They may not be your favorite but you can’t stop partaking and eventually some gets stuck in your teeth.
First off let me just say that the last year has been quite hit or miss on here lately and for that I apologize. I have a few thoughts I just had to get out this morning, hence the reason for this post. They have to do with the this current political clime we find ourselves in. (And a huge shout out to the 4 people who consistently read here. You’re beautiful people.)
Now, I consider myself to be a political junkie of sorts and I’d like to focus on the Republican side of this thing because I just find it more interesting. But first a word about the Democrat side.
Democrats
I find it uninteresting mainly because it is only a race between two people and has been since they started. And truly they remind me of two siblings at play slap-fighting. One might hit a little harder once and again but otherwise it is a rather tame match. They don’t seem to want to expose weaknesses that could help each other, presumably to help in the general election. But they just lack a sort of je ne sais quoi in the entertainment side of things.
Republicans
Now on the Republican side you have personalities galore. (Humiliations galore?)
And this Donald Trump thing standing above the rest. Now I’m not here to endorse a candidate or sling mud though I so easily could. No, I’ll leave that to other talking heads. I just wanted to talk quickly about the phenomenon that has Trump in the delegatal (just made up a word, score) lead.
A lot of people say it’s about a referendum on the government or anger or change. And whereas those elements might exist, I think Trump is benefitting from something much more practical. I think his surge of popularity is really more of a ruse due to the fact the there are so many people in the race.
Let’s take a look at an example:
As you can see from the picture, in SC, Trump’s most impressive victory to date he got about 33% of the vote. Rubio at 22% as well as Cruz at 22% followed by the other 3 at around 8% each.
First. I find it interesting that about 67% of SC did NOT vote for Trump.
Second, many polls have shown Trump to date quite bad in alternate voting. That is to say if a person’s candidate is not available who he/she like for asecond choice. He doesn’t do well in the category.
So it seems, 30-35% of the population are ardent Trump fans. And while that may be significant and helping him win primaries, that also means 65-70% aren’t. Now Jeb is out and his supporters will indelibly vote for other candidates but that I think will only hurt Trump in the long run. Sure some of Jeb’s supporters might turn to Trump though I doubt it considering their feud. But take his 8%, couple it with Kasich’s 8% (who is out of money) and Carson’s 8% (who has no real shot at this point) and spread it all out among the other serious candidates.
Take those three out prior to South Carolina, and I think you have Trump losing SC. And if not he only squeaks by.
If and when the bottom three (now two) exit the race will be telling in Trump’s success from here on out. Should it become a three man race and he continue to win, then call it a referendum or will of the voters, but at this point I think it’s more about plurality of alternate choices than anything else.
So, I’ve been one of the biggest proponents of this belief for about a decade now, and as much as I scream it from the rooftops, no one seems to listen. And though I know I’m not the first to say this…
I’m making it official. Because once it’s posted in a blog, it becomes the truth. You know what I mean? It’s like on that State Farm commercial. “They can’t put anything on the internet that’s not true.” Right? Right?!
Anyway, as the title says, I wholeheartedly believe that two of my all-time favorite things in life are in actuality the exact same thing! (In the vein of Superman/Clark Kent, Batman/Bruce Wayne, or Green Arrow/ Oliver Queen)
In this series I am going to list out 8 different reasons why the Genius of Star Trek is really just the Genius of the Bard himself repackaged.
So, right now you’re saying, “Really, I’ve waited this long for the next reason and I get this?!”
Hold on there, Buster. There’s more to this than you think. Let me explain…
Now, another aspect about Star Trek and Shakespeare that makes them identical, and seems almost obvious, is that they are both dramas meant to be watched.
I know the guy eating his nachos reading this just before another Netflix binge is shouting at his screen, “Cheap connection!” and probably getting nacho cheese all over the keys as he mashes the letters to pull up Real Housewives.
But to this I say, “1) You wouldn’t believe how many people try to just read Shakespeare plays and complain they don’t get it, and 2) To quote the indomitable Vin Diesel, “I don’t care if you win by an inch or by a mile. Winning is winning.” #winning? (ok, weird context)
Anyway, look, it’s obvious to everyone today that Star Trek is something to be watched. And, yes, I know how many books and comic books have been written. (Ok, scratch that, I don’t “know” the exact number, nacho guy, but you know what I’m saying.)
But let’s set aside the literature for now and focus on the basics. I’m talking about original concept and function. TOS, TNG, DS9, VOY, ENT. And I guess I’ll include ’09 but anyone whose honest with themselves should agree it doesn’t “really” fit with the others. (That’s another post.)
Concept: Shakespearean. Function: Meant to be watched.
In conjunction, and something I have to train students to understand, Shakespeare is a play which means it is meant to be seen! If you have ever had an English teacher who made you only read the plays and not act them out, then let’s be honest, he or she failed you. To understand a play, it needs to be read, seen, and acted.
But I digress, simply put another reason it is easy to see why Star Trek and Shakespeare are exactly the same thing is that they are both meant to be watched. (And if you count conventions, acted too) 😉
Ok, so it was a short post. Whatevs. You still enjoyed it. 🙂
So, I’ve been one of the biggest proponents of this belief for about a decade now, and as much as I scream it from the rooftops, no one seems to listen. And though I know I’m not the first to say this…
I’m making it official. Because once it’s posted in a blog, it becomes the truth. You know what I mean? It’s like on that State Farm commercial. “They can’t put anything on the internet that’s not true.” Right? Right?!
Anyway, as the title says, I wholeheartedly believe that two of my all-time favorite things in life are in actuality the exact same thing! (In the vein of Superman/Clark Kent, Batman/Bruce Wayne, or Green Arrow/ Oliver Queen)
In this series I am going to list out 8 different reasons why the Genius of Star Trek is really just the Genius of the Bard himself repackaged.
Back at the Helm again with the 6th reason why Star Trek is the Superman version of Shakespeare’s Clark Kent. (Or is that the other way around?)
Star Trek and Shakespeare #6 – The Stories Pushed the Envelope
Let’s take a look at Shakespeare on this one first.
One of the geniuses of Billy Boy Shakes is his ability to put audiences in situations where they have to come face to face with their own morality especially with regard to aspects of Elizabethan society.
For example, in King Lear, one of the main motifs of the play is betrayal. Betrayal of children to their parents, betrayal of parents to their children, betrayal of siblings. But the real crescendo of this motif is played out when Shakespeare suggests that betrayers will ultimately turn on one another as seen in the love triangle between Edmund, Goneril, and Regan.
In fact, this “love triangle” is really more of an “adultery triangle” as the ladies cheat on their husbands for Edmund and Edmund cheats on the ladies with each other. Of course Shakespeare, can’t just let the ambiguities in the story speak for themselves. He has to give King Lear, the catalyst of the betrayals and paramount betrayer, a speech denouncing not only his daughters’ adulterous activities, but the adulterous activities of the world.
Though Lear’s diatribe here is mainly about his daughters, it is impossible not to see a corollary to the Elizabethan world as well. A society known for its façade of devotion and yet promiscuous behind the scenes. Did Shakespeare’s words change Elizabethan society? Not necessarily, but they had to press upon the consciousness of the audience.
In the same way, Star Trek pushed upon the societal mores of the world in which it was produced. One great example of this is the episode “Plato’s Stepchildren”.
In this episode, the crew of the Enterprise are forced to be slaves to a superior race called the Platonians. The Platonians have the power of telekinesis, and it is through this mind control that they force the crew to do whatever they wish. This is most powerfully illustrated when they force Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and Uhura (Nichelle Nichols) to kiss. The first interracial kiss on television. (gasp)
Now, NBC didn’t want to air this on television in certain areas of the country, but according to Shatner and Nichols, Shatner purposely made funny faces to keep the studio from airing alternative shots forcing them to go with the kiss. Were people upset? Yeah, but this wouldn’t be the first (or last) time Star Trek forced viewers to deal with their prejudices. (But that’s for reason 4). Did this change people’s minds? Hard to say, but the episode did definitely make audiences uncomfortable.
In both instances here, Shakespeare and its counterpart Star Trek left audiences with a chance to check themselves about how they view the world and how they act within it. I can’t say conclusively that both wanted to change society, but the genius doesn’t lie in the ends simply in the means.
So, I’ve been one of the biggest proponents of this belief for about a decade now, and as much as I scream it from the rooftops, no one seems to listen. And though I know I’m not the first to say this…
I’m making it official. Because once it’s posted in a blog, it becomes the truth. You know what I mean? It’s like on that State Farm commercial. “They can’t put anything on the internet that’s not true.” Right? Right?!
Anyway, as the title says, I wholeheartedly believe that two of my all-time favorite things in life are in actuality the exact same thing! (In the vein of Superman/Clark Kent, Batman/Bruce Wayne, or Green Arrow/ Oliver Queen)
In this series I am going to list out 8 different reasons why the Genius of Star Trek is really just the Genius of the Bard himself repackaged.
And, you’re probably thinking, “So, what? Every story follows the 5 stages of a plot.”
To this I say, “Yes, mostly, and this concept is taught in every English class and has been since the beginning of time.” (I’m speculating here. I wasn’t there.)
But what I’m talking about is so much more than Exposition to Denouement. What I’m talking about it is a structured design which mirrors one another in both feel and scope. The 5 Acts of both Star Trek and Shakespeare follow a distinct pattern.
ACT 1-The Goal is Established
In each and every Shakespeare play, the end goal for the protagonist is always given in the first Act.
In Hamlet, his father’s ghost tells him he needs to avenge his death.
In Macbeth, Macbeth and his wife learn that they will become King and Queen.
In King Lear, Cordelia is banished and Regan, Goneril, and Edmund all divulge their intentions for greatness.
In Julius Caesar, Cassius begins his quest to get Brutus to join the conspiracy.
Some Naysayers may claim that this is simply the exposition, but I believe it is more than that. It is not just setting up characters and storylines, but also weaving a realistic story that draws in the audience.
How does Star Trek do this? In two parts actually. First the teaser, then the opening Act. To illustrate my points, let me use two popular episodes.
First, Space Seed from TOS.
Here in the teaser the Enterprise discovers a 200 year old Earth vessel with systems oddly still running. After the theme song and the credits, an away team beams over to the ship to discover that the people in cryogenic stasis are still alive, revives one and brings him back to the ship. Obviously, the goal now is for the crew to figure out who these people are.
Second, Darmok from TNG.
Here in the teaser the Enterprise is directed to an uninhabited system by a signal that is an attempt at communication. But when the crew makes contact, Captain Picard is beamed to a planet with the captain from the alien ship and neither can understand each other. After the theme song and credits, Picard and the alien captain begin to survive on the surface and make a break through in communication. The goal: figure out the reason for the signal and find a way to communicate.
ACT 2-The Villains Gather Enemies
By the second act, the good guys and the bad guys have already been established, sort of, and now it is time for the bad guys to start putting motion to their plans.
In Hamlet, Claudius brings in Rosencranz and Guildenstern to spy on Hamlet.
In Macbeth, Macbeth kills Duncan.
In King Lear, Regan, Goneril, and Edmund all trick their parents into giving them more power.
In Julius Caesar, The conspirators commit to a plan to kill Caesar.
Here, once again, detractors to my theory may claim that this is simply the rising action, but nay I say. Focus on the action of the villains; that is which binds these acts.
In Star Trek?
Space Seed
Khan begins to turn some of the Kirk’s crew to his side including the Historian McGivers.
Darmok
Picard hears the roar of an unknown beast and wonders if the other captain knows they are not alone.
ACT 3-The Villains Make Their Move
In the third act, the bad guys are ready to make good on their plans.
In Hamlet, Claudius stops the play within a play telling Hamlet that he did, in fact, kill his brother.
In Macbeth, after killing Duncan, Macbeth turns to securing his kingship by killing his good friend Banquo.
In King Lear, Regan, Goneril, and Edmund pluck out Gloucester’s eyes while King Lear goes insane.
In Julius Caesar, The conspirators kill Caesar.
Sure, call this the climax. Say that I’m just saying the same thing in a different way. But you know I’m right. Stop fighting it.
Star Trek’s Climax Third Act?
Space Seed
Khan takes over Engineering.
Darmok
The energy beast attacks and nearly kills the alien captain.
ACT 4-The Heroes Are Going To Win
When the fourth act arrives the bad guys have done their thing, but we get to see the light of hope in the darkness.
In Hamlet, Hamlet escapes Claudius’ attempt to have him killed in England and returns to take his revenge.
In Macbeth, the witches tell Macbeth he will be killed by Macduff, though he doesn’t get it.
In King Lear, Cordelia arrives as a Jesus figures and brings back Lear’s sanity meanwhile Edgar prepares to meet Edmund.
In Julius Caesar, Caesar’s ghost appears telling Brutus his end will be in Phillipi.
At this point, those of you who have been doubting me should start to see that these 5 acts are nothing like that infernal plot map and this act is not the falling action. But if you don’t, all I can say is, “Alas, there will always be haters.”
In Star Trek?
Space Seed
Khan holds Kirk hostage by himself.
Darmok
The two captains begin to communicate.
ACT 5-The End is the Beginning is the End and Lessons Learned
The fifth act. We have reached it. The moment of enlightenment for us and the characters. Here, we find an end to our story, and we are left with a thought to ponder.
In Hamlet, Claudius, Gertrude, Laertes, all die along with Hamlet, thus he secures his revenge, but he also leave us with the line, “The rest is silence” as a possible answer to his musings about death.
In Macbeth, Macduff kills Macbeth setting Malcolm back on the throne, and we learn the idea that “life is a story told by an idiot full of sound and fury,” or something to that effect.
In King Lear, Cordelia, Lear, Gloucester, Regan, Goneril, and Edmund all die and Edgar teaches us that we should say what we need to say. (John Mayer, anyone?)
In Julius Caesar, Cassius and Brutus commit suicide, and Antony tells us Brutus was noble for killing Caesar in that he was trying to protect the freedom of the people from tyranny. Aww.
Now that we have reached the end, if you still think this is just the denouement and the plot map, I don’t know what else to tell you….
Star Trek?
Space Seed
Kirk holds a trial for Khan and maroons him on a deserted planet. And Spock’s discussion about planting seeds teaches us that our actions today will have vast consequences in the future.
Darmok
Picard uses this newfound communication to establish diplomatic relations with a new alien species. And though his discussion with Riker with learn that knowledge of the past with help us with the future.
Thus we conclude another entry into our study of how Shakespeare and Star Trek are alter egos. (Bizarro world?)
And just because you made it to the end. Something special for you…
So, I’ve been one of the biggest proponents of this belief for about a decade now,and as much as I scream it from the rooftops, no one seems to listen. And though I know I’m not the first to say this…
I’m making it official.
Because once it’s posted in a blog, it becomes the truth. You know what I mean? It’s like on that State Farm commercial. “They can’t put anything on the internet that’s not true.” Right? Right?!
Anyway, as the title says, I wholeheartedly believe that two of my all-time favorite things in life are in actuality the exact same thing! (In the vein of Superman/Clark Kent, Batman/Bruce Wayne, or Green Arrow/ Oliver Queen)
In this series I am going to list out 8 different reasons why the Genius of Star Trek is really just the Genius of the Bard himself repackaged.
So, without much ado about nothing, I give you reason number 8:
Star Trek and Shakespeare #8 – Shakespearean Actors in Star Trek
When it comes to actors in Star Trek, most either have their origins in a Shakespearean training or have been a part of a large scale Shakespearean production.
Don’t believe me?
Well, let’s just start with the two most famous Shakespearean Star Trek actors:
First, the Original Gangster himself Captain James Tiberius Kirk,
also known as the Priceline Negotiator,
Mr. Billy Shatner,
alongside him is the follicly challenged but no less manly X-men saving, moral compass wearing Capt. B.A. Picard
Sir Patrick Stewart
Both were official members of the Royal Shakespeare Company and, not surprisingly, became the first two captains of the franchise.
Coincidence? I say Nay.
But the list does not stop there. Others you may have seen or heard of include that Klingon dude hard enough to off his own boy Chancellor Gorkon (who just so happens to be played by another Shakesperean actor David Warner) and do it in the name of his people (Julius Caesar anyone?) named General “patch-over-my-eye-even-though-we-live-in-the-23rd-century-and-have-the-technology-to-fix-that-junk” Chang played by RSC member Christopher Plummer.
Just in case my description makes no sense.
Now, if your head is spinning so far, let’s take a head count, that’s Will Shatner,1, Sir Patrick Stewart,2, Christopher Plummer,3, and David Warner,4.
4 Shakespereans and that’s just one movie…. and a captain!
Shall we continue?
Adding to the list of the distinguished is that Native American Number One hailing from my hometown, Chakotay. Not only is he a seasoned Shakespearean, he even takes the time to teach workshops of the Bard.
Did you know that that elusive Borg Queen played by Alice Krige was also a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company? Yeah, makes so much more sense now, huh?
The Rest
Now, for the rest of this list. I will focus only on the major characters of the shows and movies. I’m sure there are some actors who have appeared in an episode here or there that have also had a role in a Shakespeare production, and I will have undoubtedly missed them. If so, please add them in the comments below.
TOS
Now, would it amaze you to know that the lovely Nyota “first-kiss-between-a-white-man-and-black-woman-on-tv” Uhura was also a Shakesperean? Yep, played in a 1983 version of Antony and Cleopatra.
Almost as odd, Walter Koenig, that wily Russian you just never could trust, played alongside her.
TNG
The beloved Mr. Worf, or as a roommate of mine once affectionately called him, “Ridges,” also played in a Shakespeare production, sort of. It was called Zombeo and Julecula, obviously, a horror version of Romeo and Juliet. Now, though some might scoff at this inclusion as it is in all honesty a stretch, I find it in every way fascinating, so I’m including it. (Plus, it gives me another person to add to my list, so, there!)
Plus Whoopi/Guinan “what-the-crap-is-with-your-hat?” voiced a character in The Lion King which is a very good adaptation of Hamlet. So, bam. Again.
VOY
Let’s also not forget that the unflappable, except for that bun in that year of hell, Capt. Janeway was in many a Shakespeare production onstage. From Othello to Titus Andronicus to Measure for Measure, she is a seasoned pro.
We can’t leave out the great Ethan “how-come-we-never-saw-a-chef-on-a-starship-before-but-his-character-forced-the-prequel-to-add-a-chef-reference-in-just-about-every-episode” Phillips as well.
And of course, continuing the Bardian weight of Voyager, Tuvok “who happened to also exist as a non-Vulcan on the Enterprise-B when the Nexus attacked” was also a Shakesperean.
Reboot
And love it or hate it, let’s not forget our friends from the reboot and the amazing Ben Cross who plays Spock’s daddy. Yep, involved in a number of Shakespearean Stage productions, too!
Not to mention everyone’s favorite deep-voiced bad guy, Benedict Cumberbatch, is even set to play the melancholy Dane in an upcoming production of Hamlet.
Let’s face it. He wasn’t as frightening as the original.
Well, there you have it. That’s at least 15 solid connections to Shakespeare throughout the many facets of the Star Trek Universe. Not a bad start to what I believe will be the greatest blog series ever invented by mankind.
Last time we delved into The Flight, today it’s all about our last stage Return with the Elixir.
Return with the Elixir
The flight has ended, the journey is done. It’s time to relax, the war is won.
Or is it?
Just like the title says, the hero returns with his prize from the journey. The prize can be a literal, tangible object, or skills acquired. But as the journey comes to a close, there are two basic ways the Hero’s Journey ends.
Medals and Party
In this final stage, the protagonist has reached the end of the journey. He/she has become a hero. He/she has saved the world from certain doom. The hero should be celebrated. Laurels need to be given. Wine needs to be drunk. In other words: party!
And very often the heroes will celebrate the victory. They will enjoy their accomplishments and mourn their losses.
Take for instance Star Wars. (A New Hope or Return of the Jedi). In both examples the Death Star has been destroyed, certain doom has been avoided, awards are given and a party is thrown.
And as happens so often in Disney movies: they live happily ever after.
But at the end of the Hero’s Journey, this isn’t always the case.
Another Journey Begins
Sometimes the hero cannot leave the World of Adventure and gets swept away onto another fantastic journey. Sometimes the journey never ends. Sometimes the ending is just the beginning.
Remember Batman or Iron Man or Spiderman or Superman or really any other superhero out there? Remember how there is always another villain to conquer and plot to foil? Yeah, it’s basically like that.
The hero will live his/her life vanquishing foes and saving the world constantly reliving the Hero’s Journey.
And there we have it. The Hero’s Journey in tiny, bite site, easy to swallow chunks. I do so hope this series has been helpful and insightful. I hope it has brought a smile to your face, aided with a term paper, helped informed your teaching, or simply enlightened your day.
Now on the Republican side you have personalities galore. (Humiliations galore?)
As you can see from the picture, in SC, Trump’s most impressive victory to date he got about 33% of the vote. Rubio at 22% as well as Cruz at 22% followed by the other 3 at around 8% each.
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