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Amok Time and the gay thing

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Plum

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Hi,
It wasn't too long ago I managed to catch Amok Time and the terrific new landscapes the CBS team created. I hadn't watched Amok Time in many moons, so it was a pleasure.

I had three giant revelations watching.

First. Written by Theodore Sturgeon.

Second. the story. Spock has a mysterious sexuality he keeps "in the closet" and is even frightened about talking of it to Kirk, his closest friend.

Third. Written by Theodore Sturgeon.

haha.

Trekkie fandom has always had a small core of gay fans, and I don't mean just for the k/s fiction from the 70s. I wonder if the gay community picked up on Amok Time and it's themes? Has theodore sturgeon commented on the script ever?

Thanx in advance Trek history lovers. :)
 
Certainly love and sexuality in all its variations were themes pervasive in Sturgeon's work, and that's fully evident in "Amok Time" - a tv story whose plot is entirely driven by sexual issues written at a time when none of the characters are even allowed to use the word "sex" on screen:

KIRK: Biology as in...reproduction?
(beat)
Well...it's nothing to be embarrassed about, Mr. Spock. The birds and the bees do it.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't be surprised if the show has been interpreted as dealing with homosexuality by some folks; I think that Sturgeon's working more directly with the theme of cultural repression of sexuality generally.

As for Sturgeon being gay...well, not that I've heard. He had sexual relationships with women throughout his life.
 
Mmm, considering the times, and the mini-skirts, it was definitely a theme in the culture then. Homosexuality was still a very taboo thing then, still very underground I imagine.

It's great to get a perspective that remembers the times, thanks. Helps to put things into it's own time and context. Rewatching Amok Time as someone who is now familiar with Theodore Sturgeon my mind just had to marvel at how complex Trek can be at times. And hey, the 7 year itch/Pon Far thing? Of course, this might be a Gene rewrite as Sturgeon's script was quite different from the one shot I hear.

I've been googling a bit but can't find any words from Sturgeon about the ep.
 
This is just another thread that reminds me how unique and groundbreaking TOS really was. If we compare it to other series on the air at the time (and even now), it is hard to find such a thought provoking TV program.

I'm sure we all know that the huge fan response to Nimoy's portrayal of Spock was a major factor in having his character featured in the first episode of the second season.

I have never figured out why his character did not evolve in the third season. Even Nimoy has commented that third season Star Trek was not very good, and especially for the character of Spock.
 
I never thought as Amok Time being a gay episode. But I have noticed that when Spock admits his "problem" to Kirk, the Captain discreetly glances at Spock's crotch. "There's nothing to be embarrased about Mr. Spock (hmmm, I wonder how he's put together down there!). The birds and the bees do it."
 
"Sex" wasn't the issue here. Spock wasn't looking for a good time. This was about reproduction - hardly a "gay" issue.
 
My take has always been that Sturgeon was straight but sympathetic to all forms of love and sexuality. A man far ahead of his times in this and many many other respects.

Sir Rhosis
 
Sir Rhosis said:
My take has always been that Sturgeon was straight but sympathetic to all forms of love and sexuality
Click to expand...

See, it always puzzles me why people can't assume this in the beginning :confused:

Perhaps the episode was about puberty and all that. Kirk as the father figure, Spock the son who was experienced in many ways except for sexual intimacy. Um, it sort of breaks down after that, I didn't have to try and kill my Dad for my first shag :p Maybe it was a story about a man taking his son to a prostitute to lose his virginity. Bones, um, kindly uncle?
 
^^^
Hahaha, well, that version I'd watch too! :lol:

BriGuy said:
"Sex" wasn't the issue here. Spock wasn't looking for a good time. This was about reproduction - hardly a "gay" issue.
Click to expand...

And thanks for joining us on "I take everything literally" TV. Prises at the door.
 
A deleted scene shows Kirk finding a bunch of Vulcan girly magazines under Spock's bed.

Robert
 
Sir Rhosis said:
My take has always been that Sturgeon was straight but sympathetic to all forms of love and sexuality.
Click to expand...
I forget whether it was Damon Knight or Robert Heinlein who explained it quite precisely: love is the great theme Sturgeon found most interesting, and he wished to write about it to some extent in pretty near any story.
 
The Squire of Gothos said:
Perhaps the episode was about puberty and all that. Kirk as the father figure, Spock the son who was experienced in many ways except for sexual intimacy. Maybe it was a story about a man taking his son to a prostitute to lose his virginity.
Click to expand...

On a very special episode of "Spock at 15."
 
Since Spock's the ultimate outsider, its cool that the gay community can take some "ownership" of him. I have no idea if it was intentional or not with Amok Time, but its a valid interpretation. Personally, I always thought this one was targeted and teenagers in their awkward adolescences. We all feel like Spock now and then, really.
 
"A man far ahead of his times in this and many many other respects."

Or one could argue a very backward man, as open acceptance of homosexuality is found in Greek & Roman times of antiquity.
 
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