This chapter overviews the text. As you read, correlate its contents with episodes of ST you know, and with the research you have completed thus far...

I. Television fulfills a mimetic function (recall Hamlet and the “mirror up to nature” motif.)

II. Issues dramatized are political, social, economic, moral, military etc.--ST dramatizes contemporary issues in a future setting. Each episode functions as a “morality play” exemplifying the pragmatic theory.

III. Porter and McLaren have selected articles focusing on ST’s treatment of mythological and religious issues to demonstrate that:

A. TOS and TNG portray religion negatively, arguing that scientific humanism offers a more plausible utopian vision. Porter and McLaren further suggest that DS-9 and Voyager modify this view, and articles in their volume will so substantiate. Themes of “resurrection, sacrifice, immortality, faith and the spiritual quest” have been dramatized in ST episodes. (p. 3).

B. What works have you studied in British / World Literature with similar themes. Recall for example that an episode of Voyager is based on Beowulf.

C. Note what period in history reflected a similar vision and what the consequences were.


IV. McLaren and Porter organize their study into three sections:

A. The first examines the treatment of religion in ST episodes. Articles we will read discuss Roddenberry’s view of religion. Brief annotations of the articles are provided.

B. The second section discusses mythological and religious themes in ST. We will note, that one of the articles in this part takes its title from a Wordsworth Poem that derives its motifs from Plato. Platonic philosophy and romantic poetry have frequently been plot sources for ST episodes: PLato’s Stepchildren, for example.

C. The final section discusses the archetype of the quest, the journey motif to explore how ST fans “boldly go” in search of Roddenberry’s vision.

INSTRUCTOR'S NOTE: In addition to reading the chapters in this book and viewing the episodes, it is recommended that you examine as many of the recommended sources listed after each outline. They will combine online and print references. Do not forget the reading list on the course syllabus.

Beowulf

Wordsworth’s. “Intimations of Immortality” Ode

Campbell. “The Power of Myth”

Abrams. "The Mirror and the Lamp"

Gerrold. “The World of Star Trek”

Sidney. “Apology for Poetry” on the British Literature home page (SJC) Renaissance section.

Plato. “The Republic” and “Phaedo”

Aristotle. "The Poetics"

Gaardner. "Sophie’s World:"

(This very readable history of philosophy can serve as an excellent companion for this course. The evolution of philosophical thought has been the subject of more than one ST episode. Recall the advice Capt. Picard gave to Wesley Crusher before his Star Fleet entrance examinations.) See my History of Philosophy site that uses Sophie's World.

{Classical texts can be located on line through Student Curriculum Links: Classical Section.}