Smell As Sweet. Essay, Research Paper
A Rose, By a Vulcan Name, Would Smell as Sweet.
Social commentary is dangerous. In addition to risking social and political censure, the commentator must carefully convey the message. In directly addressing a problem, one risks alienating an audience before making one’s point. If one indirectly approaches said problem, one may appear to lack conviction or a point. Star Trek: the Original Series takes a third path, that of allegory. Unfortunately, as the television series belongs to the science fiction genre, its social significance is often disregarded. However, upon examination, it is clear that the veiled nature of commentary in Star Trek is vital.
An allegory addresses issues, usually current political or social situations, through a fictionalized account. This is useful to protect the teller of the tale from legal or political persecution, as evidenced by “Lewis Carroll’s” Alice in Wonderland. Allegory may also use situational hyperbole to exaggerate a situation until its social impact is obvious, as in Voltaire’s Candide.
The cloak of allegory serves both functions, after a fashion, in Star Trek: the Original Series. Rather than protecting the creator, altered representations protected the integrity of the story line from network censors. For example, the episode “A Private Little War” depicted the Federation, the series’ protagonist organization, warring with the Klingon nation, its nemesis, on a tiny primitive world (Star Trek). In all actuality, the episode was a declaration of pacifism aimed at the follies of the Vietnam War. Such a declaration might be blocked by censors as unpatriotic or lacking in viewer allure, were it a straightforward statement of the evils of Vietnam. As a story, however, it avoids such charges and may be distributed to the masses via television.
Situational exaggeration is also utilized to drive home important points. A problem may not be apparent to an average person. Thus, the allegorist expands the
problem, inflating it beyond normal context to make its import apparent. The creators of the Original Series achieved this through symbols. In the episode “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield,” two “alien” men, whose faces were half black and half white, were featured. The white half was on right side of one man’s face, and the left of the other’s. Due to this difference, the two races had fought one another until only two survived (Star Trek). This seems merely a tragic story. In actuality, it is a comment on racism. “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield” tells the viewer a familiar story, the differences between the two men are minimal, as are the differences between races on Earth. Their faces are composed of the same colors in differing combinations. So, too, are the colors of humanity the same, merely present in differing proportions.
Hidden within fiction, serious themes pervaded the Star Trek of the 60’s. Gene Roddenberry, creator of the Star Trek franchise, outlined a utopian future where the iniquities of the present are absent or conquerable. Those evils included racism, intolerance, sexism and war. Ethnocentrism is denounced by a multi-ethnic cast, which features characters of many nationalities and worlds in prominent positions. The familiar theme of racism arises again in “Balance of Terror.” Cold War paranoia is represented the fictional humanity’s own “Cold War” with the Romulans, an apparently inimical race. This episode also calls to mind the persecution of Americans with Japanese ancestry during the Second World War. The character Spock, played by Leonard Nimoy, bears a resemblance to the Romulan enemy, and is therefore denigrated and labeled a traitor by his own comrades.
Though the humans of Star Trek exist in cold or outright war with beings from other worlds, this state is portrayed as deplorable. “Everyone always wants me to do space battles,” Gene Roddenberry once said, “Well screw them. That’s not what Star Trek is about (Walsh 2),” and this pacifism is extolled by the characters of the series. The “Prime Directive,” the central concept of Star Trek: the Original Series’ exploring culture, is a sort of code of honor derived from Roddenberry’s feelings on the Vietnam War. It forbids interference in the development of civilizations less powerful or technologically advanced than Earth’s.
Numerous attempts were made to depict gender equality; unfortunately, in this the Original Series failed. Viewers interpret an analogy featuring slavery, bigotry or second-class citizens as a statement pertaining to racism rather than sexism. The issue must be approached directly, if not obviously. In the original pilot of the Original Series, the first officer is female (Gross 3). The character was dropped by the time the second pilot aired. A unisex uniform, consisting of pants for both sexes, graced the second pilot (Gross 2). The uniform disappeared thereafter. Two prominent characters, Lieutenant Uhura (played by Nichelle Nichols) and Yeoman Rand (played by Grace Lee Whitney), are female. However, the characters function in socially acceptable roles. Uhura is, essentially, a telephone operator and Rand serves as the Captain’s secretary. This demonstrates how essential to the series’ social criticism allegory is. Those issues, which could not be disguised, did not appear in the show.
The Original Series was not the only television series of its time, which dabbled, in social commentary. Some of its contemporaries were “The Munsters” and “The Addams Family.” These shows reflected societal discomfort through the portrayal of outsiders. Racial concerns could not be shown directly so, “if you can’t talk about “Black,” “Yellow,” or “Red” people, you can disguise them as “Green” people (Peterson).” Another show which might be taken as allegory is the 1964-1966 series “The Invaders,” which featured an alien invasion only one man was aware of. This has definite overtones of Communism-related paranoia. However, the potential for allegory is never explored in these series beyond their premises. None attempted to lead the way to Utopia through example.
Star Trek: the Original Series featured progressive ideas, ideals, and ideologies. A message of “harmony and humanism” (Zoglin 1) illuminates the stories and their fictional universe. Though belonging to a genre that is, to many critics, nothing more than a literary punching bag, it examined issues too often untouched. The Original Series advocated tolerance, gender equality, and altruism. Through allegory, Star Trek transcends mere entertainment and becomes an education in possibility. Though shrouded in a veil of symbols and legends, the light of Roddenberry’s message remains unobscured.
“A Private Little War.” Star Trek: the Original Series. NBC. 2 February,1968.
“Balance of Terror.” Star Trek: the Original Series. NBC. 15 December, 1966.
Gross, Edward. “Primetime Directive.” Cinescape 8 September 1996. 13 November2000. .
“Let That Be Your Last Battlefield.” Star Trek: the Original Series. NBC. 10 January, 1969.
Peterson, Michael. Telephone interview. 12 November 2000.
Walsh, Michal. “The Torch has Passed Off-Camera, Too.” Time 28 November 1994. 13 November 2000..
Zoglin, Richard. “Trekking Onward.” Time 28 November1994. 13 November 2000..
Другие работы по теме:
Things Are Not What They Seem Essay
, Research Paper Things Are Not Always What They Seem William Faulkner s short story A Rose for Emily centers around Miss Emily and what the townspeople think of Miss Emily. One of the themes for A Rose for Emily is appearance versus reality. This theme of appearance versus reality can be seen through what the townspeople think of Miss Emily and by the actions taken by Miss Emily.
Usage Of Elements Of Fiction In A
Rose For Emily Essay, Research Paper When a person reads a story, he or she is aware of many types of elements of fiction. An author uses elements of fiction to make his or her story move and read in a way that will make the story enjoyable and a thrill to read. By using these elements in the right way, the author creates an abundance of suspense within the reader, making the reader wonder what is to come.
TraditionA Rose For Emily The Lottery Essay
, Research Paper Tradition People throughout the world do things for many different reasons. Religion, peer pressure, or tradition are some of the reasons the people do things. In the U.S. we have many traditions such as Christmas. Some people have strange or out of the ordinary traditions. The two short stories ?The Lottery? and ?A Rose for Emily? both portray tradition.
A Lovely Rose In The Poem
“Song” By Edmund Waller Essay, Research Paper For many centuries, young men have been telling their sweethearts about ephemeral youth and passion which, like a candle, burns brightly but dies out slowly but surely. Edmund Waller’s persona in the poem “Song” is such a young man. He sends a rose to his beloved to “Tell her that [she] wastes her time and [him] (2) by acting shy and staying out of sight.
White Lilacs Essay Research Paper White Lilacsby
White Lilacs Essay, Research Paper White Lilacs by Carolyn Meyer I predict that . . . the Jefferson family will have many more harsh times ahead. I think this because they are already struggling to bring home
Narrator Description Essay Research Paper What is
Narrator Description Essay, Research Paper What is narrator? Narrator is the voice the author creates to tell the story. The possible ways of telling a story are many, and more than one way can be
William Blake
: “My Pretty Rose Tree” Essay, Research Paper ?My Pretty Rose-Tree,? written by William Blake, is a poem of love, jealousy, and sorrow. This eight-line poem, following the abab acac rhyme pattern, is full of strong symbolism and a great deal of personification, all used in an attempt to express the narrator?s feelings.
Goodbye My Sweet Rose Essay Research Paper
Oh Anna. Don t leave me now. I need you more than anything. You are my beloved wife of 50 years. 50 long years. The children…our life together. You are my life. We ve been through so much, you can t leave me now. I built my life around you. Oh remember that time we walked through the field of flowers. Flowers have filled our house ever since.
Enduring Love Essay Research Paper Enduring Loveby
Enduring Love Essay, Research Paper Enduring Love by Ian McEwan Book Description Science writer Joe Rose is spending a day in the country with his long-time lover, Clarissa, when he witnesses a tragic accident–a balloon with a boy trapped in it is being tossed by the wind, and, in an attempt to save the child, a man is killed.
My Mother Essay Research Paper My mother
My Mother Essay, Research Paper My mother is like a rose. She is beautiful, gentle, something special, She is strong, deeply rooted in the ground, There’s no wind that could fold her.
The Rose Essay Research Paper In Mexico
The Rose Essay, Research Paper In Mexico they celebrate the birth of Jesus and the coming of the three kings. Their celebrations begin 12 days before Christmas. When
Summary And Synthesis Of Mike Rose
’s “Lives On The Boundary” Essay, Research Paper Carl Woodward’s article in the Battalion relating to the idea that undergraduates do not care about important issues is on average totally inaccurate. “Lives on the Boundary”, an excellent, informative essay
Charlies Treatment Essay Research Paper Charlie the
Charlie?s Treatment Essay, Research Paper Charlie, the main character in Charlie, by Daniel Keyes is treated differently by everyone he knows. Imagine you had mental retardation. You only know the basics of anything. You can?t spell and
Additional Songs From Sol Funaroff
’s Musical "Tuff Scufflin" Essay, Research Paper JIM ALONG JOSEY My sister Rose the other night did dream That she was floatin up and down the stream,
Rose Circle Essay Research Paper Rose oh
Rose Circle Essay, Research Paper Rose, oh how you lie there, Lifeless and withered, Deprived of water and of food, You struggle to survive, You catch the odd droplet of life,
A Roses For Emily Essay Research Paper
william faulkner’s “A Rose For Emily’, and Charlotte Gilman’s “A Yellow Wall paper” are alike in many ways. The two women are in similar situations, both are violated by
WordsworthS
“Lines Written In Early Spring” And Burns` “A Red, Red Rose” Essay, Research Paper The first author is William Wordsworth with the poem “Lines Written in Early Spring”; he has a way of bringing out nature’s great offerings. The following author will be Robert Burns with his poem “A Red, Red Rose”.
Satire In Dorothy Parker Essay Research Paper
Dorothy Parker was born in 1893 and died in 1967. She is known for using a mixture of humor, satire, and sarcasm in her poems. Satire is a literary work holding up human vices and follies to ridicule of scorn. Three poems in which she uses humor, satire, and sarcasm are “R?sum?”, “Comment”, and “One Perfect Rose”.
Rose
’s Thesis Essay, Research Paper Rose’s thesis states that “Students will float to the mark you set. ” ” Vocational education has aimed at increasing the economic opportunities of students who do not do well in our schools. Some serious programs succeed in doing that, and through exceptional teachers – like Mr.
Pete Rose In The Hall Of Fame
Essay, Research Paper To some, including myself, baseball is the greatest sport that has ever been played. It is a game played by two opposing teams made of multiple players, but only nine players per team play at the same time. To be part of one of the thirty teams that get to play professional baseball, a player has to play the game extremely well (www.baseballhalloffame).
Pete Rose Essay Research Paper Should a
Pete Rose Essay, Research Paper Should a man who has over 4256 hits be kept from the Hall of Fame because he bet on a few baseball games? The hits leader in major league baseball is banned from baseball,
Love Is Like A Rose Essay Research
Paper LOVE IS LIKE A ROSE Some compare love to all kinds of things. I say, “love is like a rose”. Foremost, a rose symbolizes loveliness, which stems from love. The rose is the most beautiful of all flowers and love is the most precious emotion. A rose commences from a tiny rosebud into an unexplainable beauty, an undiminished rose.
A Thousand Acres Essay Research Paper This
A Thousand Acres Essay, Research Paper This is a book report about the book A Thousand Acres. Jane Smiley wrote this book, the grade level is 7.7 and it is worth twenty-seven points. This book is about three sisters who are each trying to be given a third of the farm corporation set up by their father. The aging father is trying to set up the corporation so that the daughters won?t have to pay inheritance taxes.
A Rose Essay Research Paper A Rose
A Rose Essay, Research Paper A Rose In the 1930’s people still thrive on gossip, particularly in a small town. People are overly curious and cruel at times, especially when it comes to Emily Grierson’s mental disorder. In “ A Rose for Emily,” William Faulkner traces Miss Emily’s increasing dementia and foreshadows the surprise ending.
The Rose Essay Research Paper The Roseby
The Rose Essay, Research Paper The Rose by Krystal Sedlak I look in the rose and see it’s tiny petals. They fall to the ground like tiny ashes of the love that was
Poem Color Of My Love Essay Research
Paper Color of My Love ~Thomson Vaidyan A red, red rose for you, my love My lone angel, my sweetest sweet Lil’ pretty princess in that hot red With those matching sweet, crimson lips
Rose For Emily Essay Research Paper rose
Rose For Emily Essay, Research Paper rose for emily Emily in Past and Present In the story A Rose for Emily , William Faulkner contrast the past with the present times. The past is easily represented in Emily herself, in Colonel Sartoris, in the old Negro servant, and in the Board of Alderman who accepted the Colonel s point of view that Emily be remitted of her taxes.
Rose For Emily Essay Research Paper Analysis
Rose For Emily Essay, Research Paper Analysis of ?A Rose for Emily? In William Faulkner?s short story, ?A Rose for Emily,? obsession plays a key role in the developing personality of the protagonist, Emily Grierson. Because Emily was
A Red Rose Essay Research Paper A
A Red Rose Essay, Research Paper A Red, Red Rose A Red, Red Rose is a poem written by Robert Burns, during 1796, the year of his death. The poem consists of four stanzas; each one four lines long.
Movie Review The Mirror Has Two Faces
Essay, Research Paper Movie Review: The Mirror Has Two Faces The movie stares Barbara Streisand as Rose Morgan a lonely, single, low self esteemed woman who lives with her domineering mother Hannah Morgan played by
Miss Emily
’s Male Interaction In A Rose For Emily Essay, Research Paper Miss Emily’s male interaction in A Rose for Emily The way that a person is raised has a lot to do with their
A Rose For Emily 6 Essay Research
Paper A Rose, the Universal Symbol of Love In William Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily,” Miss Emily Grierson is a lonely old woman, living a life void of all love and affection; although the rose only directly appears in the title, the rose surfaces throughout the story as a symbol. In contemporary times, the rose also symbolizes emotions like love and friendship.