RODDENBERRY INTERVIEW OUTLINE

RODDENBERRY INDEX FOR INTERVIEW

When reading the Roddenberry- Alexander interview, note what he says regarding the topic categories listed on this page. The numbers after each entry refer to the approximate pages depending on how you print out the interview.

Note especially correspondences to the SHELLEY essay.

Gene Roddenberry
& his wife
Majel Barrett

PREVIOUS WRITING EXPERIENCE BEFORE STAR TREK:

LEARNING FROM FAILURE 31

INITIAL SUCCESS: HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL 1, 2

RELIGION:

DISLIKE FOR AS A CHILD 2

VIEWS ON AS AN ADULT 17

EXISTENCE OF GOD 2

RELIGION AS MAGIC AND UNPROVABLE 2

REASONABLE CHRISTIANITY LIKE LOCKE 2

PRAYING DOES NOT SOLVE PROBLEMS 6

EPISODES THAT REJECTED RELIGION -EDO (JUSTICE), and WHO WATCHES THE WATCHERS? 2, 13

REJECTION OF THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT 14, 15

NO PREJUDICE? 25

HUMANISM:

SEES HIMSELF AS A HUMANIST 3

WHAT HUMANISM MEANS 16, 17

SEEMS TO REJECT GOD AND HUMANISM AS COMPATIBLE 29

PHILOSOPHER:

USES PHILOSOPHY INSTEAD OF RELIGION / MORAL VALUES (EXISTENTIALISM?) 2. 3

JOHN DEWEY AND THE PRAGMATIC THEORY 14

HIS EVOLUTION INTO A PHILOSOPHER 15

WRITING FOR LAPD CHIEF PARKER; THEIR IDEAS 17, 18

EVOLUTION OF HIS PHILOSOPHY 25

HUNGER FOR IDEAS AS A PHILOSOPHER 28

L1FE AS A THINKING PROCESS 29, 30

THE SUMMARY OF HIS PHILOSOPHY 31

METAPHYSICS:

SEES LIFE AS DISHONEST WHEN YOUNG 2

LIFE EXPERIENCES THAT DETERMINED HOW HE WROTE 28

AS A POLICE OFFICER, SEES LIFE AS VIOLENT 20

EVOLUTION IN HIS THINKING AND OVERCOMING ERROR 11

BELIEF IN THE PRAGMATIC THEORY 16

STAR TREK AS BELIEVABLE 18

DISCUSSES PHILOSOPHY WITH THE ACTORS 22

THE ROLE OF LIFE 31

HUMANITY IN ITS INFANCY AND POTENTIAL 32

PHILOSOPHY OF STAR TREK:

ADVANCED FOR ITS IDEAS 9, 10

FEMINISM 9 17

REJECTION OF RACISM 1O

STANDS FOR ALL HE BELIEVES 11

DEMOGRAPHICS 12, 13

PHILOSOPHICAL 20

FOR CHILDREN 2O, 21

PROJECT

STAR TREK: DEVELOPING STRATEGIES FOR UTOPIA
the VISION OF GENE RODDENBERRY

We have demonstrated using the mimetic pragmatic and expressive theory along with initial sources like THE ST WRITER’S GUIDE that the longevity of the franchises was based on the idea that:

1--a literate sci-fi show is possible
2--at least for some of the episode, ST fulfilled audience’s expectations
3--that sci-fi is a legitimate genre which must follows the same rules of composition as any other genre: from Sophocles to Henry James. A wonderful modern example is Miller's, A Canticle for Leibowitz.

The next project is three fold:

1-to examine the philosophical aspects of Roddenberry’s beliefs using certain historical antecedents and his own words as specified below
2-to measure these against the history of sci-fi in a film we will watch
3-to view the pilot episode uncut, THE CAGE, to see if it actualizes the potential Roddenberry articulated

Phase One: Roddenberry’s beliefs:

a--THE HUMANIST INTERVIEW and this STUDY GUIDE)
b--historical antecedent--Shelley’s NECESSITY OF ATHEISM
c--see the BRITISH LIT WEB SITE: NEOCLASSICAL PERIOD for additional background, especially:

1--the view of Newton
2--the meaning of enlightenment
3--the formal definition of progress and happiness

2-Hypothesis: Given the historical background of _____, Roddenberry presents (or does not)_______that validates (or does not) that a utopia (defined as___ ), and actualized by______is possible.

Phase two and three: continued evaluation historically and in terms of the pilot.


	*RODDENBERRY INDEX FOR INTERVIEW* When reading the Roddenberry- Alexander interview, note what he says regarding the topic categories listed on this page. The numbers after each entry refer to the approximate pages depending on how you print out the interview. Note especially correspondences to the SHELLEY essay.

			Gene Roddenberry & his wife Majel Barrett