Red shirt here, and I have questions...

[Jake Hall]

I am admittedly very green when it comes to my knowledge of Star Trek. My interest started with the new movies, and has transported me to starting Next Generation as well as the original series, slowly but surely.

This post is not about my meager knowledge, but rather about obtaining knowledge from the experts on the forum. I teach an 8th grade GT English class, and I'm trying to find an episode or two that has something explicitly to do with Colonization. We are collaborating with their social studies class, who just got done talking about American colonization, and I'm trying to bring it into the present day with the idea of space exploration and colonization, with a specific focus on the ethics of going into new territory and taking it over.

If anyone can point me to a specific episode of either the original series or Next Gen that deals with these issues, I could use the teleplay and have them watch it in class so that we could have good discussions... and possibly spawn the next generation of Trekkies.

live long and prosper, ladies and gents.

 

[e3jeremey]

I'd recommend Journeys End, from season seven of The Next Generation. In the episode the crew of the Enterprise is ordered to forcibly remove Native Americans from a planet being yielded to the Cardassians. Also I'd take a look for any episodes that deal with the Marquis. The Marquis were Federation Citizens turned freedom fighters/terrorists dependin on your perspective. They shared territory that bordered or sometimes was even inside Cardassian space and the Federation typically took an appeasement or give it away approach. Not exactly coming in and taking it over but more so seeing it from the other side eyes.

 

[cultcross]

Star Trek Insurrection, the ninth movie, also touches on these themes.

 

[e3jeremey]

Star Trek Insurrection, the ninth movie, also touches on these themes.

It sure does

 

[Bad Thoughts]

TNG's The Ensigns of Command deals with a colony that is forced to uproot. It does not show contact between groups. However, it deals heavily with the mentality of settlers.

 

[ItIsGreen]

I can't think of any instances where anyone goes into a new territory and 'takes over' as such, because they generally don't colonise worlds with existing populations due to the non-interference Prime Directive, so you don't really get situations like the early American and Australian settlers and the native populations.

There's an episode of Enterprise, "Terra Nova", that deals with one of the first human colonies away from Earth, which later declared independence from Earth so there are some parallels with the USA/Britain there - turns out the colonists are all suffering from radiation poisoning and Captain Archer has to decide whether to return them to Earth for treatment at the cost of their culture or help them find a way to survive.

A fairly awful early TNG episode, "Up the Long Ladder", deals with two colonies with opposing views who initally set out on the same ship but got separated for centuries, reunited and forced to merge because of difficulties each would face on their own.

"Journey's End" and ST:Insurrection, as mentioned above, touch on the ethics of forced removal of existing colonies.

Not quite colonisation, but the TOS episode "A Private Little War" looks at the effects and ethics of interference in a primitive society by more advanced powers, and war-by-proxy (between the Federation and the Klingons).

 

[Tracy Trek]

I can't think of the title of the episode. Tasha Yar's sister was on board. Tasha and her sister grew up in a colony that failed and it became a majorly dystopian society with warring factions.

 

[cultcross]

Legacy

 

[Bad Thoughts]

TNG's Home Soil looks at scientist who are terraforming a planet in preparation from colonization. However, it is reveals that the scientists are killing native species, perhaps out of willing ignorance of their sentience.

 

[The Old Mixer]

TNG's Home Soil looks at scientist who are terraforming a planet in preparation from colonization. However, it is reveals that the scientists are killing native species, perhaps out of willing ignorance of their sentience.

And I was just about to mention the far superior TOS episode that it was thinly remaking, "The Devil in the Dark."

 

[Bad Thoughts]

And I was just about to mention the far superior TOS episode that it was thinly remaking, "The Devil in the Dark."

Definitely superior.

 

[Triskelion]

Nice idea!

One issue here is that Trek largely deals with dramatic nuances rather than basic concepts of contact and settlement.

Maquis episodes are more about independent worlds wishing to remain independent. Final Mission, Homeward, and Insurrection deal with ethics of micromanagement (and covert observation to preserve indigenous cultures in the latter two). Home Soil seems better suited to an invasive species theme., as would some other "weird alien" episodes.

The High Ground has some fertile ground for discussions of the fight for independence from superordinate government, and the question of diplomatic involvement. Though it might generate more discussion about terrorism.

The Masterpiece Society deals with the issue of cultural contamination.

The Vengence Factor, Loud as a Whisper, and Attached deal with diplomatic negotiation of local conflicts.

First Contact (the TV episode) examines resistence to outside influence.

Other Star Trek series may have dealt with this issue in more variations.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

Other Star Trek series may have dealt with this issue in more variations.

Technically, lots of DS9 episodes deal with life after decolonization.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

Yes, Duet, Necessary Evil, Things Past, and Wrongs Darker Than Night and Death all deal with specific aspects of colonialism or imperialism.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Home Soil, kinda.

 

[MacLeod]

You also have "Paradise" from Deep Space Nine.

 

[USS Triumphant]

"The Devil In The Dark". Or, going outside of Trek but staying sci-fi, "Avatar".