By Howard Ho
DAILY BRUIN SENIOR STAFF
[email protected]
 www.georgetakei.com
The original 1966 “Star Trek” crew boldly went where
no TV show went before. The progressive multi-racial crew, which
included a Russian and an Asian minus the stereotypes, serve as
subjects of a new SMC class.
Yesterday’s pop culture is today’s art. That axiom
applies today as well, when Santa Monica College begins its fall
quarter with a new class, “The Philosophy of “˜Star
Trek.'”
Co-taught by professors Amber Katherine and Jim Stramel, the
class is an introduction to philosophy through the 1960s pop
culture phenomenon that has spawned four television series,
numerous books and annual fan conventions.
“No philosophical knowledge is required, and no knowledge
of
Star Trek is required,” Katherine said. “Basically
we’re piggy-backing on the work that’s already been
done by philosophers in the field, using “Star Trek” as
a tool for teaching intro-level philosophy. It’s more
interesting and fun to bring pop culture into the
classroom.”
Indeed, as there are classes at UCLA on the history of film and
television; The Beatles, as its own genre of pop culture, is making
its way into the curriculum. But “Star Trek” in a class
represents a philosophy not just for idiots.
“The people that put Star Trek together are reading the
history of Eastern philosophy,” Katherine said.
“They’re reading Plato, Aristotle, and they’re
familiar with Descartes, the social contract theorists (Hobbes,
Locke and Rousseau) and the debates between the rationalists and
the purists. The reason it’s such a good tool for teaching
philosophy is the people who put the show together are basing it on
the philosophy we’re trying to teach.”
Star Trek was seen as a socially-progressive show, with its
multi-racial cast minus the stereotypes that were ubiquitous on
other shows. William Shatner and Nichelle Nichols did the first
interracial television kiss on Star Trek. Hikaru Sulu, played by
UCLA alumnus George Takei, was an Asian on television without a
silly accent.
“That was, at that time, a breakthrough thought. I was
privileged and honored and blessed to have been cast to play that
role,” Takei said.
According to Katherine, the show’s creator, Gene
Roddenberry, actually designed the show to stimulate philosophical
debate. One such show, “Measure of a Man,” deals with
whether a machine can have human rights. On the show, Data, an
android, doesn’t want to be unassembled for scientists to
study how he was made. Another show had a race of a single gender
alien species, raising questions of whether gender is human nature
or socially-constructed.
“Roddenberry’s thought was that TV is a powerful
medium of communication, for education, inspiration, and is
galvanizing people on issues,” Takei said.
Some people also argue that Star Trek is racist, citing all the
captains are white and the characters are often racialized, such as
the hot-tempered Klingon aliens. Katherine will raise questions in
the class that she hopes will promote discussion.
After watching a television episode, the class will discuss the
philosophical issue it addressed and possible alternate solutions
than the ones presented on the show. Like any other philosophy
class, there will also be a midterm and final. Katherine hopes to
interest students in the subject through an accessible show.
“Sure, I would take the class. Why not? I like science
fiction,” said UCLA fourth-year computer science student
David McAtee. “I’m a big “˜Star Wars’ fan.
If they had a philosophy of “˜Star Wars,’ I would take
it.”
For a philosophy class, however, Katherine does not think
“Star Wars” would serve the same function as
“Star Trek.”
“The intention of the “˜Star Wars’ series is
entertainment,” Katherine said. “It’s war, like
cowboys and Indians in space. But “˜Star Trek’ has a
history, rooted in Roddenberry’s vision of creating
television series that stimulate the mind, not just provide
entertainment.”
Perhaps today’s thoughtful shows, such as “The
Simpsons,” will become fodder for future UCLA syllabi. After
all, Shakespeare didn’t know his popular plays would become
today’s high classical art.