Starlogs VIII and IX. Stardate 3.12.2020
Here we are on the last two starlogs of this Star Trek class! (I grouped these ones together too- I just wanted to keep watching video lectures without pausing to write, okay!) It's been super fun, and I've really enjoyed learning so much about the impact Star Trek has had on culture and technology! Without further ado, here are my last two starlogs!
STARLOG VIII
Why is it important to see yourself on television? Why is television an important subject for scholarly study and how does what we watch shape the world we live it?
Television and media has a major hand in shaping people's view of the world, especially for people who don't have the opportunity to travel, and especially for children. We see everyday how important something like body image is affected when the people on the screen are a supposedly flawless and young girls feel like they're somehow wrong or damaged because they don't look like that. In the same way, seeing yourself represented shows you that you aren't wrong for existing in the way you do.
It's also really empowering to see someone like yourself on screen! I am a white woman and was brought up in an Anglo/Christian style, so I'm privileged to have seen a lot of people in my demographic represented in TV and movies. When superhero movies were all the rage the past few years though, whenever one came out about a women (especially Wonder Woman), I felt markedly different coming out of the theater after than I did for films like Captain America or Iron Man. I felt like I could be strong and bold like the women on screen.
It's the same for other demographics- not only do you feel seen and like you're not "wrong" for being the way you are, but it also makes you feel really positively about being yourself.
Television, and the fandom output that comes with it, is important for scholarly study because by seeing what people watch and respond to we can tell more about what people care about, what they're willing to devote their times to, even what they are willing to spend their money on. That's not necessarily show or movie specific, even though shows like Star Trek do have a deep impact on their own, but I think the themes represented are important to recognize. Star Trek represents exploration, familial bonds among the crew, new possibilities, a bright, hopeful future- and those things mean a lot to so many people! In terms of representation and demographics, too, by seeing who is watching what, it can show us in real time how seeing different types of people on screen can affect audiences.
STARLOG IX
Scott asks if you think we're getting closer to realizing the Vulcan philosophy of IDIC (infinite diversity in infinite combinations) here on Earth. What would it take for that to happen? What would it look like? How might things be different?
I would really like to think that we are getting closer to IDIC, though it's hard to see the reality of that in today's world. Obviously infinite diversity exists, it's just the acceptance of it that is the problem. It's possible I suppose, and certainly some progress has been made since the 1960s. With that, though, and with any step towards wider acceptance of differences, there always seems to be a push back. A very obvious example in my own lifetime is that after having the first black president, a president was elected that had opposite views and was openly supported by the KKK. Pride parades over the summer are significantly more common and accepted, but last year during the month of June a "Christian" conference was held in Orlando, Florida that advocated for the death of LGBTQ individuals and celebrated the Pulse nightclub shooting. I think sometimes when progress in acceptance of diversity is made, those who benefit from inequality, or in some way believe the status quo to be acceptable, get louder and try to drown it out.
I also know that these extremes, no matter how upsetting and drastic they are, do not necessarily represent a majority. Most people, I would like to believe, when faced with a real person rather than a concept, are, if not accepting, at least tolerant. There are people I've personally interacted with who have views against a marginalized group- and that is in no way acceptable, to be clear- but they don't want to hurt people, and would in fact rather just go on with their lives and have everyone mind their own business.
It would look like... well, I'd like to think it would look a lot like Star Trek, actually. The concept of infinite diversity in infinite combinations is just so good and exciting! Can you imagine a world where we celebrated parts of our cultures that make us different?? How much we could learn and accomplish? That's really, honestly, a world that I would be so thrilled to see. People would have equal opportunities; those who would today get overlooked would have the chance to learn and to create and accomplish to the fullest extent of their abilities if they wanted to, and healthy, non-harmful (to people or the environment) progress could be made! Race, gender, religion, sexuality, and wealth wouldn't make learning or living harder than it needs to be, and the former four (and more)could be celebrations of being rather than barriers. Obviously that sounds like a utopia, and honestly there are so many potential problems that could arise. It sounds so unrealistic. But that's what I'd like to think Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations could really mean.
I don't think IDIC can just happen, as much as we wish it would. It's going to be a process that involves multiple generations, just as the progress we've already made since the 60's has taken. We're on the way, we just have a ways to go. Still, how are we ever going to get along with aliens if we can't get along with each other? And I'm still holding out for first contact with Vulcan so we really gotta get on that.
Okay folks, that's it! As I've completed the final section of the course I HAVE advanced to the rank of Captain (that's my badge above), so I'm going to need everyone to address me accordingly in the future. ;) Live Long and Prosper, friends.
Here we are on the last two starlogs of this Star Trek class! (I grouped these ones together too- I just wanted to keep watching video lectures without pausing to write, okay!) It's been super fun, and I've really enjoyed learning so much about the impact Star Trek has had on culture and technology! Without further ado, here are my last two starlogs!
STARLOG VIII
Why is it important to see yourself on television? Why is television an important subject for scholarly study and how does what we watch shape the world we live it?
Television and media has a major hand in shaping people's view of the world, especially for people who don't have the opportunity to travel, and especially for children. We see everyday how important something like body image is affected when the people on the screen are a supposedly flawless and young girls feel like they're somehow wrong or damaged because they don't look like that. In the same way, seeing yourself represented shows you that you aren't wrong for existing in the way you do.
It's also really empowering to see someone like yourself on screen! I am a white woman and was brought up in an Anglo/Christian style, so I'm privileged to have seen a lot of people in my demographic represented in TV and movies. When superhero movies were all the rage the past few years though, whenever one came out about a women (especially Wonder Woman), I felt markedly different coming out of the theater after than I did for films like Captain America or Iron Man. I felt like I could be strong and bold like the women on screen.
It's the same for other demographics- not only do you feel seen and like you're not "wrong" for being the way you are, but it also makes you feel really positively about being yourself.
Television, and the fandom output that comes with it, is important for scholarly study because by seeing what people watch and respond to we can tell more about what people care about, what they're willing to devote their times to, even what they are willing to spend their money on. That's not necessarily show or movie specific, even though shows like Star Trek do have a deep impact on their own, but I think the themes represented are important to recognize. Star Trek represents exploration, familial bonds among the crew, new possibilities, a bright, hopeful future- and those things mean a lot to so many people! In terms of representation and demographics, too, by seeing who is watching what, it can show us in real time how seeing different types of people on screen can affect audiences.
STARLOG IX
Scott asks if you think we're getting closer to realizing the Vulcan philosophy of IDIC (infinite diversity in infinite combinations) here on Earth. What would it take for that to happen? What would it look like? How might things be different?
I would really like to think that we are getting closer to IDIC, though it's hard to see the reality of that in today's world. Obviously infinite diversity exists, it's just the acceptance of it that is the problem. It's possible I suppose, and certainly some progress has been made since the 1960s. With that, though, and with any step towards wider acceptance of differences, there always seems to be a push back. A very obvious example in my own lifetime is that after having the first black president, a president was elected that had opposite views and was openly supported by the KKK. Pride parades over the summer are significantly more common and accepted, but last year during the month of June a "Christian" conference was held in Orlando, Florida that advocated for the death of LGBTQ individuals and celebrated the Pulse nightclub shooting. I think sometimes when progress in acceptance of diversity is made, those who benefit from inequality, or in some way believe the status quo to be acceptable, get louder and try to drown it out.
I also know that these extremes, no matter how upsetting and drastic they are, do not necessarily represent a majority. Most people, I would like to believe, when faced with a real person rather than a concept, are, if not accepting, at least tolerant. There are people I've personally interacted with who have views against a marginalized group- and that is in no way acceptable, to be clear- but they don't want to hurt people, and would in fact rather just go on with their lives and have everyone mind their own business.
It would look like... well, I'd like to think it would look a lot like Star Trek, actually. The concept of infinite diversity in infinite combinations is just so good and exciting! Can you imagine a world where we celebrated parts of our cultures that make us different?? How much we could learn and accomplish? That's really, honestly, a world that I would be so thrilled to see. People would have equal opportunities; those who would today get overlooked would have the chance to learn and to create and accomplish to the fullest extent of their abilities if they wanted to, and healthy, non-harmful (to people or the environment) progress could be made! Race, gender, religion, sexuality, and wealth wouldn't make learning or living harder than it needs to be, and the former four (and more)could be celebrations of being rather than barriers. Obviously that sounds like a utopia, and honestly there are so many potential problems that could arise. It sounds so unrealistic. But that's what I'd like to think Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations could really mean.
I don't think IDIC can just happen, as much as we wish it would. It's going to be a process that involves multiple generations, just as the progress we've already made since the 60's has taken. We're on the way, we just have a ways to go. Still, how are we ever going to get along with aliens if we can't get along with each other? And I'm still holding out for first contact with Vulcan so we really gotta get on that.
Okay folks, that's it! As I've completed the final section of the course I HAVE advanced to the rank of Captain (that's my badge above), so I'm going to need everyone to address me accordingly in the future. ;) Live Long and Prosper, friends.
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