I wonder what the color reception of different species is in Star Trek. The comment about 'pink skins' from Joel_Kirk left me thinking about how different species see color differently. Adorians might not be able to see what to them is a very slight difference in color between Africans and Swedes, because all they see is, "It's not blue!" What we see as chocolate and light tan might all be very very bright pink to them. The others colors we see that make us different shades of brown might be much less bright. We all have red blood just under the skin.
Turtles can see infra-red and ultra-violet. Just replace a bulb that is burned out in those spectra in a turtle's tank and watch the reaction. I can't see the difference without a light meter, but the turtle goes nuts. HE sees it easily. It's absolutely clear he sees color differently than I do. (Yes, I have a turtle.)
That said, calling all earth humans pink skins does seem dated, even for the 1990s. I could see it in a story written in 1950, but the 1990s? That's weird.
Good post...
Too, given that term was used by Soval, I wonder when or if it was phased out. For example, an Andorian ambassador coming to a meeting with dark-skinned Admiral (as dark as, say, actor Peter Mensah) around the time of
Axanar probably wouldn't find said Admiral taken too kindly about being called a 'pinkskin.'
I can see him (or her) - human Ambassador or Admiral - saying, "I won't tolerate racism, Ambassador. Address me by my title or as a individual, or this meeting is
over."
The people of Axanar aren't obligated to call out that particular area of racism that originated with the ENT writers....but, again, it is jarring as something you might hear in a 1950s sci-fi story.
This of course assumes that a race of largely blue skinned aliens would have a reason to give a crap about the differences in ethnic groups of a species that at the time was largely technologically inferior to them and barely removed from nuking each other over some likely idiotic arbitrary thing.
True, but it also makes them seem ignorant. And, it begs the question of if they came across a human crew that was predominantly dark-skinned....how would that particular interaction be? Would it show the Andorians racist against humans as a whole or based on skin/shade?
It also begs the question of how others within the Andorian race or treated if they have different shades or colors? (I understand there were albino Andorians, but I forget if there was anything said about differences of treatment).
The Cardassians had their own racial prejudices and chauvinistic attitudes as well, but they were fleshed out and we found out that not everyone held the same beliefs. We don't get this with the Andorians based on how they were portrayed in ENT; they come off one-dimensional in what we are told on their racial views or anything that shows some diversity within the Andorian community.
Again, this goes in line with the Klingons bad-mouthing Kate Vernon's character: While we don't get anything further on the Andorians and their views on race, we do get an idea that Klingons will use harsh language - gender specific in the language of the enemy - to save face.
Based on what we know of Klingons: they like to fight, they do have women who usually hold equal or higher ranks, they seem to pretty much have the same complexions - although, there are some who are darker or lighter than others - and they usually make verbal curses in their own language. However, as stated earlier, the fact that Vernon's character made such an impact in a previous battle...means a couple of people on the opposing side have taken notice and that they are going to bad-mouth her in the language, albeit harsh language, that she is familiar with.
Of course, based on the context, I'm sure the character plans on sending more photon torpedoes 'up their shaft.'
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