#336 Musings Beyond the Bunker (Wednesday April 27)
Good morning,
Thinking about the future. Most science fiction series have an underlying theme upon which the mythology is based. Often alien civilizations are stand-ins for societies or philosophies. Sometimes the protagonists act out moral dilemmas or societal issues. For instance, X-Men deals with being a mutant in a regular world (metaphorically related to the insecurities of teens and people who are “different”). To Star Wars fans, it’s the victory of good over the forces of evil, centered on family, a quasi-religion and the fact that hope conquers submission to oppression. The best themes throughout the history of the genre are those that offer metaphor for the political, moral, and philosophical challenges we face in the present day.
A STAR TREK WORLD VS A STAR WARS WORLD
I’m not really a Star Wars guy. Oh sure, I stood in line in 1977 and 1980 for the movie phenomenon that defined the era and I’d do so again. And I enjoyed most of the subsequent movies (well, not really anything with Jar Jar Binks). But I’ve really always been a fan of Star Trek at heart. I view Star Trek as a superior concept, with far more depth and a more hopeful view of a challenging, yet hopeful, future that deals with more complex issues in inventive ways.
Science fiction or speculative fiction aren’t really isn’t about monsters, ray guns and aliens; it is about a vision of the future. What one is drawn to is a matter of choosing the future that appeals to our dreams. Star Wars represents a universe in which good battles evil (without any justification or explanation of the principles underlying the evil empire). Another vision of the future is when mankind is challenged to demonstrate its humanity in situations that bear a relationship to our own universe—racism, “other-ness,” first contact with other species, corporatism, disputes about precious resources, worlds dying from overpopulation or environmental ruin. While imperfect and with some notable mediocre episodes and movies, the Star Trek universe offers hope for an inclusive, inquisitive, collaborative future that I would like to believe lies ahead. Problems are confronted and solutions are found, in order for a race/planet/people/the universe to survive and/or work together. Rational behavior and facts preside over prejudice, fear, and greed. It is a world I would like to think is within our grasp.
Often Star Trek encounters civilizations with peculiar prejudices and customs that nonetheless resonate with our own. In one notable instance, a society has done away with the “messiness” of warfare and the destruction it wreaks on cities and institutions. Their way to solve this problem is that two warring sides play elaborate war games via computer. Based upon the outcome of these games, citizens are marched off to be efficiently eliminated, without the concomitant damage to property or upsetting the balance of the population. The only way for people to experience the horrors of war is by eliminating the “sterility” of the system, exposing everyone to the brutality and destruction of actual warfare.
The notion that goodness is pursued not merely in the preservation and enhancement of one’s own future, but the future of others, makes this series (in its greater moments) so special. Here’s someone else who shares this view: “‘Star Trek’ is the greatest sci-fi franchise of all. Why it’s stood the test of time”:
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2021-10-28/star-trek-original-next-generation-voyager-deep-space-nine-prodigy-discovery-paramount
DELVING INTO DIFFERENT ISSUES
In its evolution from the sometimes-campy William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy days to building a universe across various series and time periods, there are two new series worth considering for their basic subject matter, neither of which is, at its core, science fiction at all. One, Picard, explores the meaning of time, aging, and finding usefulness in old age—moving from doing toward mentorship and the sharing of wisdom. Another theme in the show is how artificial intelligence is transferred to the human form, after several tragic failures. Another is the inability of a strong leader to reflect upon, and draw upon, the insecurities and failed relationships that makes him who he is. In the end, we learn how small decisions by individuals can affect history in profound ways. As a side note, it also dares to have hero who suffers from depression.
The second, Discovery, imagines a universe led by men and women (although, curiously, mostly women), people of various ethnicities, sexual orientation and gender choices, all working together. What is most interesting and hopeful is that they are working together as people, without resorting to familiar tropes. The stories of a gay couple are not the typical “coping with being gay in a heterosexual world” theme. Rather, they are people dealing with life and all its complications the same as everyone else. The show imagines a future when people work together and benefiting from their differences.
MORE ON WESTERNS
I ran into a friend the other day who said, “what do you think of that dog movie?” By that, I took his question to ask what I thought of The Power of the Dog, Jane Campion’s movie starring Benedict Cumberbatch.
I said I loved it. My friend said he didn’t “despite it being a western, which I usually love.” I defended the movie for various reasons, arguing it was my choice for Best Picture. First off, I explained that, like science fiction, the genre offers a palette upon which most any story can be told. The story is one of coming of age, self-discovery, confronting uncontrollable rage, dealing with family crises, and repressed sexuality—all in the isolated environment of a remote ranch in the West. Most Westerns actually aren’t necessarily about “the West.” Think about some of the more popular ones. High Noon was about standing up to evil in the face of an indifferent, largely spineless populace. Deadwood (the TV show) was about civilization meeting head-on with the frontier spirit and the accompanying lawlessness. The Searchers was the story of the clash of civilizations. Silverado was the friendship of four men that transcended their differences to challenge and defeat the evil in their midst.
Have a great day,
Glenn
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