Difference between revisions of "2007-08 ASM Star Trek (1965-2005)"

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*'''Time:''' Wednesday 4-6 pm
 
*'''Time:''' Wednesday 4-6 pm
  
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Star Trek is far more than a TV-series. It is a cultural phenomenon with enormous ramifications marked by substantial plot developments, and it is a powerful piece of fiction due to its wide range of cultural, philosophical, aesthetic and political allusions. The original series became a cult classic, the Star Trek universe it created does in retrospect bridge generations and political gaps such as the Cold War with its East/West-confrontation (mirrored within the series by disruptions of original interstellar confrontations).
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''Star Trek'' is far more than a TV-series. It is a cultural phenomenon with enormous ramifications marked by substantial plot developments, and it is a powerful piece of fiction due to its wide range of cultural, philosophical, aesthetic and political allusions. The original series became a cult classic, the Star Trek universe it created does in retrospect bridge generations and political gaps such as the Cold War with its East/West-confrontation (mirrored within the series by disruptions of original interstellar confrontations).
  
 
The Seminar will deal with the following topics - it will depend on your contributions where we will go into details. If you have plans for seminar papers list them bellow. (Discuss the present course outline on the course's discussion page if you feel you cannot see under which heading your topic could appear).
 
The Seminar will deal with the following topics - it will depend on your contributions where we will go into details. If you have plans for seminar papers list them bellow. (Discuss the present course outline on the course's discussion page if you feel you cannot see under which heading your topic could appear).
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::Esp. on fandom.
 
::Esp. on fandom.
  
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* Geraghty, Lincoln (ed.). ''The influence of'' Star Trek ''on television, film, and culture''. [=''Critical explorations in science fiction and fantasy'', 4]]. Jefferson, N.C. [etc.]: McFarland & Co., 2007. ISBN 978-0-7864-3034-5   
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* Geraghty, Lincoln (ed.). ''The influence of'' Star Trek ''on television, film, and culture''. [=''Critical explorations in science fiction and fantasy'', 4]. Jefferson, N.C. [etc.]: McFarland & Co., 2007. ISBN 978-0-7864-3034-5   
 
:: "Examining Star Trek from various critical angles, the essays in this collection provide vital new insights into the myriad ways that the franchise has affected the culture it represents, the people who watch the series, and the industry that created it" (Publisher).
 
:: "Examining Star Trek from various critical angles, the essays in this collection provide vital new insights into the myriad ways that the franchise has affected the culture it represents, the people who watch the series, and the industry that created it" (Publisher).
  

Revision as of 15:26, 27 September 2007

  • Time: Wednesday 4-6 pm

Star Trek is far more than a TV-series. It is a cultural phenomenon with enormous ramifications marked by substantial plot developments, and it is a powerful piece of fiction due to its wide range of cultural, philosophical, aesthetic and political allusions. The original series became a cult classic, the Star Trek universe it created does in retrospect bridge generations and political gaps such as the Cold War with its East/West-confrontation (mirrored within the series by disruptions of original interstellar confrontations).

The Seminar will deal with the following topics - it will depend on your contributions where we will go into details. If you have plans for seminar papers list them bellow. (Discuss the present course outline on the course's discussion page if you feel you cannot see under which heading your topic could appear).

Do mention individual episodes (refer to english wikipedia - you find links bellow) wherever you feel that this is a sequence we must deal with under the given headline (I am not so well informed about the later sequels):

The Presence of the Future I: The Original Series (1966–1969)

Star Trek The Original Series (1966–1969): Where does it reflect ongoing historical developments? Topics from cold war and the environmental pollution to alternative life styles.

The Presence of the Future II: Next Generation (1987–1994) and Deep Space Nine (1993–1999)

The Sequels The Next Generation (1987–1994) and Deep Space Nine (1993–1999) - same question: Where does the ongoing production reflect ongoing historical developments? A comparison of the different generations.

The Presence of the Future III: Voyager (1995–2001) and Enterprise (2001–2005)

The Sequels Voyager (1995–2001) and Enterprise (2001–2005) same question a third time: Where does the ongoing production reflect ongoing historical developments? A comparison of the different generations.

Time Travel, the History of Mankind and the past of the Star Trek Future

What do we learn about the gap between the 1960s and the 23rd century? What do we learn about our own past? The special problems of time travelling (the risk that this will change the future and thus destroy presence of the Star Trek universe).

Alienations: A Show of Pluralism and Diversity?

Men and women, different human races united, Spock and the extraterrestrials, encounters with the past and the future, artificial intelligence - a more and more complex world?

Religion(s)

Is there a God out there? What is the Federation's religion? None or that of a secular state granting religious freedom? Why don't we have Arabs on board of the Star Trek vessels? How do the Federation's travellers react when confronted with religions out there?

Is The Prime Directive: the Prime Directive?

A culture that does not (want to) rely on imperialism, technical superiority or the strength of its capitalism - and a winner even though.

Growing Up

One of the peculiar omnipresent topics (due to the fact that the audience is mainly adolescent?) is the difficulty to grow up. The series is attractive - though it treats its juvenile audience in a oddly humiliating way. Instances where children play roles in the Star Trek universe. The position of old age (especially interesting with the TOS crew having aged between the first seasons and the later Star Trek movies. Cultures and growth - we often hear that mankind develops from childhood to maturity.

The Economy of the Star Trek Universe

Money does not really play a role in Kirk's and Picard's world. The Ferengi are finally introduced as a nation of traders - and depicted as a comic race. Is the federation a communist society?

Technology, Progress, Man and Nostalgia

Star Trek is (from warp-drives to beaming facilities) full of inventions we are still waiting for - and peculiarly lacking others we developed instead (like those mobile phones we use for normal conversations rather than short commands). It is said to have motivated research - yet it is too simple to see it as a simple glorification of technological progress...

Narrative Patterns

The original shows were not really free when it came to the way of how stories had to be told. The episode had to be over within 45 minutes, it had to offer a problem and a solution. We shall look at generic questions and narratology: What kinds of episodes existed (from comedy to drama), what perspectives do we get on the plotlines? How did the art of story telling evolve from TOS to DS9?

Parallel Worlds: Futures from Raumschiff Orion to those of Star Wars

Is Star Trek a Utopian series? What is Science Fiction compared to Fantasy? What otions within the genre does the Star Trek universe realise?

The Commercial Success

Fandom and merchandising.

Seminar Work

Use this section to list your topic

  • My Topic, my Name (log in and sign with ~~~~)

Literature

  • Engel, Joel. Gene Roddenberry: The Myth and the Man Behind Star Trek. New York: Hyperion, 1994.
One of the first critical biographies that appeared after Roddenberry's death.
  • Shatner, William/ Kreshi, Chris. Star Trek Memories. New York: Harper & Collins, 1993.
Offers insight into the production.
  • Tulloch, John/ Jenkins, Henry. Science Giction Audiences: Watching Doctor Who and Star Trek. London: Routledge, 1995.
On the fan community and interaction.
  • Solow, Herb and Justman, Robert H. Inside Star Trek: The Real Story. New York: Pocket, 1996.
One of the critical revisoions which appeared after Roddenbery's death.
  • Gentejohan, Volker, Narratives from the Final Frontier: A Postcolonial Reading of the Original Star Trek Series. Frankfurt a. M./ Berlin: Peter Lang, 2000. 161 pp.
Dissertation, German in its structure: What is postcolonialism? Then apply the theory an see it works. The readings create a congruity where there might be not so much of it. Character analysis and special questions revealing the basically American cultural centre, the phalLogocentrism of the series.
  • Gregory, Chris. Star Trek: Parallel Narratives Houndsmills/ Basingstoke: Macmillan, 2000.
Good Biography. Central idea: Star Trek evolving into a mythological system. Written with the awareness of immense changes within the Star Trek universe – changes due to changing options under which TV-shows and movies could be produced over the years. Analysis of interaction and differences between main producers of TOS Roddenberry Coon (he produced much of the Federation’s political framework) and Frieberger (third season with its many recycled shows).
  • Kraemer, Ross S./ Cassidy, William/ Schwartz Susan L. Religions of Star Trek. Cambridge MA: Westview Press, 2001. 246 pp.
Multi facetted and extremely inspiring.
  • Kanzler, Katja. "Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations", The Multicultural Evolution of STAR TREK. Heidelberg, Winter, 2004.
Explores the multiculturalism of the Star Trek universe – as a popular and commercial concept. Written with a good deal of fascination.
  • Shapiro, Alan N. Star Trek: Technologies of disappearance. Berlin: Avinus-Verlag, 2004. 369 pp. ISBN 3-930064-16-2.
Technologies of the Star Trek universe from "beaming" to warp spead. Question what they betray if read by a cultural historian.
  • Broderick, James F. The literary galaxy of Star Trek: An analysis of references and themes in the television series and films. Jefferson, N.C. [etc.]: McFarland & Co., 2006. vi, 233 pp. ISBN 0-7864-2571-7
Intertextuality and literary motives from quest to vampirism.
What does Star Trek tell us about the US?
  • Geraghty, Lincoln. Living with Star Trek: American culture and the Star Trek universe (London [etc.]: Tauris, 2007), VIII, 232 pp.
Esp. on fandom.
  • Geraghty, Lincoln (ed.). The influence of Star Trek on television, film, and culture. [=Critical explorations in science fiction and fantasy, 4]. Jefferson, N.C. [etc.]: McFarland & Co., 2007. ISBN 978-0-7864-3034-5
"Examining Star Trek from various critical angles, the essays in this collection provide vital new insights into the myriad ways that the franchise has affected the culture it represents, the people who watch the series, and the industry that created it" (Publisher).

Links

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