Social Commentary in this new Star Trek show

[Guy Gardener]

Because the interpretation of his character is currently so split, you could have a story about a great leader, that would only seem like trump to a hundred million Americans, or you could do a story about an awful leader who would only seem like Trump to a different hundred million Americans.

But if the pilot is about some old lady trying to steal every one's phasers.

We know who that is, and who it was written for.

 

[Kemaiku]

Well we have time, filming doesn't even end until September 7th, so I guess we're looking at a Fall 2017 to Q1 2018 launch.

http://trekmovie.com/2017/01/13/star-trek-discovery-to-begin-shooting-on-january-24th/

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I don't mind social commentary as such. But I definitely don't want DSC to turn into a struggle session.

 

[Kemaiku]

Wow, comparing highlighting social issues to that? hyperbole much?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ Perhaps. But sometimes a bit of hyperbole is called for.

The examples propounded by @Nerys Myk were what set me off. Do we really need to be constantly blitzed about "privilege" and "cisgender" and "microaggressions"? Hell, you can get that on any college campus right now.

Or to put it another way: Commentary is fine. Lectures rarely are.

 

[Kemaiku]

As someone not cisgender, I don't mind a little attention after over a century of ciscenteric showcasing?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ Oh, I'm not denying that the issue itself is important (and I certainly meant no personal disrespect to you or anyone else to whom it applies). It's the way it's commented on, that could be a problem. (For instance: TNG's "The Outcast") But we'll see.

 

[{ Emilia }]

The examples propounded by @Nerys Myk were what set me off. Do we really need to be constantly blitzed about "privilege" and "cisgender" and "microaggressions"? Hell, you can get that on any college campus right now.

Considering current political developments in the US, I'd say it's safe to assume that this is the exact right moment for TV to talk about minorities.

 

[Guy Gardener]

How about a time travel story where Trump plays Trump?

At what point in Trumps recent History or future would we like to see him interact with...

"Donald, you get to save the future, we got Benedict Cumberbatch in for the day, so that we can see you beat the living crap out of him, can you make it look like WWE wrestling? Cool. And that's how you personally end the Eugenic War. Declaring firmly that the Man TRUMPS Superman as you scream "USA! USA! USA!" into the camera for ten minutes. Cool?"

 

[Tenacity]

so that we want we can see you [Donald Trump] beat the living crap out of him [Benedict Cumberbatch]

I'd pay for a full year of CBS All Access to just watch that.

 

[Nerys Myk]

I don't think TNG even at its most liberal, ever got that preachy. And I definitely hope DSC doesn't.

As for a Trump allegory: I'm not a fan of the guy either, but I have to agree that DSC would not handle it well. They'd go over the top, just like everybody else does. Writers can be easily blinded by hate.

TNG got preachy, somes just Stewart speaking sounds preachy.
It's fiction not news (Though these days there seems to be a fine line) Fiction writers have every right to express their "hate" and lampoon the object of that "hate". That's as old as fiction its self. So if a greedy alien named Drumf shows up on DSC it's in keeping with centuries of precedence.

I don't mind social commentary as such. But I definitely don't want DSC to turn into a struggle session.

That's a bit of stretch.

^ Perhaps. But sometimes a bit of hyperbole is called for.

The examples propounded by @Nerys Myk were what set me off. Do we really need to be constantly blitzed about "privilege" and "cisgender" and "microaggressions"? Hell, you can get that on any college campus right now.

Or to put it another way: Commentary is fine. Lectures rarely are.

Did you follow the conversation leading up to that post and the post I was responding to? I chose those for a reason and used quotes for a reason.

^ Oh, I'm not denying that the issue itself is important (and I certainly meant no personal disrespect to you or anyone else to whom it applies). It's the way it's commented on, that could be a problem. (For instance: TNG's "The Outcast") But we'll see.

Yes it could be done better but that's a different issue than going "urg! social commentary!"

 

[Guy Gardener]

5 Random TNG episodes that could be about current affairs tomorrow.

http://www.episodegenerator.com/star-trek-the-next-generation

Unification 1. America rejoins Britain.

Lessons. Trump has an affair with an underling in the white house air ducts.

Rightful Heir. Scientist's Clone George Washington. Trump tries to destroy him before George makes a play for the oval.

Allegiance. Trump replaced by Russian spy. Everyone likes the Spy better.

Haven. Melania is still married to her first husband, who shows up on the white house lawn to get his woman.

 

[The Overlord]

Because the interpretation of his character is currently so split, you could have a story about a great leader, that would only seem like trump to a hundred million Americans, or you could do a story about an awful leader who would only seem like Trump to a different hundred million Americans.

But if the pilot is about some old lady trying to steal every one's phasers.

We know who that is, and who it was written for.

Well I don't think they have to be too on the nose in terms of social commentary.

I think getting too bogged in details like cis gender issues or white privilege can make a message less effective, making it broad and straight forward can work.

They can do an episode about populism in general and have a figure who combines aspects from various populist polticans like Trump, Hitler, Hugo Chavez, Andrew Jackson, etc.

Have a planet that is a failing democracy with a stagnant economy. A populist poltican comes to power by condemning local elites and a minority on the planet. When this person comes to power generation is far harder on the minority then he is on the elites.

Now this poltican's end game can depend on how harsh you want the episode to be. Either the poltican is a con man who wants to loot the planet's economy or he could be a monstrous psychopath who wants to commit genocide against this minority.

I would not base the poltican too much on Trump, he should not have a Trump like name or hair or mannerisms, the episode should be about the dangers of populism in general, rather then Trump in particular.

 

[Mudd]

But that's not a story. It's a vague essay.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Space Drugs and space plague = Meth and HIV.

 

[The Overlord]

But that's not a story. It's a vague essay.

Sure it is, it is allegory about a modern political issues.

A Taste of Armageddon was a story where they commented on the Vietnam War and had the Enterprise get involved with a society that runs on computerized war fare. The Hunted had the Enterprise get involved with a society that mistreated it's vets.

This no different, have Discovery get involved with this planet and it's populist problems. Have Discovery have to stop the genocide/looting.

 

[Nerys Myk]

I'm gonna take the word of the guy who's actually written stuff.

 

[The Overlord]

I'm gonna take the word of the guy who's actually written stuff.

You are relying on the same appeal to authority fallacy.

I do not think this an unfeasible idea, it's vague idea sure, but a good writer could flesh it out to a full episode, with good dialogue and proper pacing.

I stand by my believe that my idea is similar in terms of concept to other Star Trek episodes.

 

[Nerys Myk]

You are relying on the same appeal to authority fallacy.

Sometimes experience means something.

 

[The Overlord]

Sometimes experience means something.

Okay, but you are not addressing anything I have said, you are just relying on same fallacy, over and over again.

I don't think my idea is dissimilar to other Star Trek episode, now I have not written a whole script, with dialogue and a proper pace, but from the concept level, I say its sound.

I think it would be a serious missed opportunity not to have some social commentary about modern issues in discovery. My idea my not perfect, but if Star Trek doesn't have social commentary about modern issues, it may as well be pure fantasy like Star Wars is.