Perpetuating Star Trek...

[Warped9]

The posts below are from another thread that suggests another subject to me.

In the 1970s, creative fans made their own "Star Trek" to the best of their abilities because Paramount wouldn't. Fans are still doing this, utilizing increasingly sophisticated technology and social networking. That's a positive alternative to resenting what Hollywood produces or resenting the fact that so many people enjoy it instead of sharing an enthusiasm for the older versions.

And on that point I've written stories of the kind that TPTB won't do anymore, I develop projects that reflect aspects of Star Trek that we never got to see and I'm trying to write original SF that perpetuates aspects of Star Trek that TPTB now ignore.

How--if you do at all--do you perpetuate Star Trek or aspects thereof that you might find lacking in the franchise?

For me:
- fanfic in stories of the kind we used to get in TOS.
- developing schematics of science and tech that we never got to see but could have existed.
- photomanipulation to create scenes of events that happened offscreen (a form of fanfic I suppose)
- writing original SF that reflects aspects of Star Trek that are not seen or explored anymore.

 

[Maurice]

I miss stories that are actually ABOUT something. Like, have a theme...

But the fan efforts are ususally devoid of this as well.

 

[RookieBatman]

I think fanfiction is probably the most direct way to do it. Certainly, if you have tons of money, you can do a fanfilm, but for most of us real people, if we won't to chart our own strange new worlds, fanfic is the way to go. Still, it can be a little unsatisfying, because you already know what's gonna happen at the end of the story; there's no mystery, no sense of wonder (which is one of the highest values of Star Trek for me). So, it's tricky, because you can fill in the blanks of what you feel is lacking in the franchise, but ultimately, it might not prove too entertaining for you. That's kind of the point I'm stuck at right now. I keep going in and out of the idea of doing Trek fanfic, because I want to put my own spin on this incredible world, but if I write it, there really won't be any discoveries for me to experience. It ends up getting boring pretty quick.
Is that what you were asking or did I miss the point?

 

[Triskelion]

I miss stories that are actually ABOUT something. Like, have a theme...

But the fan efforts are ususally devoid of this as well.

Any particular examples?

 

[Nerys Myk]

I'm not too fond of the fanfics or fanfilms. The few I've read or watched just didnt work for me. The Tech stuff is fun if they leave the editorializing at the door. Just concentrate on extrapolating the tech and ignore the personal bugaboos derived from fanon, canon and continuity. I had fun creating a website about the various Aliens/races/cultures in TOS, though others did it nuch better. I stuck to what was presented in the Episodes mostly and occasionally drew conclusions that I hoped were logical extrapolations.

If I feel the need to "see" new Trek adventure I usually head to the book store and pick up some Official Trek Lit. Mostly its TOS or ENT, but I do enjoy Titan. Since there is a "moratorium" on TOSLit I might have to venture into the 24th Century more often.

 

[Maurice]

I miss stories that are actually ABOUT something. Like, have a theme...
But the fan efforts are ususally devoid of this as well.

Any particular examples?

Well, a theme is what the story is about, not the plot. For instance, a theme is something like "the worst of us is capable of acts of selflessless" or "man confronts his own beliefs and find them lacking and has to decide how to live in light of that". If Trek, or fan films do it, it's typically ham fisted stuff like facing death bravely...easy, obvious stuff.

 

[Triskelion]

Sure, but any episodes in particular float your boat?

 

[KeepOnTrekking]

For me, it's taking what's available in filmed ST, novels, fanfic, etc. and filling in the pieces for my own personal canon of how the overall themes from the show should have evolved.

e.g. The theme of Kirk/Spock/McCoy as ambition/logic/emotion throughout the 5 year mission. Spock learning to accept the value of his emotion in STTMP. I assume that there is a 2nd 5 year mission after STTMP and like to read stories that I see as part of that 2nd 5 year mission and how Spock grows in his development of using his emotions.

Like "Spock's World," Spock has accepted his human side in STTMP and can now explore being the best of both worlds as Kirk suggested in Roddenberry's STTMP novelization. Then, Vulcan decides to withdraw from the Federation and anyone not in compliance if this new law would be exiled. This must have been a trying time for Spock to accept both sides of his heritage only to have the possibility of his Vulcan home being shut out to him forever. How does Spock bring what he has learned in STTMP to the Vulcan public at large during the debates? How does Kirk and McCoy help him? How does this contrast with Sarek and T'Pau's approach? Or T'Pring's for that matter? This is the meat of the subject that I like to explore in my own canon.

I like reading through Orion Press and looking for fanfic that has Xon onboard so I can see how Spock is changing in his acceptance of emotions and how he is contrasting against Xon's entirely logical character. Xon's character would provide a function in highlighting Spock's in a way that Kirk and the others could never do. As Nimoy has said, "If you use my character use me well." Xon's would certainly fulfill a need in that area.

Is this the time when Spock found Saavik and became a mentor to her? Was it a part of identifying with others and passing along his experiences to those with similar questions? Did Amanda help raise her while Spock was still on the Enterprise? Did this further his growing interest in reaching out to Romulus later on?

In The Best of Trek #11, there's an article by Elizabeth Rigel about Sulu/Chekov/ Uhura has maybe representing faith/hope/love. How could these secondary characters be represented and expanded exploring a spiritual side interacting with this new Spock and titillating him in a way that McCoy used to on an emotional level. Does Spock's emotional side bring him fulfillment or simply bring him new questions? Like those of religion? Does Spock's experiences in Wrath of Khan, Search for Spock, Voyage Home, & Final Frontier bring him a catharsis into questioning these spiritual questions more directly. We see in Undiscovered Country that he has a picture in his quarters of man leaving paradise. Spock tells Valaris that it is a reminder to him of all things coming to an end. Is this foreshadowing of his decision to leaving the Enterprise when it's decommissioned to finally follow in his father's footsteps and become an ambassador? Which in turn leads into his appearance much later in "Unification?"

For me this is the stuff of which TOS is made of.

 

[Sector 7]

KeepOnTrekking, I thoroughly enjoyed reading your views. You expressed yourself well. I had not heard of the ambition/logic/emotion and faith/hope/love comparisons before now.
Thank You!

 

[KeepOnTrekking]

Thanks, Sector 7!! If you're interested more in the logic/ambition/emotion applications to TOS, I would also suggest a couple of articles by Joyce Tullock in The Best of Trek series if you can find them at a used book store or library. "Friendship--in the Balance" is found in The Best of Trek #4 and "Brother, My Soul: Spock, McCoy, and the Man in the Mirror" in The Best of Trek #9 both examine this area much more thoroughly than I could. It always gives me a lot of food for thought when exploring for new ideas in Trek.

 

[Maurice]

Sure, but any episodes in particular float your boat?

Episodes of what? Fan films? TOS?

 

[Warped9]

At some point I want to create my own website with one part of it devoted to my own things and the other devoted to Star Trek.

 

[Triskelion]

Sure, but any episodes in particular float your boat?

Episodes of what? Fan films? TOS?

I was just asking for an example. I think I agree with your point but now I'm not sure. Never mind. Ah the good old days. Whatever that means.

 

[Maurice]

Sure, but any episodes in particular float your boat?

Episodes of what? Fan films? TOS?

I was just asking for an example. I think I agree with your point but now I'm not sure. Never mind. Ah the good old days. Whatever that means.

All I asked was for clarification on what kind of example you wanted. I'd have happily answered had you clarified.

That your question was vague isn't my fault.