Over the past few months I’ve been trying to catch up on my Star Trek watching when I’m not out shooting or practicing my guitar. Though I wouldn’t say that I’m a rabid Trekkie, I do like the series. Mainly I like it because they always had some social commentary. What I did not know, and found out this weekend while watching the pilot episode with commentary, was that the show almost didn’t make it because Gene Roddenberry, the creator, was too radical for his time. Star Trek came about in 1966 during a very tough time in America. We had just had a president assassinated a few years before and the Civil Rights Movement was in full swing.
When Mr. Roddenberry pitched his show to the network, it was immediately rejected because:
- He didn’t allow smoking on the show. Most movies and television shows were sponsored by tobacco companies at that time.
- He featured a multi-racial cast. He had Asians, African-Americans, Scottish, etc. The networks wanted an all-white cast. They sad that they would get lots of hate mail if he featured non-whites.
Well, the show finally got the nod, on a trial basis, and as it is said, the rest is history. To say that Gene Roddenberry was groundbreaking would be an understatement. Mr. Roddenberry even went so far as to break a huge cultural taboo when he showed Captain Kirk, a white man, kissing Lieutenant Uhura, a black woman on television in 1968! The first such display of its kind.
Even though the naysayers said that people would protest and demand that the show be taken off the air, the hate mail never came. Not one single piece of hate mail and it became an American Institution, birthing one flavor of Star Trek after another.
I was impressed with his courage and dedication to his vision. A lesson that we can all learn.
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8 Responses to “Courage”
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I love the subtle, almost tender grey tones you offer in this image (and I’d love to see it larger in a lightbox…) and the careful aligning of the fence with the bottom border. A fine image, something to for a brighter spot in a dark room…
Re. overcoming barriers: I think this is the very basis of all positive developments of a civil society, but unfortunately I see more of the contrary wherever I follow at least politics: Playing out one group against the other based on religion, ethnics, class or needs has become the prevailing “sports” of an all too large group of so-called politicians and their followers. Individuals with a creed, a message and charisma are important more than ever.
Thanks, Markus. I was on the way to work the other day and it was foggy. I had my camera with me in the front seat, picked it up, rolled down the window, and framed this shot. As soon as I clicked off one frame, the light changed, and it was time to go. I think that I’m going print it 13 x 19.
“Individuals with a creed, a message and charisma are important more than ever.”
…and more dangerous than ever. Just think of Jörg Haider, Berlusconi, Glen Beck and other equally charismatic people. No rational arguments to speak of, but that doesn’t impede their success. Scary, that so few people manage to see through their webs of lies and a lot are just blinded by a good show.
I don’t disagree with your comments on Gene Roddenberry, but the original show was not exactly the “hit” you imply. It only lasted 3 seasons (70 + episodes), was nearly cancelled a number of times for low ratings and poor advertising revenue, and generally speaking wasn’t very well received. And it wasn’t well received for some of the very reasons you mention. What saved “Star Trek” as an entity were the movies that followed – especially “Star Trek II”. It was that film that gave birth to all that’s followed, up to and including the most recent film.
It’s a little strange, though. While I’m an original Trekkie, I suppose (I was about 20 when the whole thing started), I can’t bring myself to watch any of the original episodes. In all fairness, they were terrible. Even by 1960′s standards, the special effects were really bad and the storylines were worse. The only thing that held it together at all was the idea.
Well, it wasn’t a big hit and didn’t establish loyal followings until syndication. Then, it took on a life of its own.
I like watching the original episodes, cheesy though they may be, because of the story lines, also, I liked the character development once they got Kirk, Spock, Scotty, Uhura, Checkov, McCoy, and Zulu all together. Some of the earlier episodes weren’t so interesting.
The special effects were pretty ho-hum, but that’s not why I watch Star Trek in the first place. I’ve always liked the underlying message.
Interesting to read, Paul, I haven’t thought about the series that way, that it was before its times that way. Regarding the bad special effects and so, isn’t that part of the fun? I don’t watch Star trek myself, but can imagine I would get great laughs watching those.
Hey Paul, that tree kinda looks like a Klingon forehead!
Ah yes, startrek. And the next generation. And deep space nine. And voyager. I guess, I’ve seen them all. Some episodes were incredibly bad, some equally phantastic. And the series always lived by some of their fascinating characters. My personal favorite is still Picard, to be honest. I’m not sure whether I would dare to re-watch the series, though. Some things get better in your memory.
Oh yeah, the photo: Fog is always great – leaves so much to your imagination, which sometimes is what we need in this world full of rather obtrusive eye-candy from all around us.