Article Star Trek a Gene Roddenberry Vision Part 1
This Article was originally posted April 11, 2019. Enjoy
A couple of times a year, I write one of those blog articles that could be placed in a personal journal (for the gentlemen) or diary (for the ladies). So why is the title featuring Star Trek? ‘Is it because you are a die-hard Trekkie?’ You ask.
Well, I wouldn’t say all of that; however, for a number of years in my life, some of the Science Fiction stories, Star Trek, in particular, struck a chord with me.
Science Fiction: fiction dealing principally with the impact of actual or imagined science on society or individuals or having a scientific factor as an essential orienting component– Merriam Webster Dictionary
Star Trek a Gene Roddenberry Vision
Gene Roddenberry debuted the original Star Trek in 1966. You can see from his screenplays a sincere desire to have a future where humanity, at least on earth, got along together as a whole. “Utopia” you may say? Well, yes it seems; he at least wrote a strong leaning towards it anyway.
Utopia: A place of ideal perfection especially in laws, government, and social conditions. – Merriam Webster Dictionary
Now people who have meditated on all the barriers to Gene Roddenberry’s vision in his writings, will readily acknowledge, isn’t this the beauty of Science Fiction? You use your imagination, and dreams, and write until your seemingly far-fetched thoughts and love of humanity ideas materialize.
William Shatner’s Character
Willam Shatner played the character of Captain James Tiberius Kirk. He was a bare-knuckles brawler at times who would not start a fight, but would finish it with everything he had at his disposal. By the way, he possessed a lot of charm, so there were scenes of romance in more than a quarter of the episodes every season for the character of Kirk, if I correctly recall. Some may ask, “You sure Kirk wasn’t romancing a decked out attired lady every episode?”
My reply, “There are other characters who also screen acted scenes of amore written into the episodes.”
So from that brief description, you can ascertain William Shatner’s character of Kirk is an alpha male warrior with a strong sense of protecting the pack. Yet, it was still through this Captain, Mr. Roddenberry used him to make significant speeches on social issues at the time, but placed them in a universe and future far away. Here are two clips where William Shatner shows Kirk’s passion on the side of indignation (A) and on losing his best friend (B).
(A)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bYkNptOJns
(B)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRf1SaX5uBo
Patrick Stewart Shakespearean Skilled Character
Patrick Stewart developed the character of Captain Jean-Luc Picard with excellence! His experience of acting with the Royal Shakespeare Company displayed itself from the very first episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Though Patrick Stewart’s character, Captain Picard, knew how to defend himself, and others as a brilliant strategist; he often used master diplomacy skills to avoid and get out of conflicts. The episodes maintained a balance on developing all the main casts backgrounds and interest. Hence the writing did not utilize Patrick Stewart’s role of lead in the majority of scenes for each episode.
I will now leave you with a montage of speeches in this next video. You will notice that these written words of a sci-fi future have been and still are echoed this present day!
Questions on whether or not morality is important to the well-being of any group, any society? E.g., Because a person may materially have more than another, does it mean he/she has the right to strip a principled (laws are based on principles) abiding citizen of their Almighty God-given dignity rights? To think freely (with the conscience) and to provide for oneself and one’s family (LOOK IT UP: According to the Good Book it is an Almighty God-given responsibility).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jph2qWXJ-Tk
During the serious dialogue, in Shakespearean cadence, Patrick Stewart animates Captain Picard’s character to ponder moral and ethical questions. What happens when an individual ignores such questions?
E.g. Ethics: The field of ethics (or moral philosophy) involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong behavior. Philosophers today usually divide ethical theories into three general subject areas: metaethics, normative ethics, and applied ethics. Metaethics investigates where our ethical principles come from, and what they mean. Are they merely social inventions? Do they involve more than expressions of our individual emotions? Metaethical answers to these questions focus on the issues of universal truths, the will of God, the role of reason in ethical judgments, and the meaning of ethical terms themselves. –https://www.iep.utm.edu/ethics/
Hope you enjoyed an excerpt from my mental journal (for gentlemen) or dairy (for ladies)
Read Part 2: Star Trek a Gene Roddenberry Vision
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