Worst stereotype in Trek...
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So, he's wearing a thing on his head, he has a largish nose, and he's greedy.
So, therefore the Ferengi are also negative jewish stereotypes?
Both TOS episodes with Romulans treated them as a group fairly well, and except for the one senator at the beginning of the movie, the Romulans in Nemesis came off well, the one ship commander (forget her name) acted very honorable in coming to Picard's assistance.
Ummm, came off well for people with slaves.
Never have been able to understand some fans objection to that episode. If the guest cast had been composed exclusively of Arabs, would you then say "wow, they're all acting so black?"
Well, maybe Chekov."Captain! I'm frightened!"
Somehow I can't imagine that line coming out of Chekov or Sulu's mouths.
The Ferengi. Armin Shimmerman did his best to flesh them out, but aside from him and his family, they're all just one type stereotypes of greedy, Jewish businessmen.
It's also odd that whenever someone is "half" something, they almost always end up embracing their "alien" half. Spock chose to be a Vulcan. Troi chose to be Betazoid. It's even forced on characters who want to embrace their Human heritage - Torres and Alexander didn't want to embrace their Klingon sides, but others essentially made them.
It's also odd that whenever someone is "half" something, they almost always end up embracing their "alien" half. Spock chose to be a Vulcan. Troi chose to be Betazoid. It's even forced on characters who want to embrace their Human heritage - Torres and Alexander didn't want to embrace their Klingon sides, but others essentially made them.
Up the Long Ladder was possibly the most offensive episode in Trek. Even more so than the far more infamous Code of Honor - in the latter, the issue was all about casting choices, while Up the Long Ladder was written that way.
What makes it even more offensive is the disturbing eugenics policy promoted by the resolution. Stupid backwards immigrants are best as breeding stock to mix with the intelligent but weak scientists bunch
But eugenics are awesome. Look at Khan, he had the greatest Grand Tetons in the universe.
Why does having a big nose and being fat count towards a negative Jewish stereotype? The actor himself doesn't have a particulary large nose and sure, he might be a bit chubby but that isn't part of the characterisation.
He is wearing in that picture what appears to be a Kippah, but a hat means nothing. Guinan wears at times, what appears to be a Sombrero and that doesn't make her Mexican.
Greed is a well known Jewish stereotype, although I've always interpreted it as being more about the stingyness, rather than actual greed. The stereotype couldn't be more wrong though, I know some Jewish people who are some of the most kindest people around.
That's what they were introduced as in TNG. By the time DS9 was done with them however, they had come to fit the "Dirty Jew" stereotype to a tee.
Also notice how they were quite aggressive at their first appearance, with bullwhip styled energy weapons (awesome but impractical tropery there) and military warships capable of standing up to the Enterprise-D... but then they steadily became more pathetic and cowardly as time went on. By the end of DS9 their legendary cowardice was the butt of jokes aplenty.
So, instead of one stereotype, they were supposed to represent another?
"Up the Long Ladder" was bad, for sure.
That was awful. Awful.
Along similar lines, I thought it was a bit uncomfortable that the first time we got an African-American in a speaking role playing a Cardassian had to be Broca, who is basically portrayed as a Dominion toady in a very subservient role. We couldn't have had equal-opportunity casting before Broca's role came up? Cardassians are a diverse bunch, personality-wise, and we got lots of them in speaking roles...it would not have been that hard for people of all races to be able to get speaking roles for the full range of Cardassian personalities, all the way from hero to baddie to toady.
I also agree about the choice people who are "half" something are forced to make on Trek...though I would point out Tora Ziyal as one of the rare cases we see of someone who (shockingly, considering her very racist father) did not seem to experience "hybrid angst."
In one of my fanfics, a character shows up in a bit role who is half-human, half-Vulcan, and serves as ship's chaplain and is seen conducting Advent services.
"Logic" that.
That was awful. Awful.
Along similar lines, I thought it was a bit uncomfortable that the first time we got an African-American in a speaking role playing a Cardassian had to be Broca, who is basically portrayed as a Dominion toady in a very subservient role. We couldn't have had equal-opportunity casting before Broca's role came up? Cardassians are a diverse bunch, personality-wise, and we got lots of them in speaking roles...it would not have been that hard for people of all races to be able to get speaking roles for the full range of Cardassian personalities, all the way from hero to baddie to toady.
I also agree about the choice people who are "half" something are forced to make on Trek...though I would point out Tora Ziyal as one of the rare cases we see of someone who (shockingly, considering her very racist father) did not seem to experience "hybrid angst."
In one of my fanfics, a character shows up in a bit role who is half-human, half-Vulcan, and serves as ship's chaplain and is seen conducting Advent services.
"Logic" that.
That’s a fantasy, not a stereotype. Unless some folks actually believe that all nurses wear miniskirts while on duty.
The Romulans were originally conceived as the “good” bad guys. Warlike and ruthless, but brave, honor-bound and stoic — the whole Greco-Roman thing. Beginning with TNG and the Federation-Klingon alliance, the Rommies and Klingons essentially switched places.
He must be from the Planet of Hats!
Worst stereotype: Chekov, with his over-the-top Russian nationalistic pride. Whatever it was, a Russian did it first! That and the silly accent Walter Koenig used. I’ve never heard a single actual Russian talk English that way (“It’s a Russian inwention!”).
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I woud say its Kivas Fajo.
Ther essential greedy Jew stereotype.
Interestingly, Kivas Fajo wasn't jewish though. And the part was originally going to go to David Rappaport, but he attempted suicide during filming. Saul Rubinneck (pictured above) happened to be attempting to arrange a set visit at the time and was offered the part.
Anything of the part that you see as invoking the "greedy Jew sterotype" can probably be traced to the actor himself... who is jewish.
David Rappaport was also Jewish.
Don't knock the guy, Data was clearly a dangerous artifact.
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Fourthed, come on, we've had electricity for the last couple of years!!
This. This is basically the reason why I always skip the Klingon-centred episodes on DS9, because they drive me up the wall.
That, and their unprovoked war against the Cardassian Union, of course.
About the Jew stereotype, Trey Parker and Matt Stone had a laugh with that in South Park, where they created an alien Jew species that is so offensive you don't know whether to laugh at the absurdity or cry (but hey, it's South Park, so nobody was really surprised).
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