Why trek - Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums

Princess Ivy · 27th October 2005, 11:21 AM

why startrek? why has it been such a huge hit? with such a large following. what factors helped it to cross over from seventies cult to mainstream? why do you watch it and love it? or hate it?

The Master™ · 27th October 2005, 01:12 PM

Because it inspired the imagination of the teens of the 70's, who became fans then passed it onto their children and grandchildren... And at the time there wasn't really anything like it... So, what else was there to inspire the imagination???

stencyl · 27th October 2005, 02:21 PM

Also the original series tried to offer a utopian vision of society. On the bridge of the Enterprise, people of all races worked together without race dominating their relationships. The series also boasts having the first American on screen interracial kiss. In a country that has been and still is dominated by racial concerns (just look at the outcries about race after Katrina), Star Trek did something different in the time it was set.

I also agree with the Master that the show fueled the collective imagination of the time, and that carried through the generations.

Why it became as engrained in the American psyche as it did, though, I can't say. It has become a part of mainstream culture to such a degree that you can ask almost anyone to finish the phrase, Space, the final....

and they can do it.

The series has also has some fans that comprise a "unique" following. The documentary Trekkies is an interesting study of those fans.

Eradius Lore · 27th October 2005, 02:54 PM

america is not the only people to ever see star trek u know stencyl. its just as big over in the uk than in the us

Leto · 27th October 2005, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Princess Ivy

why startrek? why has it been such a huge hit? with such a large following. what factors helped it to cross over from seventies cult to mainstream? why do you watch it and love it? or hate it?

The pajamas uniform and Spock's ears.

dwndrgn · 27th October 2005, 03:31 PM

I think that the biggest, original appeal was the uniqueness of the setting added to the universality of the themes. The 'utopian society' they promoted not only included multiple races and sexes, but promoted their work ethic, the idea of teamwork and working towards a common goal while at the same time they kept their individuality and held on to their own traditions and mores. Sure it was all 'goody-goody' and idealistic but it was fun at the same time. Quite like the Grimm's fairy tales, you get a moral but it is sort of covertly stuck in where if you aren't really looking, you'll miss it.

Each of their storylines promoted some wonderful ideals, namely protecting the innocent, doing no harm, the ideals of environmental responsibility, following society's rules even when they are difficult...in sum they tried to espouse all of those wonderful ideals that we should all strive for. They did all this in an entertaining manner, using good looking actors and actresses in interesting sets that kept even those who weren't on board with their idealistic goals, glued to the screen.

stencyl · 27th October 2005, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eradius Lore

america is not the only people to ever see star trek u know stencyl. its just as big over in the uk than in the us

I wasn't trying to offend. I do know that the franchise extends world-wide. I was only trying to comment on the cultural phenom. of the US because I live here.

Leto · 27th October 2005, 03:53 PM

And that's how "Beam me up, Scotty" ended being part of Harraps dictionnary...

The Master™ · 27th October 2005, 09:46 PM

You'll probably find other words from the show in dictionaries, too... Like Phaser!!!

But it also helped that in the 60's, there wasn't the wide range of shows... I think there was probably only 3 Sci-Fi - Star Trek, Twilight Zone and Outer Limits... Unlike today!!! And there weren't cable and satellite channels... The TV was a family thing... So different generations huddled round to watch the shows...

And in the UK and most of the rest of the world, it was something American that everyone else wanted to enjoy... So the public scooped it up!!! And it showed that the future would be very different... Man (and woman) would put aside differences to face a cruel galaxy - didn't matter whether you were white, black, oriental or (though I didn't really see any) asian... And in the first film, it showed a Native American Indian!!! Shock, horror!!!

wolfgirl · 28th October 2005, 12:08 AM

Probably because all I've ever wanted to do since I was five years old and saw men land on the moon was to go into space. I guess I'm kind of living vicariously through these shows.

littlemissattitude · 28th October 2005, 01:05 AM

As a Star Trek fan who was there from the beginning, I have to say that a lot of it had to do with the fact that all we had at the time was "Lost in Space", and that really, really sucked.

Yes, as the Master pointed out, there was "Twilight Zone" and "The Outer Limits", but they were different. They were anthology shows, with a different story and different set of characters every week. But "Lost in Space" was pretty much the only episodic science fiction that was available on American TV...and did I say it sucked? This isn't to say that I didn't watch every week, because I did. But I knew, even as an eight or nine year old, that it wasn't good science fiction.

So, when Star Trek came along, it was just amazing. I know...TOS looks pretty cheesy now, and some of its storylines are a little, oh, naive. But at that time, it was shiny and new and, most of all, different. Oh, and the guys liked all those skimpy costumes on the women, I hear.

Princess Ivy · 28th October 2005, 11:28 AM

i must say that i agree completly. i'm not a big fan of every series (ds9 and enterprise just do nothing for me) but i love the concept and tos, and the uniforms, and the possiblility that man can be so much more and and and...
(of course the ears)

I, Brian · 28th October 2005, 01:38 PM

I read elsewhere about how the original Star Trek broke into the mainstream consciousness - a vehicle for getting literary science fiction into the mainstream TV audience.

There's a certainly a lot mentioned that made the show appealing - another factor worth mentioning is that Roddenberry apparently had science fiction writers write the show, certainly at first, rather than general Hollywood writers (though by the sounds of the 3rd series, they got in anywhay) - which allowed the show to tackle a more experimental range of themes. Or something like that.

Eradius Lore · 28th October 2005, 03:26 PM

just wondering if anybody can conferm this for me. on the very first episode of star trek it was a different captain to kirk, my mate says he was called captain archer, but if he was archer wouldn't that make him like really, really old, in that episode, but he looks about 30

stencyl · 28th October 2005, 04:03 PM

There was a captain Pike before Kirk. But that was just for a pilot that aired later I think. He was played by Jeffery Hunter. I found a link to the episode here:

http://www.startrek.com/startrek/vie...ode/68662.html

27th October 2005, 11:21 AM	#1 (permalink)
Princess Ivy Damsel in this dress Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 2,763	Why trek why startrek? why has it been such a huge hit? with such a large following. what factors helped it to cross over from seventies cult to mainstream? why do you watch it and love it? or hate it?

27th October 2005, 01:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
The Master™ Right hand of Vengence!!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,753	Re: Why trek Because it inspired the imagination of the teens of the 70's, who became fans then passed it onto their children and grandchildren... And at the time there wasn't really anything like it... So, what else was there to inspire the imagination???

27th October 2005, 02:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
stencyl Geek Squad Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 143	Re: Why trek Also the original series tried to offer a utopian vision of society. On the bridge of the Enterprise, people of all races worked together without race dominating their relationships. The series also boasts having the first American on screen interracial kiss. In a country that has been and still is dominated by racial concerns (just look at the outcries about race after Katrina), Star Trek did something different in the time it was set. I also agree with the Master that the show fueled the collective imagination of the time, and that carried through the generations. Why it became as engrained in the American psyche as it did, though, I can't say. It has become a part of mainstream culture to such a degree that you can ask almost anyone to finish the phrase, Space, the final.... and they can do it. The series has also has some fans that comprise a "unique" following. The documentary Trekkies is an interesting study of those fans.

27th October 2005, 02:54 PM	#4 (permalink)
Eradius Lore Banned Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,176	Re: Why trek america is not the only people to ever see star trek u know stencyl. its just as big over in the uk than in the us

27th October 2005, 03:31 PM	#6 (permalink)
dwndrgn Fierce Vowelless One Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 3,663	Re: Why trek I think that the biggest, original appeal was the uniqueness of the setting added to the universality of the themes. The 'utopian society' they promoted not only included multiple races and sexes, but promoted their work ethic, the idea of teamwork and working towards a common goal while at the same time they kept their individuality and held on to their own traditions and mores. Sure it was all 'goody-goody' and idealistic but it was fun at the same time. Quite like the Grimm's fairy tales, you get a moral but it is sort of covertly stuck in where if you aren't really looking, you'll miss it. Each of their storylines promoted some wonderful ideals, namely protecting the innocent, doing no harm, the ideals of environmental responsibility, following society's rules even when they are difficult...in sum they tried to espouse all of those wonderful ideals that we should all strive for. They did all this in an entertaining manner, using good looking actors and actresses in interesting sets that kept even those who weren't on board with their idealistic goals, glued to the screen.

27th October 2005, 03:53 PM	#8 (permalink)
Leto Outside Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 2,332	Re: Why trek And that's how "Beam me up, Scotty" ended being part of Harraps dictionnary...

27th October 2005, 09:46 PM	#9 (permalink)
The Master™ Right hand of Vengence!!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,753	Re: Why trek You'll probably find other words from the show in dictionaries, too... Like Phaser!!! But it also helped that in the 60's, there wasn't the wide range of shows... I think there was probably only 3 Sci-Fi - Star Trek, Twilight Zone and Outer Limits... Unlike today!!! And there weren't cable and satellite channels... The TV was a family thing... So different generations huddled round to watch the shows... And in the UK and most of the rest of the world, it was something American that everyone else wanted to enjoy... So the public scooped it up!!! And it showed that the future would be very different... Man (and woman) would put aside differences to face a cruel galaxy - didn't matter whether you were white, black, oriental or (though I didn't really see any) asian... And in the first film, it showed a Native American Indian!!! Shock, horror!!!

28th October 2005, 12:08 AM	#10 (permalink)
wolfgirl Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 13	Re: Why trek Probably because all I've ever wanted to do since I was five years old and saw men land on the moon was to go into space. I guess I'm kind of living vicariously through these shows.

28th October 2005, 01:05 AM	#11 (permalink)
littlemissattitude Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: California Posts: 3,342	Re: Why trek As a Star Trek fan who was there from the beginning, I have to say that a lot of it had to do with the fact that all we had at the time was "Lost in Space", and that really, really sucked. Yes, as the Master pointed out, there was "Twilight Zone" and "The Outer Limits", but they were different. They were anthology shows, with a different story and different set of characters every week. But "Lost in Space" was pretty much the only episodic science fiction that was available on American TV...and did I say it sucked? This isn't to say that I didn't watch every week, because I did. But I knew, even as an eight or nine year old, that it wasn't good science fiction. So, when Star Trek came along, it was just amazing. I know...TOS looks pretty cheesy now, and some of its storylines are a little, oh, naive. But at that time, it was shiny and new and, most of all, different. Oh, and the guys liked all those skimpy costumes on the women, I hear.

28th October 2005, 11:28 AM	#12 (permalink)
Princess Ivy Damsel in this dress Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 2,763	Re: Why trek i must say that i agree completly. i'm not a big fan of every series (ds9 and enterprise just do nothing for me) but i love the concept and tos, and the uniforms, and the possiblility that man can be so much more and and and... (of course the ears)

28th October 2005, 01:38 PM	#13 (permalink)
I, Brian Admin and Tea-boy Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: UK: SCOTLAND: Posts: 5,374	Re: Why trek I read elsewhere about how the original Star Trek broke into the mainstream consciousness - a vehicle for getting literary science fiction into the mainstream TV audience. There's a certainly a lot mentioned that made the show appealing - another factor worth mentioning is that Roddenberry apparently had science fiction writers write the show, certainly at first, rather than general Hollywood writers (though by the sounds of the 3rd series, they got in anywhay) - which allowed the show to tackle a more experimental range of themes. Or something like that.

28th October 2005, 03:26 PM	#14 (permalink)
Eradius Lore Banned Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,176	Re: Why trek just wondering if anybody can conferm this for me. on the very first episode of star trek it was a different captain to kirk, my mate says he was called captain archer, but if he was archer wouldn't that make him like really, really old, in that episode, but he looks about 30

28th October 2005, 04:03 PM	#15 (permalink)
stencyl Geek Squad Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 143	Re: Why trek There was a captain Pike before Kirk. But that was just for a pilot that aired later I think. He was played by Jeffery Hunter. I found a link to the episode here: http://www.startrek.com/startrek/vie...ode/68662.html