SmithsonianX Star Trek: Starlogs

I am taking a free class on Edx led by the Smithsonian on Star Trek. As part of the course, I am to create a "Starlog". I am going to put those entries here. I shall update this entry as I go along so all my logs are in one place. 

Starlog 7.1

Yes U.S.S. Enterprise functions as a character, like many other homes across time and space (Such as The TARDIS, Baby (67 chevy impala from Supernatural, Serenity from Firefly, etc). This makes sense because when individuals and groups are traveling over long periods of time how they travel becomes their home both in terms of a place of comfort and in terms of what is physically protecting them on their journey. There is a tendency to personify those things which provide support and protection.
Starlog 6.2

Do you think we’re getting closer to realizing the Vulcan philosophy of IDIC (Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations) here on Earth? What would it take for that to happen? What would it look like? How might things be different?

While we are making progress towards this end we are challenged by fear. Too many fear that if other groups are welcomed their own group will be diminished instead of being strengthened. Too many seek diversity up to a point (which is typically up to the point they are inconvenienced or affected in some way).

It is challenging because those individuals who are part of a group who historically have had the advantage want to wash the slate clean and somehow forget the systems and institutions which have been built to keep others down.

In many ways, it is up to those who have historically been in power to

• Step back and let others show the way
• Listen to what others have to say
• Expose themselves to the stories, art, and traditions that other cultures have created
• If it seems different keep exposing themselves, often the first time you hear a concept it will seem strange but the more you familiarize yourself the more you will be able to appreciate the work
• Personal example Rap: Rap was a type of music I never really enjoyed, then I was exposed to Hamilton, which led me to read books on the history of Rap and hip-hop. While I still enjoy only a selection of Hip Hop and Rap I now truly appreatate them as important art forms and understand their significance in history.  

Starlog 6.1

Why is it important to see yourself on television? Why is television an important subject for scholarly study and how does what we watch shape the world we live in?

Seeing yourself on TV or in movies or in a story helps you know that your own story is valid and real. That you are not alone in your struggles. Seeing yourself in terms of race, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, mental health challenges, physical challenges, immigrant status, refugee status ... opens your eyes that no matter what your life story is valid and worthwhile.

One example: A story told by an author at C2E2 (Chicago Entertainment and Comics Expo)

In her book, she had a character undergo a series of symptoms, and later had a reader contact her and say "I have experienced the same thing, you mean I am not alone?" And the author explained that those symptoms are of having a panic attack and the author sent the reader resources to contact for help. The reader had lived their whole life without knowing she was having panic attacks and there was something that could be done about them.

There is a big difference between knowing intellectually that you could have a particular job or that others have a particular experience and seeing those same experiences on screen. Historically TV and movies have featured predominantly white males so when those of different backgrounds are shown other individuals do not have to substitute their experience into the story.

If you have always seen your own experience on TV and in movies you will never completely understand the power TV and movies have and you will never completely understand why representation in all media is so important. Why seeing yourself is so important.

The academic study of TV and other media is important because it helps combat the danger of a single story. I would recommend Chimamanda Adichie's Ted Talk on the topic.
https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story?language=en

Starlog 5.2

Should the government resolve Earthly issues before exploring space? Or is a scientific investigation of distant worlds a fundamentally human endeavor of exploration?

I think space exploration (like art) is worthwhile in of itself. Humans need to create and dream no matter the challenges they are facing and often the more challenging things are the more there is a need to dream what ifs, to dream better futures, to dream possibilities. I don't think space should come before everything else, and I do feel we have to work on our own issues here on earth, but space exploration or space dreaming (like star trek) has a role to play.

I am reminded of two Neil Gaiman Quotes:

“I think that pretty much every form of fiction .... can actually be a real escape from places where you feel bad, and from bad places. It can be a safe place you go .. it can be somewhere that, while you’ve escaped, actually teaches you things you need to know when you go back, that gives you knowledge and armour and tools to change the bad place you were in."

Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.

So investment in space exploration, investment in the arts, investment in history and discovery are all worthwhile because each can become a lesson which can give hope to others.
 

Starlog 5.1

Think of a global issue that we are facing today that causes fear or concern. What would be the plot of a television show that depicted a utopian and optimistic vision of the future of that issue?

This is a hard question to answer. I would say the global issue is ism(s) and phobia(s) in all their forms (Such as racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ....)

The utopian plot? Maybe a cross between Mushishi and Queer Eye?

A group of diverse travelers (no two characters with the same background or identities) who wander into communities, see and identify which ism(s) and phobia(s) are at work and tell the communities what they must do to rid themselves of those ism(s) and phobia(s).

Starlog 4.2

AI

Where do you see Artificial Intelligence going?

The future of AI is going to be very diverse. Different tasks require different types of AI and AI interfaces. Some will have a physical presence, some will be holographic, some will be voice only. Some AI will look other and some will blend right in and be indistinguishable from other living beings.

Do we need to fear it, embrace it or something in between?

Something in between. 

For example, I am excited for the day when there is AI like JARVIS (yes avengers not star trek). AI which can become our best friends and protectors and significant others. Good AIs can help people find a connection and help fight the epidemic of loneliness. They could also be a great help for those dealing with mental health challenges, to have someone monitoring and who can redirect if needed. 

On the other hand like any technology, it is easy for humans to become too dependent. This is explored in stories such as "The Veldt" by Ray Bradbury.

Starlog 4.1

Star Trek Technology

While I would love to have transporters, in some ways the Star Trek Tech which would be the most useful would be food replicators.

I would love to have my meals prepared for me or to have the option of having any ingredients I needed always at the ready.

This would also decrease food waste because fresh food would always be ripe and I would not be tempted to get more than I need because it is on sale and then have it go to waste because I forget about it.

It would also help as I am not the best cook so food replicators would allow me to be more exploratory in my food choices. To boldly go and seek new flavors.

Starlog 3.2

Favorite Star Trek Characters?

Growing up: The Tribbles and Q because watching as a kid they were fun characters.

Now I would probably add Data because Robots/AI/Androids are important people who always need more support

Starlog 3.1

The Role of Canon?

Good cannon is wonderful because as was stated in this weeks lecture: makes a show or other medium's universe seem more real. It also allows for a greater connection with characters because you have time to learn more about them and see them develop as individuals. In epasoid shows like The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits you are only with a set of characters for a short period of time and know you will never meet them again.

Canon also allows for a certain amount of extra creativity. It allows creators and fan to have a framework for their own explorations. The power of cannon is shown by the many fans of various storylines who create their own "headcanon" where the official canon leaves out information. Headcanon and fan canon is also where those who have been written out of cannon or are omitted from canon can write themselves into the story. This is often particularly used to include more LGBTQA+ characters, more intersectional characters, more characters of diverse backgrounds into these stories.

And sometimes these fan-based "what if" explorations outside the traditional canon, later are incorporated into the traditional canon. (Spiderman: Into the spiderverse is an example of  a what if "what if spiderman was a POC" or "what if spiderman was middle-aged" which became an official film (though where it fits in canon is unclear.)) I love a quote from David Tenant's discussion of comic book canon/continuity

"Comic Book Continuity is a bit Contradictory"

The danger of canon is, shows can become so canon bound that any deviation becomes a major point of conflict. This can be seen in recent attempts to diversify the cast of various film franchises and the push back from a very small but very vocal subgroup of fans.


Starlog 2.2

I watched each pilot (Except Discovery's since that one is not on Netflix). I found it interesting how each series was dealing with issues which were current in that day and age.

“The Cage.” Star Trek: The Original Series /“Where No Man Has Gone Before.” Star Trek: The Original Series (Mid 60's)

1960's were a period of turmoil in the US where people were looking deeply at who we are, and the impact of political, cultural, and social institutions. People were asking what would a better world look like and how do we get there

• Rebelling against the perfect (The image of the 1950's)
• Questioning what is real and what is an illusion
• Questioning what it means to have unknown technology 
• Atomic Bomb, Atomic energy etc
• By today's standards, The Orginal Series was horribly sexist. While at the time it was much less so it does mean that these episodes were really hard for me to watch. 

“Encounter at Far Point.” Star Trek: The Next Generation (Late 80's/Early 90's)

Late 80's/Early 90's was a period at the tail end of the cold war, the fall of the Soviet Union, and questions of what happens now.

• The questioning if the cold war proved that humanity is inherently violent
• Questioning how do we move forward after such an extended period of violence (40ish years or a whole generation)
• Questioning where we can aim if we want to more optimistically go forward and how can we prevent ourselves from falling back into bad habits and patterns

“Emissary.” Star Trek: Deep Space 9 (Late 90's)

The 90's were a period of movement towards postcolonialism and nations trying to figure out what comes after.

Deep Space 9 was my favorite pilot to watch. in part, because they had to set up more all at once because this is the one series where the show does not travel to distant places, it stays in one place and people and things come to it.

• Effects of postcolonialism.
• The impacts of colonialism on groups of people
• The impacts of sustained freedom fighting on people
• The line between supporting and patronizing other people
• Rebuilding postcolonialism.
• How does one rebuild postcolonially?
• How do support others without diminishing their own power?
• How do you keep fractions that worked together to get rid of a colonizer from falling apart when the "threat" is over?
• How do you interact with a historical colonizer?
• (Today Western Culture, Star Trek Star Fleet)
• Exploring issues of cultural identity, single parenthood, raising black youth
• "Afrofuturism" was explored in part in the way that spirituality plays an important role in the pilot, and non-linear time was also explored
• Issues of Identity such as Odo who was found and does not know who his people are
• Dealing with cultural trauma
• Sisco having to deal with the trauma of losing his wife.
• While it is very important for people to explore trauma and find healthy coping mechanisms I struggled with this because Sisco is a POC so it felt like he was being told to move on from his trauma without a lot of time to truly process. And thinking about today without looking at the structural issues which lead to the trauma.

“Caretaker.” Star Trek: Voyager (Late 90's/Early 00's)

• Now we all have to learn to work together
• Two crews (which can be seen as two communities) having to work together
• If we are going to make it home we are going to need everyone working together

“Broken Bow.” Star Trek: Enterprise (Early 00's)

• I think think the year 2000 was seen for many as a new beginning so this series explores the beginnings of star trek
• I think it was trying to capture that spirit of boldly going to new places from the original series
• But this series also felt very dated, especially in light of recent social movements such as #metoo and #blacklivesmatter
• It felt very why do we "white dudes" have to listen to others, they only hold us back, if it were not for them we would be fine on our own 
• Also, it felt very dated in terms of gender and sexuality 
• Why did we need to see everyone in their underwear, from the two when they needed to rub on the medical agent very sexily, to the captain himself. 
• Why were there so many references to being intimate with aliens, and alien bits, don't be intimate on away mission etc

“The Vulcan Hello.” Star Trek: Discovery (2017)

(NA)

Starlog 2.1

It is interesting that Star Trek was only on for 3 seasons. Considering all the spin-offs and its impact on our American culture I would have thought there were a bunch more.

Original pilot "The Cage"

I have to say I am glad that the network said let's try this a second time.

Some issues are simply not being iconic star trek (Costumes: Lots of blue-gray sweaters, Characters: Spock just feels a bit off, Missing the classic intro, etc) Some of the issues are plot issues: there very little action, and ideas keep being repeated in info dump after info dump. (A writer does not need to show something then info dump about it, then info dump about it again to someone else).

Some lines are still relevant "Wrong thinking will be punished, right thinking will be rewarded", but many of the conclusions were problematic: It is better to live in reality unless you are unattractive then illusion makes sense.

I think the network was correct and if this had been "Star Trek" it would not have become so ingrained in American culture.

"Where No Man Has Gone Before."

Pilot version two is much closer to star trek as I know it. This version does feel more dramatic and less like a poor version of a philosophy debate like "The Cage"

Shows from this era have a very different pacing structure. The story beats are much more spread out. Also interesting to see all the random people on the bridge, they are missing Sulu and Uhura and Chekov, and Bones, etc. Feels really odd, like a parallel universe version which is a bit off. 

I know people have mentioned that the bridge should really have had seatbelts but in addition, the bridge and the stations there always seem to be sparking and exploding. They really need a few fire extinguishers.


Starlog 1.1

I have taken a few previous courses with Smithsonian X including The Rise of Superheroes and Their Impact On Pop Culture, Rise of the Superheroes and the Heroes of the Future, Power and Responsibility: Doing Philosophy with Superheroes. When I saw Smithsonian X was doing another class I signed up.

As I discovered when I went to the DePaul Pop Culture Conference on Star Trek a few years ago while I am culturally Star Trek, and grew up watching it, it does not feel like it has impacted me as much as many others. (For me growing up shows like Doctor Who and Baylon 5 and Quantum Leap (which was stripped in the afternoons) had a greater impact.)

I would say this is the top 5 things I remember about Star Trek.

• Red shirts fall down (I was about 3 or 4 when I figured this out lol)
• Tribbles
• Whales are cool
• Always remember where we parked
• The Holodeck Never Never Never Ever Ever Ever worked right