tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400152815785368447.post2442650154399803142..comments2024-03-15T07:28:47.064-05:00Comments on Treknobabble: The Next Generation, Season 1: Hide And QUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400152815785368447.post-20460692011859195882015-03-19T12:31:35.212-05:002015-03-19T12:31:35.212-05:00I agree that, if they're going to advance some...I agree that, if they're going to advance some vision of "human exceptionalism," they ought to do more to demonstrate why this is the case. Enterprise focused on this a bit with respect to the Human-Vulcan relationship.matthewweflenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07540521459703556959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400152815785368447.post-33186698768189632372015-03-19T11:10:51.620-05:002015-03-19T11:10:51.620-05:00I think your comment is a good observation.
It'...I think your comment is a good observation.<br />It's also further emphasized by the fact that there are four official founding races of the Federation. One is never seen. One is rarely referenced. One is occasionally shown/used. Which leaves humans doing everything.Jovetnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400152815785368447.post-8957428435937123682015-02-24T23:49:43.334-06:002015-02-24T23:49:43.334-06:00btw "macro head with a micro brain" - o...btw "macro head with a micro brain" - one of the greatest lines in this episode and by Q, right after "very clever Worf. Eat any good books lately?" poppyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09064123327462038174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400152815785368447.post-52685815737297515512015-02-24T23:22:17.421-06:002015-02-24T23:22:17.421-06:00It really bugs me, and only recently - for some re...It really bugs me, and only recently - for some reason I did not feel that way before and/or it maybe did not bother me before - that in all of Star Trek humans are presented as the paragons of pretty much everything and how a lot of other species are measured and judged by the extent to which they measure up to how we have managed to do things, and to the extent to which they have learned to be like us - the greatest gift to the galaxy, if not the universe, apparently (and according to Roddenberry). <br /><br />It is very human centric, which seems rather contradictory to the whole concept of the United Federation of Planets. We are always portrayed as the beauty of the world, the paragon of animals, the quintessence of dust. We are oh so special and we have all these amazing hidden talents and powers and strength that make even the most omnipotent of all creatures - the Q - nervous (which is why they keep being so interested in us amazing human beings blah blah blah). <br /><br />On the one hand Star Trek - and especially the Federation - is about various species coming together, united in an interstellar federal republic, composed of planetary governments that agree to exist semi-autonomously under a single central government based on the principles of universal liberty, rights, and equality, with the goal to share their knowledge and resources in peaceful cooperation and space exploration. It is about all of us, not just humans - but all members of the Federation - having managed to embrace our differences, having found common ground and all that. It is a worldview that was probably wishful thinking for Roddenberry who lived in a world torn apart by Cold War rivalry and the ensuing wars and atrocities, not to mention the human toll. <br /><br />On the other hand - and in contrast to the concept of the Federation - there is always this "but we humans are the greatest of them all" pull, if you so will, which seems rather antithetical to the Federation and the concept it stands for. <br /><br />I guess just as much as the idea of an interstellar federal republic where entities with vastly different backgrounds manage to find common ground and cooperate was wishful thinking on Roddenbery's part, I guess so was the whole 'we humans are just the best thing that's happened to the galaxy' mantra. <br /><br />Rewatching a lot of this, I just wish they had toned it down a bit more (which they did later on, DS9) and did not constantly imply that we somehow enjoy a more privileged position in the galaxy vis a vis other life forms. It happened in the Romulan episode too in this season where Troi says to Picard that Romulans are fascinated by us so much and that it has been this fascination that, more than anything, has kept them from attacking us. That was so ridiculous. I mean "shit", I thought. Now we are at a point where even our enemies view us with so much awe, they dont dare to attack us. Which is why that "what a piece of works is a man" passage recited from Hamlet in this episode is so poignant: Picard says it with conviction, not irony, even though he should have said exactly as Hamlet indented (or not said it at all) instead of saying, with a serious face, that yes, we humans are indeed so noble, infinite and god like in everything we do. poppyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09064123327462038174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400152815785368447.post-32060748641326523692012-07-26T10:42:04.664-05:002012-07-26T10:42:04.664-05:00HD Highlights from the Blu-Ray:
1. The level of d...HD Highlights from the Blu-Ray:<br /><br />1. The level of detail on Q's Admiral and Marshal decorations is really exquisite.<br /><br />Lowlights:<br /><br />HD really makes it apparent how bad Yar's makeup is - as she cries, her face remains pasty while the rest of her head flushes.matthewweflenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07540521459703556959noreply@blogger.com