tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7629130.post115232280625862105..comments2023-05-30T10:15:40.341-04:00Comments on Comics Ate My Brain: "Just My Job, Five Days A Week": Diffusing Star Trek's Allegorical Shorthand For The 24th CenturyTom Bonduranthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07209820912557263080noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7629130.post-1160620186701735912006-10-11T22:29:00.000-04:002006-10-11T22:29:00.000-04:00I want to say that by the time TNG rolled around, ...I want to say that by the time TNG rolled around, Roddenberry had become fond of the idea that technology <EM>would</EM> free humanity to be utopian. This was expressed in the phrase "Technology Unchained," which apparently meant the new <EM>Enterprise</EM> was more magical (within reason) than its predecessors had been. Thus, you have the Holodeck, where Picard can be a gumshoe, but a couple of seasons later we see that Barclay is using it for ... well, for pornography, not to put too fine a point on it. It brings to mind the early drafts of "City on the Edge of Forever," where instead of McCoy going back in time, it's a no-name <EM>Enterprise</EM> crewman who's a drug addict. That got nixed because Roddenberry didn't want drug addicts on his nigh-perfect crew, and arguably "City" is stronger for McCoy's humanistic perspective being in the mix. (I wonder -- did they ever tell him how he changed history; and if so, what was his reaction? How does "first do no harm" factor in?)<BR/><BR/>Anyway, thanks for commenting, and don't let me stop you if you're not finished. These "upgraded" Treks we're getting now are really kind of fun to watch, moreso for the chance to revisit the old show than for the new effects (although the new effects are neat too). I've got an appreciation for "The Naked Time" percolating, but I'll have to get some screencaps ready before it goes live....<BR/><BR/>[Word verification: BETMX, obviously referring to that outdated video format]Tom Bonduranthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07209820912557263080noreply@blogger.com