Revisiting The Meaning of Star Trek

In perhaps the most famous "Star Trek" episode of them all, Capt. James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and Cmdr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) stand in their stretchy mock-turtle uniform shirts, lady-pleasin' tight pants and pointy-toed boots on one of those studio-lot sets designed to evoke a prewar American city. People shuffle past in shabby clothes, and a black automobile with large, curved fenders crawls down the street. "I've seen photographs of this period," says Kirk. "An economic upheaval had occurred."

"It was called 'Depression,'" says Spock, raising one painted eyebrow in archetypal distaste. "Circa 1930. Quite barbaric."

As many of you will have spotted already, this is from "City on the Edge of Forever," a time-paradox yarn written by science-fiction legend Harlan Ellison. In it, Kirk falls in love with a kittenish Salvation Army type, played by Joan Collins, who envisions a future of space travel and peaceful global cooperation, and wants to rescue the world from the threat of impending war. Kirk comes from that future, of course. Not only can he not tell her that, he must also allow her to be run down by a bus to avoid a fatal disordering of the space-time continuum that would result in Hitler conquering the world and the Starship Enterprise never existing at all.

In its narrative ambition, its talky, theatrical density, its high-minded moral tone and its nerdy philosophizing, that episode captures a great deal about what made "Star Trek" such a potent cultural force. I guess that's why it's included, along with three other episodes, on "The Best of Star Trek: The Original Series," a new DVD/Blu-ray release presumably meant to lure new viewers of J.J. Abrams' hit film back to the source material. No "Star Trek" fan could possibly be happy with such a mini-collection -- where, I ask, is "Mirror, Mirror"? "The Doomsday Machine"? "The Devil in the Dark"?.

Watching "Star Trek" in 1970s syndication was such an important part of my childhood and adolescence -- I've seen every episode at least 30 or 40 times, and some many more than that. Star Trek

stands out, even after all this time, as something unique in television history. Of course "Star Trek" can never be the cultural monster it once was. Having spawned four official follow-up series, 11 feature films (and counting) and countless non-canonical works -- and inspired an entire genre of serial intergalactic futurism from "Space: 1999" to "Babylon 5" to "Battlestar Galactica,"  Gene

Roddenberry imagined a radical-progressive, enlightenment-fueled vision of the human future, one in which the conflict between capitalism and communism had been long transcended, along with eliminating other earthbound forms of racial, ethnic or religious strife. Strikingly, there is no religious or mystical dimension to the "Star Trek" universe at all. It was based around the chronic tension between reason and emotion, represented of course by the tension between Spock, Kirk & McCoy. Roddenberry

worked with the best writers he could get. Ellison wrote "City on the Edge of Forever," and Theodore Sturgeon, another big-name sci-fi author, wrote "Amok Time", the famous episode in which Spock goes into some kind of Vulcan craze and must return to his home planet in order to mate.

When it debuted in the late 1960’s "Star Trek" was new and startling in several ways: a science-fiction series that was literary and imaginative and heavily allegorical, that ladled out historical and political messages by the quart and that delivered a distinctive undertone of adult sexuality.

Roddenberry's attention to great and meaningful writing continues to make the original "Star Trek" relevant to contemporary viewers. CBS/Paramount has re-mastered the whole entire original series in  brilliant high-definition, and made them available on Blu-ray, iTunes, XBox Live and no doubt other platforms yet to be devised.  In the end, Star Trek depicts a

future where we would all agree that war and poverty and economic depression were barbaric, and where the girls would all wear miniskirts and nylons.

"Star Trek - Constellations"

Ok I admit it. After the new Star Trek movie I can not stop thinking about the Star Trek universe. I have not read a good history or biography in a month or so but I just can't stop with the whole science fiction thing right now. After finishing "Fountains of Paradise" and "Star Trek - Countdown" I decided to read a Star Trek book which has been sitting in my library unread since 2006. "Star Trek - Constellations" is a 40th anniversary special which is a collection of short stories involving the original Star Trek series. I am not a huge fan of the short story format, however I decided to give this a try dedicated readers.

"Star Trek - Countdown"

I have not read a graphic novel in years but after seeing the new Star Trek movie five times (so far) I just had to check the graphic novel, "Star Trek - Countdown" out. This tells the story of Nero 25 years before the events told in the new movie. But wait a minute. If this takes place BEFORE Kirk and Spock's first mission how is Nero in the Next Generation universe. Only in Star Trek can stuff like this happen!

UPDATE: This is a 100 page or so graphic novel and I finished it in one reading. Although short it is worth the time if you enjoyed the movie as it really does fill in some of the back end of the plot and sets up Nero's downfall.

A Trekkie is Born

Tonight I believe I helped deliver yet another Trekkie into the world. After going to see the new Star Trek film with Ian, Brianna, Bill Jr, Dad and Lt. Morris Brianna started begging me to borrow some of my Star Trek DVD's.

Star Trek 101

I must say that this past weekend has been a rather unusual one for me. No it's not because of mother's day or Kevin's continued preparation for college. You see I have been a Trekkie (or Trekker) since my earliest memories. I can distinctly remember the first time I saw Star Trek on TV. I had to be 6 or 7 years old and while my grandmother (Nanny) vacuumed the living room I was changing the TV channels (knob on TV) trying to stay out of her way when I stopped on Channel 48. There was Mr. Spock mind-melding with a "horta" and Captain Kirk standing by looking ever so concerned, phaser in hand. I was hooked from that moment on. It had to be 1973 or so because I remember the animated series airing on Saturday morning shortly afterward and that was 1974. From those earliest days Star Trek has always held a special place to me. However life can be difficult and through my childhood, teenage years and even as an adult most of my friends and family thought I was a little nuts. I knew better because Star Trek was unique, just like me. It's tales of morality, common respect for others and its open mindness went on to help me raise my boys to be thoughtful, intelligent & respectful people.

Anyway on to the reason for this blog entry. Flash forward 4 more spin off TV series and 10 movies and although there was almost always some new Star Trek out there, it was never quite "hip" or "cool", whatever that it. That all changed this weekend when the 11th Star Trek film opened to fantastic reviews and huge box office. For the first time, friends, co-workers and even family members are talking to me about Star Trek, asking about the movie, the franchise and its history. Well it looks like the rest of the world has finally caught up with me and all those other trekkies (or trekkers). You know it's kind of weird being this cool. I'm not even sure if I am comfortable with it.

Just maybe now that Star Trek finally has the attention of the masses, people will learn some of it's lessons.

As an example here is a scene that has never left me since childhood. As Kirk & Spock talk with the alien the conversation turns to racism and the insanity of judging anyone by their appearance. As the hatred of the 2 sole survivors of an entire planet continues to rage while they are onboard the Enterprise they refuse to change their behavior and eventually destroy themselves. Lessons are hard to come by on television and Star Trek remains one of the rare exceptions to that rule.

A Star Trek Dream

OK I admit it. I could be considered a geek or nerd by some of you, even those of you who are dedicated readers of this fine journal. As you know last night I traveled to King of Prussia with Bill Jr & Kevin to see the new Star Trek film on IMAX. I was simply blown away by the movie. As someone who literally grew up on the Star Trek universe this film meets all the wishes I had for it.

When I first heard that the filmmakers were going back to the source material and using some sort of time travel story to get back to the original characters I was a little nervous. However being desperate for new Star Trek I hoped for the best and sat back and waited to see what J.J. Abrhams and team came up with. I was also relieved to hear early on that the original Mr. Spock, Leonard Nimoy himself endorsed the story and was in fact appearing in the film.

So anyway after seeing it last night I decided to trek (no pun intended) over to my local movie house for a afternoon showing of it without all the crowds and hype. I must report I enjoyed it even more on the second viewing.

The story opens up BIG and I do mean big. The opening 20 minutes out performs many climaxes of big movie releases and the movie just gets better after that. Immediately you realize that this new Star Trek is slightly ajar from Gene Roddenberry's original, however the plot trigger that permits this to occur is really the only true way the filmmakers could have "re-booted" this thing.

I refuse to give away any spoilers or ruin the movie for any of you, my dedicated readers who want to see it. Even if you are not a fan of the original Star Trek I urge you to beam over to your nearest movie house and take a chance.

The second film is already being scripted and the cast is signed for two more of these trips. I for one am on board and as Captain Kirk says at the end of "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn" when he is asked by Bones how he feels, Kirk responds with "Young... I feel young." I could not have said it better Jim.

My First Entry of My New Blog

So many of you my dedicated readers have asked for the return of "The William Mann Journal". Although Facebook is my new home for internet communication I am trying to find room for all of you my dedicated readers who have no desire or know how to get onto Facebook. So here we go again, "The New William Mann Journal" is open for business. (pictured left) You can see me about 6 or 7 weeks ago standing in front of a huge "Star Trek" film promo. Well May 8th is finally here and I will be there to see the new Trek film on the first showing, on IMAX with Bill jr & Kevin. Life simply does not get any better then this.