by Fred Moleck
Star Trek Revisited
The eleventh Star Trek movie opened this past weekend at $31 million. It is one phenomenon in pop culture that has eluded me, but not completely.I’m a sucker for costumed heroes and villains in rarified atmosphere, like the Tudors in sixteenth-century England or outer space.
The statistics on the history of the Star Trek experience are phenomenal. For example—726 various TV episodes; 10 movies grossing $1.2 billion; $4 billion in Star Trek stuff like actions figures and videos.
From a writer’s point of view, Klingon, the language, is amazing in its coherence and familiarity to various age groups and nationalities.
From a writer on religious stuff (GIA Quarterly), the cultic sweep of “trekkies”—who now would rather be called “trekkers”—fascinated me early on in the rapid growth of the cult. It is an international phenomenon.
The cult crystallized quickly, which made possible that in 1972 enough interest was generated for a national convention of “trekkies” to be held in New York. Costuming, the use of the Klingon language, and haircuts were all prevalent.
I must confess, however, that I was never a fanatic trekkie, but I also never switched channels when the TV program came on. I’ve seen, maybe, five of the ten feature length movies.
I loved Mr. Spock’s hair and would have considered plastic surgery to have ears like his. I would have gone into debt just for the opportunity to be “teleported.”
So, what’s the 43-year-old appeal? The following evaluation is part of the “Briefing” page in the weekly news periodical The Week in its May 15 issue.
So why hasn’t the series faded? Once you get past the sometimes cheesy dialogue and moralizing, Star Trek offers a utopian and immensely comforting view of the future: One distant day, after war, disease, and other scourges have been conquered by benevolent science, mankind will unite and go forth to carry its collective destiny into the final frontier of space. Combined with the promise of adventure, this optimistic vision has imbued the show with a life of its own.
So, to all the trekkies—sorry, trekkers—I wish you another almost half century of successful explorations of other galaxies.
Give in to the enjoyment of other trekkers and your community. As you already know, “Resistance if futile.”
I also wish you one of your quasi blessings, “Live long and prosper,” which is a pretty good English version of two Latin slogans, Prospere et procede and Ad multos annos.
And do I dare to wish you another blessing from another time warp and outer-space view?: “May the Force be with you!”
You can reach Fred Moleck via email at fmoleck@comcast.net