Kirk's Medal(s)

[LMFAOschwarz]

In both This Side of Paradise and The Tholian Web, we see a shot of a medal of Kirk's. I'm not sure what each is supposed to represent exactly, but presumably they denote a past achievement of some sort...



My question is, do they supposedly represent the same medal, albeit with a different prop used? It seems like a lot of work to make two, which would represent two different achievements, considering that no specific meaning is attached to either one.

 

[GSchnitzer]

In both This Side of Paradise and The Tholian Web, we see a shot of a medal of Kirk's. I'm not sure what each is supposed to represent exactly, but presumably they denote a past achievement of some sort...



My question is, do they supposedly represent the same medal, albeit with a different prop used? It seems like a lot of work to make two, which would represent two different achievements, considering that no specific meaning is attached to either one.

Neither script describes the medal other than "a medal." Since The Tholian Web script doesn't say something like "the same we saw in 'This Side of Paradise'," or "a different medal from the one we saw in 'This Side of Paradise"," I'm not sure we could ever divine the props' intent.

 

[LMFAOschwarz]

The little medallions are interesting, if a bit generic. One appears to be a figure standing on some steps, with a few others standing in the background, while holding something in his arm, and the other arm raised.

The other one is a figure with both arms raised, almost in a basketball-player pose. I don't know enough about classical symbolism to assume any meaning from them.

While viewing the one in The Tholian Web (right), McCoy is saying "He was a hero in every sense of the word, yet his life was sacrificed for nothing", so I'm assuming that medal must represent some heroic act. The other, which Kirk is looking at, I assume to represent perhaps his attainment of command, because I can't see him looking at one thinking "Boy, I sure was heroic!".

I'm supposing that the boxes they are in may have been cigar boxes originally.

 

[Metryq]

A partial list of Kirk's decorations is given in "Court Martial." The one that always makes me smile is "Starfleet citation for Conspicuous Gallantry." What does that mean—that Kirk paused in the middle of the action to strike a heroic pose, then dove back into the action? (You never know when some time traveling historian is on the loose with a camera.)

 

[2takesfrakes]

You can see the outline of whatever the box originally contained still in the cloth of the one on the left. That's sort of cheesey ...

 

[Green Shirt]

You can see the outline of whatever the box originally contained still in the cloth of the one on the left. That's sort of cheesey ...

I hate to go there, but it looks like the outline of a penis medal.


Anyway, someone identified the actual real world medals used in a thread long ago.

 

[F. King Daniel]

I'd love to see a close-up of Kirk's medal in Star Trek for comparison. Are any good pics out there?

 

[J.T.B.]

The one that always makes me smile is "Starfleet citation for Conspicuous Gallantry." What does that mean—that Kirk paused in the middle of the action to strike a heroic pose, then dove back into the action?

Heh, that reading never occurred to me. It's borrowed British terminology that goes back to one of their older military decorations, the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal.

Anyway, someone identified the actual real world medals used in a thread long ago.

I think the consensus was that they were generic trophy shop athletic/sports medals.

 

[BK613]

Anyway, someone identified the actual real world medals used in a thread long ago.

I think the consensus was that they were generic trophy shop athletic/sports medals.

Agreed.

 

[plynch]

The box imprint might just be loose satin that fell that way upon opening. Not necessarily a close-fitting case for something else now missing.

 

[Poltargyst]

You can see the outline of whatever the box originally contained still in the cloth of the one on the left. That's sort of cheesey ...

I hate to go there, but it looks like the outline of a penis medal.

Oh, if anyone's deserves a medal, I'm sure it's Kirk's.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

Neither script describes the medal other than "a medal." Since The Tholian Web script doesn't say something like "the same we saw in 'This Side of Paradise'," or "a different medal from the one we saw in 'This Side of Paradise"," I'm not sure we could ever divine the props' intent.

The intent may not have been explicit and thought out, but the end result is that we clearly see two different medals. One is awarded for getting women to surrender and the other is for climbing staircases naked.

 

[PCz911]

Interesting topic. But, don't get me wrong, all I could do was think about this being a scene in galaxy quest. My apologies for the snickering. Especially with some of the responses (stair climbing...). Very good.

 

[J.T.B.]

Just imagine Frank Gorshin saying "Of course they're different medals! Look, that ribbon is red on the right side instead of the left!"

 

[Metryq]

One is awarded for getting women to surrender and the other is for climbing staircases naked.

Kirk also has medals for talking computers to death, dramatic pauses and shoulder rolls. And he took the Grand Chess Master of Vulcan award three years in a row.