Overview
For your final exam, please choose one of the following:
1. Respond to TWO of the following prompts in at least 600-800 words each.
OR
2. Conversely, you may if you wish, respond to ONE prompt in 1200 to 1600 words. For the first option, refer to at least two episodes for each prompt you address. For the second option, refer to at least three episodes in depth.
PLEASE NOTE: Your PRIMARY examples must come from episodes discussed since week 5. Your PRIMARY examples must come from episodes discussed in class.
Your Primary Example must come from one of the following episodes:
Episodes for Week 6: “The Trouble with Tribbles” (TOS); "The Outcast" (TNG); “The Quickening (DS9); “Stigma” (Enterprise)
Episodes for Week 7: The Day the Earth Stood Still (excerpts from original movie and remake); “The Mark of Gideon” (TOS); “Force of Nature” (TNG); “Shakaar” (DS9)
Episodes for Week 8: The Day the Earth Stood Still (excerpts from original movie and remake); Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home; episodes from Discovery (in class)
Episodes for Week 9: Media: "Measure of a Man"(TNG); Discovery and Picard opening episodes
Episodes for Week 10: Fan movies and shorts (to be assigned); podcast workshops, peer reviews, and course conclusions
Primary Example means that you have to pick two characters OR plots in the episode for your topic.
1. We have often discussed how significant or insignificant the issue of representation is in the Star Trek universe in its portrayal as a utopia, limited utopia, or a dystopia, and how it reflects the ideas of the time it was created. How do these representations, particularly that of gender and race, function as a reflection on what our own goals are as a society, and how our own views have evolved over time?
2. We have discussed how Star Trek presents technology as savior, and how that does or does not hold true for modern times. Show one example of how Star Trek uses technology as savior/ destroyer , and contrast it to how we understand technology now. Is there a way beyond technology? Or are we still beholden to the ideas of technology in order to better ourselves?
3. We have discussed how limited / progressive Star Trek is in discussing issues that may or may not have been so easily visible in society such as race, gender, sexuality, social issues etc. Consider the influence that Star Trek had as a pop cultural symbol. Was Star Trek able to make awkward topics easier to discuss? In addition, how influential do you think that Star Trek was and continues to be in enabling such discussions?