"Archons": You make the call.
- Thread starter plynch
- Start date
Uhm okay. That was out of the blue. (or is that red?)
What kind of Orwellian mirror universe world do you live in?
Republicans never attacked Democrats before...right?
My interpretation of Festival was that it was precisely when the species procreated. No festival, no people.
Fixed that for you Sparky!
Take that, all you "Its obviously cuz people just need to blow off steam" Theorists. That's why I like Festival. Never explained.
What if it were FESTIVUS! FESTIVUS! People would be impaling each other with poles and screaming grievances at each other. "You didn't return my sappy greeting sappily enough last week!!"
The "violence and rape" were pretty integral to the episode's theme, hardly an after thought.
Actually, peace and understanding was the integral part. That is why the computer was developed. To make everyone docile in a time of war. Festival was not just procreation. It was also destructive. Throwing rocks. Using clubs. Who cleaned up the mess afterwards?
Let's keep politics out of this forum, OK? I get enough of it elsewhere.
Key phrase: "to the episode". Not the in universe reasons behind the computer creation, but why the writers wrote what they did. There had to be something strange and off to the society. Something that makes Kirk ( and the audience) wonder whats going on and why. The transformation from friendly smiling townsfolk to wanton savages provides that.
Respectfully, I would submit that politics are very much a part of STAR TREK, especially TOS. But TOS's makers were wise enough to be at least somewhat clever and discreet in presenting points of view, instead of launching into outright partisan polemics.
The politics in question was clearly off-topic. Including the name "Landru" in the post in question may make sense to the individual who posted the polemic, but it seems everyone else, including T'Bonz, saw it as OT.
FWIW, that's how I see it.
Thanks for chiming in, T'Bonz.
No.
It's also amazing what people can see when they want to see it.
Here are some additional random thoughts I've had about the episode. Nothing conclusive, but perhaps some may answer.
1) In the context of a group of people, the Body of Christ refers to Christians as a group. Therefore, to me, the terminology "the Body" in this episode has always suggested a parallel between the followers of Landru and Christians.
2) Although I said upthread that I think that Festival is when the people of Beta III procreate, I agree that there is an intended commentary regarding repressed urges. If a parallel to Christianity is intended, then the comment would seem to be that rigid puritanical chastity is unhealthy because it leads to violent expressions of sexuality.
3) There are Judeo-Christian usages of the term archon. The usages vary, but the thrust of the various meanings is an angel who is a leader people. I wonder if any parallel is intended here, and what precisely is meant by "return". Is it that more spacemen (angels) come to Beta III, or is it that real spiritual leaders return to the people of Beta III?
1) In the context of a group of people, the Body of Christ refers to Christians as a group. Therefore, to me, the terminology "the Body" in this episode has always suggested a parallel between the followers of Landru and Christians.
2) Although I said upthread that I think that Festival is when the people of Beta III procreate, I agree that there is an intended commentary regarding repressed urges. If a parallel to Christianity is intended, then the comment would seem to be that rigid puritanical chastity is unhealthy because it leads to violent expressions of sexuality.
3) There are Judeo-Christian usages of the term archon. The usages vary, but the thrust of the various meanings is an angel who is a leader people. I wonder if any parallel is intended here, and what precisely is meant by "return". Is it that more spacemen (angels) come to Beta III, or is it that real spiritual leaders return to the people of Beta III?
I'm not suggesting that it was. I just thought it to be a funny coincidence. "Ru" of course signifies Russia today, because of the Internet domain. From a USA perspective in the 60's, the USSR was repressing their people. The "Iron Curtain" metaphor certainly suggests that. The Archons story applies to repression in general, but we do know that Gene thought about the USSR. Take "Omega Glory" for instance... Yankies and Communists.
So you're suggesting I'm delusional and that Star Trek had no political commentary interwoven into their episode stories?
