The Routledge Handbook of Star Trek

Description

The Routledge Handbook of Star Trek offers a synoptic overview of Star Trek, its history, its influence, and the scholarly response to the franchise, as well as possibilities for further study. This volume aims to bridge the fields of science fiction and (trans)media studies, bringing together the many ways in which Star Trek franchising, fandom, storytelling, politics, history, and society have been represented. Seeking to propel further scholarly engagement, this Handbook offers new critical insights into the vast range of Star Trek texts, narrative strategies, audience responses, and theoretical themes and issues. This compilation includes both established and emerging scholars to foster a spirit of communal, trans-generational growth in the field and to present diversity to a traditional realm of science fiction studies. Cover Half Title Series Information Dedication Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Illustrations Contributors Acknowledgments Abbreviations Introduction: Open Hailing Frequencies References Part I Television Series 1 Star Trek: The Original Series Production History Cultural and Historical Contexts Legacy References 2 Star Trek: The Animated Series Star Trek’s Final Season Or the Best Star Trek Series (Re)Animating Star Trek Star Trek—Or Not? More Animated Than Ever Notes References 3 Star Trek: The Next Generation Production History Cultural and Historical Contexts Legacy References 4 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Production History Cultural and Historical Context Legacy References 5 Star Trek: Voyager Production History Cultural and Historical Context Representing Women New Age, Spirituality, and Religion Legacy Notes References 6 Star Trek: Enterprise Production History Context and Themes Legacy References 7 Star Trek: Discovery Bracing for Impact: Discovery’s Rocky Production History Setting Course for the Post-Network Era Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations? Fighting for the Future Conclusion: Discovery’s Legacy? References 8 Star Trek: Picard References 9 Star Trek: Lower Decks References Part II Movies 10 Star Trek: The Motion Picture Production History Context and Themes Legacy References 11 Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan A Middle-Aged Admiral, Übermenschen From the Past, and the Hubris of Mass Creation Production History Themes and Legacy Notes References 12 Star Trek III: The Search for Spock Production History Context and Themes Legacy References 13 Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home Production History Production Context Legacy References 14 Star Trek V: The Final Frontier Production History Legacy References 15 Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country Production History Context and Themes Legacy References 16 Star Trek Generations Production History Context and Themes Legacy References 17 Star Trek: First Contact Production History Context and Themes Legacy References 18 Star Trek: Insurrection Production History Context and Themes Legacy References 19 Star Trek Nemesis Production History Context and Themes Legacy References 20 Star Trek (2009) Star Trek Goes Quantum Conclusion: “Trek in Name Only”? References 21 Star Trek Into Darkness Production History Context and Themes Legacy Note References 22 Star Trek Beyond Production History Context and Themes Legacy References Part III Transmedia and Franchising 23 Star Trek as a Transmedia Storyworld References 24 Star Trek as Franchise References 25 Novels Prestige Economies Bantam-Era Star Trek Novels, 1968–79 The Pocket Books Era, 1979–2005 Pocket Books and the Post-Series Continuity Era, 2005–17 Star Trek Novels After DSC, 2017– References 26 Comics Before The Wrath of Khan (1967–82) DC, Malibu, Marvel, and Tokyopop (1983–2002) IDW (2006–the Present) Conclusion: Countdown to PIC References 27 Reference Works and Guides The Origins of Star Trek Reference Works (1960s–1980s) “Official” Guides and Canonicity (Late 1980s–1990s) The Guide to the Star Trek Galaxy (1990s–2000s) Contemporary Reference Works and Guides (2000s–2010s) Conclusion References 28 Board and Video Games Board Games Video Games Conclusion Notes References 29 Music Title Themes The Musical Scores of Star Trek (A Short Overview) Worldbuilding Classical Music, Humanity, and Cultural Colonization Conclusion Notes References 30 Merchandise References Part IV Fandom and Paratexts 31 Fandom History Origins of Sf Fandom and Conventions: A Primer Formative Decades: Star Trek at Cons and in Zines Sustained Growth and Fandom Goes Digital Notes References 32 Fandom Around the World International Appeal and IDIC in Action Ways to Organize Online Russian Fan Activities Conclusion Acknowledgements Note References Acknowledgements 33 Fan Fiction Defining and Historicizing Star Trek Fanfiction Gen Fic and Equitable Futures Slash Fic: Performing Pleasure Through Imagined Equity Fanfiction and the Future Note References 34 Fanvids What (And Why) Are Fanvids? Where Does Vidding Come From? Looking at Star Trek Through Vids Showing the Facets of TOS Character Study Vidding Reflecting On the Franchise Conclusion Note References 35 Fan Tourism and Conventions Conventions and Exhibitions Experiences and Locations Riverside, Iowa Conclusion References 36 Fandom and Intellectual Property Rights The Joy of Trek Axanar Boldly Go Conclusion References 37 Documentaries Star Trek’s Social Future Star Trek/Star Text Fandom as Method Conclusion References 38 Parody and Homage References 39 Pornography References 40 Star Trek in the Classroom, Science, and Professional Lives Using Star Trek to Teach the Sciences Teaching Beyond the Sciences Lifelong Learning and Collaboration References Part V Social Themes 41 History and Historiography References 42 Sex and Romance Notes References 43 Environment and Ecology Outer Spatial Environments Alien Ecologies Terraforming and Extractivism Technology, Queer Affect, Ecology Conclusion Notes References 44 War and Conflict Introduction: No Conflict Among Starfleet Officers Anglo-American Wars in Space Historical and Future History Wars On-Screen Wars The Effect of War and Conflict On Individuals Conclusion Notes References 45 Colonialism and Imperialism References 46 Religion and Spirituality Perspective and the Ambivalent Nature of the Divine Commitment and the Shifting Nature of Faith Where We Go From Here—Boldly Or Otherwise References 47 Science and Technology Public Understanding of Science and Star Trek Framing and Accepting the Other: Scientific Utopia Cautionary Tales The Body as Host Conclusion Notes References 48 Medicine and Care Fulfilling the Deontological Imperative Willingness to Sacrifice Oneself Compassionate Regard for the Other Eschewing the Technocratic Paradigm Where Is Medicine Boldly Going? Notes References 49 Language and Communication Culture and the Politics of Communication Untranslatables Metaphors Morals Xenolinguistics and Cosmopolitanism: Our Future and the Star Trek Future References Part VI Social History 50 Race Turn On, Tune In, Warp Out 1990s’ Star Trek Stay Black Race Across the Galaxy Race in the Future Notes References 51 Gender References 52 Queerness I: Representations of Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual People Star Trek: A Very Straight History Promise Unfulfilled Queerness, Yes; Queers, No Sulu 1.0, Revised Sulu 2.0 Discovery of Gay Men…and a Lesbian Conclusion References 53 Queerness II: Transgender and Nonbinary Representation The J’naii: TNG’s Accidental Trans Alien Allegory The Trill: Star Trek’s Symbiotic Trans Species? Quark and the Trope of the Deceptive Trans Woman Data’s Offspring: Self-Determined Gender Assignment From Multigendered Species to Pregnant Men: Trans Identities as Alien to Humanity Discovery: A Surprising Name and the “Species Reassignment Protocol” Moving Away From Troubling Allegories? Star Trek’s Ambivalent Trans Legacy Note References 54 Disability Defamiliarization Technology and Cure Productivity and Precarity Identity and Humanity Conclusion References 55 Age and Aging Old Age as a Social Construct The Miniskirt as a Promise Sudden Aging Space Is for the Young Old People Must Die The Elderly Are the Other The Media’s Effect On Ageism References 56 Nonhumanoid Alien Life Picard Can’t Ever Quite Ride a Horse No Life As We Know It Medicine Or Exobiology? Non-interference The Thoughts and Shifting Passions of the Beast References 57 Posthuman Life Androids Holograms Cyborgs AI Apocalypses in Contemporary Star Trek Note References 58 Economic Systems References 59 Ethics Command Over Life and Death Society and Self-Determination Conclusion References 60 Utopia Utopian Essentials Politics and Economy Star Trek as a Weak Utopia Utopias in Star Trek The Borg Conclusion Notes References Index