Navigating Multiple Identities: Part 2

Each episode in the watch list features a different character who embraces (or struggles with) their intersectionality. Which character resonates the most with you? In what ways?  

I deeply relate to Worf, I think because I too, was raised by one side and sort of an outsider on the other. Though I identify as Black or a Black, multi ethnic woman, I often do not feel seen as my full self. Each of my parents and each side of my family brings something different to my personality. Worf struggles through much of the early parts of TNG as it is made clear by many humans that he is considered less than and by the Klingons that he is viewed as not really one of them. We have the opportunity to see his growth but also how he becomes willing to challenge each sides assumptions until he grows comfortable enough within himself to live his own best life. And he even marries a Trill!

Starlog: Navigating Between Cultures

When talking about Star Trek: Deep Space 9 at the end of the video, Scott says that, “while some people argue that the series’ occasionally more conflict-laden relationships went again Gene Roddenberry’s dream of a utopian future, it’s more confrontational nature highlighted the complexities of cross-cultural communication and how it could benefit social and business interactions.” Which side of the argument do you agree with? Why?

I fully disagree that it goes against Roddenberry's dream. Realistically even in Utopia, someone will not be happy about something! DS9 showcased how people might disagree and yet still come together to work through their differences. The confrontational nature makes sense in light of the subject matter and is handled quite well. It could benefit in so many ways, if for no other reason than that it shows how many of the characters, who, having deep conflicts around race and religion, still manage to come together to have deep and lasting relationships.

Starlog: What episode of Star Trek makes you step back and rethink your stance on gender, race, or sexuality? Why is that?

I don’t think it was one episode per se, but a character. I have always thought that the portrayal of Dax is pretty perfect. Dax is female presenting when we meet her, but we have so many opportunities to see the depth of the Trill, which is really important. There’s a conversation between Dax and Sisko where Dax talks about being a parent, being both a mother & a father, so someone who has both fathered children and given birth. There is really no other show I can think of that allowed this type of dialogue from that time period and even now, I can’t think of another show that encompasses it in the same way.

Starlog: Star Trek and Language

What are the most important phrases to know in another language? How does learning another language provide insight into learning a new culture?

One really ought to know how to say hello, what is your name, this is my name, and where is the bathroom at the very least! Language is fluid and there are so many that are very lyrical. Knowing more than one is definitely a gift and a skill.

Starlog: How Star Trek addressed race

B'Elanna Torres is the first character that comes to mind for me. She is half human (Hispanic) and half Klingon, which culturally, holds much weight for her. 

In contrast, she rejects her Klingonness at every turn, fearing that her being Klingon makes her unloveable. We finally get to explore some of this in “Barge of the Dead” (Season 6, Episode 3). While chasing a probe, she comes across a Klingon artifact, which excites the crew so much they decide to celebrate. In the midst of this, a group of Klingons appears and attacks everyone in the room and B’Elanna awakes to find herself on a sea going vessel, filled with Klingons. She is apparently dead, but the captain tells her it is not her time. Before she is revived, her mother appears and B’Elanna later discovers that her by own rejection of the Klingon heritage, she has damned her mother to take her place.

The episode goes on the explore both her resistance and her feelings, making it one of the most compelling episodes I have ever seen.

Unfortunately, the work she started in “Barge of the Dead” starts to unravel when she realizes that her unborn baby will have Klingon qualities. We then see a series of flashbacks about a family camping trip where her cousins tease her.  (“Lineage” (Season 7, Episode 11).  We also know she deeply loves her father, and has always longed to connect to their human family, while also struggling through changes. The reason this episode is so important is because we see, fully, why she is in so much pain; she has felt like an outsider her entire life and does not believe that can ever truly change.

I wish that Voyager had had the chance to explore this more, however B’Elanna serves as a great example of what many multiethnic people face growing up. We are different and nothing we do can change that. The beauty of “Lineage” is that by the end of the episode, she seems to have come full circle on several things. Her arcs are some of the best of the series and well worth exploring.

Episode guide: https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/a-star-trek-voyager-episode-guide-for-belanna-torres

What We Left Behind: DS9

When my friend asked if I wanted to watch this with him, I had two immediate thoughts: “Of course I do!” and “You really get me.”

The trailer looks exciting. We’re gonna get cast interviews! We will hear stories about our beloved crew! We will get to see Avery Brooks being a badass! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4LPDX6uqSM

And. Well. Kinda. 

Much of the actual documentary is the original writers plotting an 8th season that will never happen, interspersed with stories from the actors, but there is a lot we’re just missing. Terry Farrell, for example, alludes to the reasons she left the show before the final season. There are tears and clearly everyone in the room is uncomfortable, so whatever it was, it must have been bad enough that 20 years later, she’s still deeply affected by it. So when they say she left to be on a comedy, it’s pretty clear there is a lot more to that story.

Avery Brooks gets less air time than a few of the guest stars, and frankly that was a huge disappointment. What we do get though is beautiful. Cirroc Lofton talks about their relationship being very similar off screen, and how Avery treated him as though Cirroc was one of his own children, which makes sense with what we saw on screen. This cast still has such a wonderful connection, which we see in each episode.

But there’s creepiness too. At one point they are discussing the how the writers presented the possibility of Kira having a romantic relationship with a Cardassian and when Nana is protesting, clearly still very upset by the thought, she says the actor’s name, not the character’s, not realizing at first what she said. When they interview the actor in question, the watcher is left uncomfortable by his clear hunger (I wish I was kidding) for Nana Visitor, making it suddenly clear why she was, and still is, so bothered by the idea. (Sidenote, that particular actor gets A LOT of screentime here, and I found that very odd.)

The parts where we get to hear stories from the cast is wonderful, yet left us wanting more. As my friend said, it felt very much like the writers really felt the need to have an ego stroke, which feels like a shame for the fans.

I would also like to mention that they do a sidenote drop in footage of extreme violence against Black people from the last few years, to demonstrate some point I may have just missed, that left me covering my face. That was the most stressful part of the whole documentary as there was no content warning or real explanation as to why the footage was thought relevant.

All in all, it is worth watching, just be aware that the content might not be as rich as you’re looking for. What We Left Behind left a lot behind on the cutting room floor, and really those are the parts I now long to see.

Finally, Captain to the Stars.

Starlog: Ion Propulsion

Where do you think ion propulsion and future engine technology will take us? What are the dangers? Are there other applications?

First off, wow, I didn’t know about Ceres and Vesta but how cool! That tells me that the possibilities might truly be endless. That means we could potentially really truly explore other solar systems that are currently beyond our reach as we are creating new technologies.

I would say that our biggest issue would be the lack of a prime directive. We cannot go out and explore new worlds without clear guidelines as to what is acceptable. What if we find other lifeforms? How will we treat them? How will we not create issues with their world and infrastructure? We have already proven we are not good at those things with humans. There is much to consider.

Starlog: U.S.S. Enterprise

In what ways does the U.S.S. Enterprise function as a character, not just a vehicle in Star Trek? Does “she” have a personality? Do the other ships in the Star Trek universe have the same level of character development?

The Enterprise does indeed play a pivotal role in the show, as do the other ships, and the station on DS9, as they are, for the main characters, home. Each ship is distinctive not just on the outside, but the interior. We have the opportunity to see crew quarters and it is rare to see austerity! The bridge, the turbo lifts, the cargo hold, the warp room, the dining areas, these are vital to the life and livelehood of those aboard. 

If a home can have a personality, a ship that serves as a home would too!

Lieutenant Commander Raven

Starlog: IDIC

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 think yes. And no. What we are seeing right is very circular and it is global. None of this is new. The amount of emotional and physical violence is not in anyway isolated and it is very clear that some people still long for the idea of purity in bloodlines. It is very frightening to think about how we have been here before and how many people it is harming.

Ideally we could adopt such a philosophy as IDIC and I believe that part of that change would be verbiage. To say we are willing to tolerate a person of another religion, gender, ethnicity etc, to me indicates that there is still some hostility. Acceptance is a far better goal to work towards. And perhaps in the near future we can.

Starlog: Exploring a Diverse Crew

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 in? 

Sulu and Chekhov are perfect examples of humans who were seen as enemies by American culture and who many would never have had the opportunity to encounter.

B’Elanna Torres doesn’t get much space on Voyager to explore her Latin Heritage, however we know it matters to her. And it helps when she explores her Klingon side, which she is always trying to repress.

Benjamin Sisko is accepted as a commander, a captain and a single father in such beautiful ways. He is *still* one of the most important father figures on television.

Uhura serves a greater purpose: at a time when Black women were predominately depicted as prostitutes or maids (often leaving out that they were also wives & mothers), Uhura was the communications officer with a lot of responsibility and was part of the very first interracial kiss on television. 

Representation matters.

Lieutenant Commander Raven reporting for duty

Starlog: Space Exploration

At the end of the video, Margaret says that space exploration was controversial in the 1970s and 1980s. People wondered why the government was spending time and money exploring the solar system when critical problems existed here on Earth. What do you think? Should the government resolve Earthly issues before exploring space? Or is a scientific investigation of distant worlds a fundamentally human endeavor of exploration? Explain your argument.

1) The video was about diversity on the show so this seemed like a strange place to wind up.

2) I think fundamentally, humans want to explore. We have been curious about the stars from time out of mind. DaVinici wanted to see how we could get there. While I do think that there should have been more invested in things here on earth that would make things better, they could have done *both* and that might have been the smarter way to go.

3) I do not know that we will ever solve the problems on earth without fully addressing inequality.

Starlog: Global Issues

Think of a global issue that we are facing today that causes fear or concern. What would be the plot of a television show that depicted a utopian and optimistic vision of the future of that issue?

We love dystopian futures so much!

I would love to see more shows where there are cross cultures of humans working for the greater good. We are seeing tyranny the world over. The world is persecuting people based on ethnicity, religion and sex. If we could truly come together on a global level, even if just a television show, how many people might be inspired to fight for change? 

Starlog: Artificial Intelligence

**Where do you see Artificial Intelligence going? Will it be Data, The Doctor or something new? Do we need to fear it, embrace it or something in between?**

There is so much possibility for AI beyond what we have seen. The benefits are amazing, but one of the questions that has come up among my own group of friends is: who does AI benefit? There is huge bias in AI due to who is feeding the machine, so that needs to be tackled on a large scale. Intel is actually doing work on this right now, to try and shift for more equal footing for those who might be negatively affected. 

The potential is great for something beyond either the Doctor OR Data. Which brings up how we are seeing it come to play now and hopefully we will gain a wider understanding, as we have everything from roombas to sex robots. It feels important to embrace but also be cautious of where we might head in the long run. If we can fully tackle the bias that currently exists, I think we have a chance to create some truly great technology.

https://time.com/5520558/artificial-intelligence-racial-gender-bias/

Starlog: TNG - The Emissary

This feels like a pivotal episode for Worf. We have the opportunity to see what he is like when presented with a love interest. When K'Ehleyr shows up to help the crew of the Enterprise stop a Klingon ship that has been lost for 75 years and has no idea the war is over, Worf has to face his past. And he fails at first due to the fact that he is too busy being a manly Klingon rather than listening to his paramour.

It feels like majority of the time Worf is actually fairly level headed, though it also feel like he doesn’t get much of a chance to truly shine.

(I have curiosity around the writers creating the half human/half Klingon characters and what the purpose was, ie what were they trying to explore? Why would they need Worf to be raised by humans and then have a partner who was half Klingon? I have my theories, which are kind of blown up by the existence of B’Elenna and the human idiot they saddled her with.)

Worf ends up playing captain in this episode in an effort to get the Klingon ship to stand down. It was a clever idea and showcased that he is indeed powerful enough to hold his own with his people, even though that is repeatedly questioned throughout the characters history, both on TNG and DS9. When one comes from a culture that demands ultimate respect and loyalty, how do you maintain both the culture and yourself? These are questions unlikely to be answered in this episode, but at least we have a place to begin.