2007-08 ASM Star Trek (1965-2005)
- 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 series of different topics - it will depend on your contributions where we will expand or contract the course:
Contents
- 1 The Future and the Present I: The Original Series (1966–1969)
- 2 The Future and the Present II: Next Generation (1987–1994) and Deep Space Nine (1993–1999)
- 3 The Future and the Present III: Voyager (1995–2001) and Enterprise (2001–2005)
- 4 Alienations I: A Show of Pluralism
- 5 Alienations II: Freaks like You and Me
- 6 Alienations III: The Attractive (all American) Center
- 7 Sex
- 8 The Young and The Old
- 9 The Commercial Success
The Future and the Present I: The Original Series (1966–1969)
Star Trek The Original Series (1966–1969): Where does it reflect ongoing historical developments? Topics from the cold war and the environmental pollution to the present Hippie movement.
The Future and the Present 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 Future and the Present 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.
Alienations I: A Show of Pluralism
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?
Alienations II: Freaks like You and Me
Role models, Fan interaction and the attraction of the weird nations.
Alienations III: The Attractive (all American) Center
A culture that does not need imperialism, technical superiority or the strength of its capitalism to accumulate power and to become attractive.
Sex
The role of women, sexual encounters, male-female relationships.
The Young and The Old
Designed to discipline and motivate the young- and yet attractive?
The Commercial Success
Fandom and merchandising.
