirely free. Considerable care must be taken to avoid libel suits, and most media consultants employ legal staff whose responsibility is to vet the legal impact of material prior to publication, and to fight any suits that ensue. A few of the most sensationalist publishers work on a "print and be damned" policy, aware that the controversy surrounding what they print will encourage more people to tune in or purchase their publication, outweighing the negative impact of any fines that may be imposed. The rise in power of the Revisionist Church also poses an obstacle to free expression, attempting as it does to provide moral guidance. The church has attempted to exert its mortality on the Mercantile population as it has in the NLC, but to date the UMF government has upheld the constitutional rights of its citizens to free speech and social diversity.

Mass Media

With minimal regulation and considerable profits at stake, the UMFs broadcast media is diverse and competitive. There are more than four hundred trideo channels across the Federation, though most city-states are limited to less than a hundred. A mix of free access, subscription and pay per view, these cater to a wide variety of audiences: news, entertainment, sports, music, information and even religion. Without the moral censorship of the NLC, violence and pornography are rife. If people want to pay for it, Mercantile interests can provide it.

Comedy and drama programs are the Federation's strong suit, exported throughout the CNCS and even to the rest of Terra Nova via the Hermes 72 network. One of the most popular shows is Paulson Ridge, a long-running soap-opera/drama set in the Badlands community of the same name. Now in its 60th cycle of broadcast, it shows the trials and tribulations of the settlement's families, dealing with a whole range of issues from teenage pregnancy to religious intolerance. The show's Badlands setting makes it easily accessible for most Terranovans, prompting major overseas sales. Indeed, early episodes of the show are being re-broadcast on the Hermes 72 network.

Many Mercantile children's programs are renowned for being little more than marketing exercises. They are derogatorily referred to as "toy of the week" shows because of the constant stream of new gadgets used by the principal characters, replicas of which are sold in chain stores like Toys for All!. Indirect merchandising, such as clothing, books and artwork i s also common and applies equally to many adult-oriented shows. Such media tie-ins are regarded as part and parcel of the Mercantile entertainment business.

The Federation's holofilm industry, based in Canterbury, is equally advanced, producing a wide range of movies, ranging from art-house productions for the intelligentsia to big-budget blockbusters guaranteed to draw in the audiences. The major studios have been criticized for their reliance on the blockbuster premise, sacrificing plot and characterization for sex and violence in an attempt to draw crowds and rake in money. The companies counter that it is this type of movie, often making a considerable profit, which funds the production of more artistic (and less commercial) work. Indeed, the healthy festival season that helps support so-called real film i s largely subsidized by the major production companies. Treasurer Banderas, once a movie star and executive, had been a fixture at the major festivals before his untimely death.

Electronic and print media is also very advanced in the UMF, ranging from daily newsfaxes to books and on-line information services. Much of this material is written by hacks, seeking little more than a quick buck. The openness of Mercantile society has allowed the publication of a wide range of literary works that would be considered morally unsound in other CNCS leagues. Indeed, the prejudices of other leagues, particularly the NLC, has led many writers and artists to seek refuge in the liberal UMF.

Fine Arts

The Mercantile appreciation for fine art is well developed, and many corporate executives serve as patrons for artists and performing groups. Painting and sculpture are particularly highly regarded, and many corporations commission works by famous manufacturers to decorate their offices, particularly the public areas. The Federation also has the highest number of galleries per capita in the CNCS, with each city hosting several major collections. The most significant collection is held by the National Gallery in Lyonnesse, including works from across Terra Nova and some Terran works left behind when Earth withdrew. The Lyle Gallery in Rapid City has gained a reputation for daring, displaying the works of many Norlight artists forced to flee their homes because of the supposed moral or religious deviancy of their work. The gallery has repeatedly been the subject of vocal attacks by the Revisionist Church and in recent unrest, extremists damaged several of the most controversial works.

Attendance at the theater, ballet and opera is considered an essential part of life for the Federation's corporate elite. Premieres and first night parties are the place for Mercantile socialites to be seen, particuiarly in Lyonnesse, and this ensures a steady stream of corporate patronage. Furthermore, many companies sponsor individual productions or entire theater seasons, writing off the expense as a charitable donation while reaping the rewards of "free" advertising. The reputation of Mercantile venues makes them attractive to foreign groups, and a constant succession of touring acts visit the Federation. Before the war, Republican plays were popular, as was kabuki from the Mekong Dominion. Indeed, the world-renowned Yang Dancers made several highly successful tours of the Federation

Music

Musical tastes in the UMF are eclectic, ranging from trad-classical movements like 20th Century jazz and 31st Century balance, through neo-classical composers like Sheng (responsible for the Federation anthem, Ad Eternam) to modern forms such as primal dream, rage and the latest phenomenon, shock music. Like opera, both trad- and neo-classical are seen as the province of the rich, with tickets for live performances costing hundreds of marks. Primal dream, and to a lesser extent rage, form the mainstay of corporate tastes, particularly middle-management types seeking to recapture their youth.

Shock forms a counter-culture in the UMF and i s extremely popular with the young, corporate and otherwise. Its mix of power and melody, combined with biting lyrics, challenges the established order, questioning the militarism of the WFP, the morality of the NLC and the capitalism of the UMF. The permissiveness of the UMF and its acceptance of 'wild' social behavior have weakened shock's impact in the UMF. Indeed, on some levels the Mercantile way of life has begun to corrupt some shock music groups, with recordings becoming commercially available and several shock radio stations open for business.

The UMF is also infamous for deliberately reviving old musical forms by using them in advertising and jingles. Once the ad and its music has reached sufficiently high awareness among the population, digital recordings are made available for purchase.

Architecture

Mercantile architecture varies considerably from city-state to city-state, reflecting local conditions and prejudices. In Mainz, for example, the 'fort architecture' of the WFP is apparent, utilizing solid construction and concentric rings of massive fortifications. A similar principal holds in Ashington where the need to defend against both the elements and Badlands raiders prompted formidable fortifications. Unlike the functional construction of Mainz, Ashington's architecture was elaborately decorated, reflecting the power and prestige of the Ash family. Many of Ashington's most famous buildings were wrecked by the repeated attacks of the CEF during the War of the Alliance, and have been replaced by modern structures that lack the charm of the pre-war buildings.

Lyonnesse is also decorated in an elaborate manner, having been rebuilt in the gothic style in the 16th century. Also notable for its canals and forestry preserves, Lyonnesse was built to radiate power, and manages to do so even in the nearperpetual rain. Though attacked by CEF orbital artillery, most of the UMF capital survived the war intact.

The most unusual architecture is found in Pioneer, where buildings have to be constructed to cope with the cold and the ever-present snow. Most buildings are small and well insulated, constructed on piles driven into the permafrost to prevent subsidence in the temporary summer thaw. Building roofs are sloped at a sharp angle to halt the accumulation of snow.

Corporate offices throughout the UMF are built to demonstrate the wealth and power of their owners. They are designed by the Federation's leading architects and built of the best materials, and as such are the 'palaces' of the UMF. No one style dominates, but most are tall, between thirty and sixty stories. As befits the most powerful corporation in the UMF, the Northco Tower in Rapid City is 700 meters - almost 100 stories - tall and 320 meters wide at its base.

Sports

Outdoor pursuits and winter sports are also very popular in the UMF, exploiting the Federation's diverse geography. The sedate sport of golf is particularly popular among corporate executives, and golf matches often provide the ideal venue for relaxed negotiations. Mercantile corporations regularly sponsor tournaments in the CNCS pro-tour, both gaining unofficial advertising and a free venue for corporate hospitality. A number of climbing centers exist in the northern Downing Range between Marathon and Lyonnesse, with Mount Alban the most vaunted target. The mountain is regarded as one of the most difficult in the CNCS, and most climbers restrict themselves to the smaller surrounding peaks. Numerous small settlements on the Byerst Plain and in the Arctic Basin serve as the Federation's principal centers for sailing and water-skiing. Scuba diving is also popular there, though local groups throughout the UMF dive in the MacAllen Network.

The only city-state on Terra Nova with year-round snow, Pioneer attracts tourists from all over the planet for skiing and other winter sports. Pioneer is also home to the Trans-Arctic Challenge. A biannual event, the TAC is typical of Pioneer citizens' quest for new adventures - or new madness, according to Mercantilists from more temperate latitudes. It involves the crossing of over 700 kilometers of snow and ice on foot, snowshoe and ski, and is regarded as one of the most grueling events in the CNCS. Even so, it attracts more than a fifty teams (groups of four), though many fail and are evacuated by the ever-watchful rescue services. In recent years the challenge has become something of a grudge match between members of the UMFA's 119th Gear regiment and the Northern Guard's 92nd Infantry Regiment, each with three victories out of the last ten competitions. The most recent challenge, held in TN 1935, went to Wallace "go, a civilian adventure holiday guide from Pioneer and former a member of the 119th. The UMFA regiment has unofficially claimed the victory as its own, prompting angry exchanges with their Guard opposite numbers, but "go has made no comment on the situation.

Many co-workers play soccer together in interdepartmental matches. As with group socializing, this helps to foster a sense of camaraderie among workers and is encouraged with both financial incentives and holidays. Corporations also sponsor professional teams who form the Mercantile Soccer League. These teams, some forty in all, make up two leagues and over the period of a cycle play every other team in their league. At the end of the cycle the winners of each league meet in the Stadium of Gold in Lyonnesse for a final match. The winner of this encounter receives the MSL trophy, a highly prized golden statuette.

Gear Dueling is a popular spectator sport, with each city-state fielding two teams supported by corporate sponsorship. The teams compete in the Northco-sponsored Mercantile Dueling Circuit, divided into two leagues, the winners of which meet in a championship match for the Yanders trophy. MDC matches are broadcast across the UMF and to sports fans elsewhere on Terra Nova, and are also the subject of major merchandising campaigns.