Original ‘Star Trek’ star blasts Trump — and his supporters:
Feb 25, 2020 10:30:29 #
‘A particularly heinous moment in American history’
As a genre, science fiction offers a vision of the future. But that vision is filtered through the present and the past. The way that a given science fiction story negotiates those tensions is one of the factors that separates the truly great from those stories which are middling, common, and forgettable.
Gene Roddenberry’s “Star Trek”, which debuted on American television in 1966, endures because his hopeful vision of a future human society that had survived and matured beyond war, racism, sexism, bigotry, famine, greed, nationalism, environmental destruction, and other anti-social behavior, inspires its audience to be their best selves.
Over the course of more than five decades, Roddenberry’s initial vision of what he described as “Wagon Train” set in space and with a “message of the week” grew to include eight television series and now 13 films. The “Star Trek” universe – for better and for worse – also includes a plethora of novels, comic books, and video games.
Defend democracy. Click to invest in courageous progressive journalism today.
More than 50 years later, how has “Star Trek’s” original and hopeful vision of the future reconciled itself with a human society that seems – especially at present with the Age of Trump and the rise of the Global Right – to have betrayed its best potential?
In an effort to answer that question, I recently spoke with Walter Koenig, who had portrayed the Pavel Chekov on the original “Star Trek” series and in seven of the subsequent canonical films. “Generations” was Koenig’s final appearance in the official “Star Trek” films.
In this conversation, Koenig shares his deep worries and concerns about the state of the world and American society in the Age of Trump. Koenig also reflects on both the power and dangers of hope in troubled and challenging times. Koenig also shares how he found acting as his vocation and the ways that he tried to best embody Chekov on “Star Trek” and the character Bester on “Babylon 5”.
The actor also explains what it means for him to finally start to walk away from the character of Chekov by no longer attending as many “Star Trek” conventions and other popular culture gatherings and events.
Koenig will be appearing this week, Friday, Feb. 28 to Sunday, March 1 at C2E2, the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo, which is held at McCormick Place.
It has been 50-some years since the original “Star Trek” debuted on television and yet, here we are still talking about the series. How are you feeling? How are you reconciling “Star Trek’s” hopeful vision of the future with where we have ended up in the United States and around the world?
“Star Trek” and the state of the world? On one end it is an atomic pit where an explosion has just occurred. The state of the world is dreadful. It depresses me to no end. “Star Trek” is a welcome respite from the infamy of the Trump administration and all the problems we are living with. “Star Trek” was always positive. A very strong part of me that wants to leave “Star Trek” behind. To have it be such a central part of my life at this stage does not speak well for what else I have accomplished given that people are still harking back to a time that is more than five decades old.
On the other hand, it was a good time. It was a pleasant time. I have friendships that endured throughout this half century because of “Star Trek.” I am pleased that I am still here and in good health. I appreciate that. I do conventions these days, although I am in the process of winding that part down. This is the first year that I’ve actually said to my booking agents that I’m limiting my appearances. I do enjoy being there. I enjoy talking to fans. And then I get to see actors who I’ve worked with. It is a kind of reunion. Meeting other performers who I have worked with before is also fun.
Where do you think we went wrong?
For more go to.....................................
https://www.rawstory.com/2020/02/original-star-trek-star-blasts-trump-and-his-supporters-a-particularly-heinous-moment-in-american-history/?utm_source=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=3805
As a genre, science fiction offers a vision of the future. But that vision is filtered through the present and the past. The way that a given science fiction story negotiates those tensions is one of the factors that separates the truly great from those stories which are middling, common, and forgettable.
Gene Roddenberry’s “Star Trek”, which debuted on American television in 1966, endures because his hopeful vision of a future human society that had survived and matured beyond war, racism, sexism, bigotry, famine, greed, nationalism, environmental destruction, and other anti-social behavior, inspires its audience to be their best selves.
Over the course of more than five decades, Roddenberry’s initial vision of what he described as “Wagon Train” set in space and with a “message of the week” grew to include eight television series and now 13 films. The “Star Trek” universe – for better and for worse – also includes a plethora of novels, comic books, and video games.
Defend democracy. Click to invest in courageous progressive journalism today.
More than 50 years later, how has “Star Trek’s” original and hopeful vision of the future reconciled itself with a human society that seems – especially at present with the Age of Trump and the rise of the Global Right – to have betrayed its best potential?
In an effort to answer that question, I recently spoke with Walter Koenig, who had portrayed the Pavel Chekov on the original “Star Trek” series and in seven of the subsequent canonical films. “Generations” was Koenig’s final appearance in the official “Star Trek” films.
In this conversation, Koenig shares his deep worries and concerns about the state of the world and American society in the Age of Trump. Koenig also reflects on both the power and dangers of hope in troubled and challenging times. Koenig also shares how he found acting as his vocation and the ways that he tried to best embody Chekov on “Star Trek” and the character Bester on “Babylon 5”.
The actor also explains what it means for him to finally start to walk away from the character of Chekov by no longer attending as many “Star Trek” conventions and other popular culture gatherings and events.
Koenig will be appearing this week, Friday, Feb. 28 to Sunday, March 1 at C2E2, the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo, which is held at McCormick Place.
It has been 50-some years since the original “Star Trek” debuted on television and yet, here we are still talking about the series. How are you feeling? How are you reconciling “Star Trek’s” hopeful vision of the future with where we have ended up in the United States and around the world?
“Star Trek” and the state of the world? On one end it is an atomic pit where an explosion has just occurred. The state of the world is dreadful. It depresses me to no end. “Star Trek” is a welcome respite from the infamy of the Trump administration and all the problems we are living with. “Star Trek” was always positive. A very strong part of me that wants to leave “Star Trek” behind. To have it be such a central part of my life at this stage does not speak well for what else I have accomplished given that people are still harking back to a time that is more than five decades old.
On the other hand, it was a good time. It was a pleasant time. I have friendships that endured throughout this half century because of “Star Trek.” I am pleased that I am still here and in good health. I appreciate that. I do conventions these days, although I am in the process of winding that part down. This is the first year that I’ve actually said to my booking agents that I’m limiting my appearances. I do enjoy being there. I enjoy talking to fans. And then I get to see actors who I’ve worked with. It is a kind of reunion. Meeting other performers who I have worked with before is also fun.
Where do you think we went wrong?
For more go to.....................................
https://www.rawstory.com/2020/02/original-star-trek-star-blasts-trump-and-his-supporters-a-particularly-heinous-moment-in-american-history/?utm_source=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=3805
Feb 25, 2020 10:31:50 #
Feb 25, 2020 10:34:03 #
Feb 25, 2020 10:36:15 #
Fotoartist wrote:
What does anybody care what lame actors think about politics?
Feb 25, 2020 10:38:32 #
Feb 25, 2020 10:43:03 #
Feb 25, 2020 10:47:32 #
Kraken wrote:
The farce is already with him.
Yes, the farce is with Walter Koenig
Feb 25, 2020 13:11:57 #
Screamin Scott wrote:
Yes, the farce is with Walter Koenig
He is just another bitter gay person.
Feb 25, 2020 13:14:23 #
phcaan wrote:
He is just another bitter gay person.
They finally had to give him a stint huh, tsk tsk
Feb 26, 2020 09:04:17 #
Elaine2025
Loc: Seattle, Wa
Kraken wrote:
‘A particularly heinous moment in American history... (show quote)
ANOTHER LEFTIST POST FROM KRACKHEAD.
Feb 26, 2020 09:04:59 #
Elaine2025
Loc: Seattle, Wa
Fotoartist wrote:
What does anybody care what lame actors think about politics?
No one does care......but dems and socialists.
Feb 26, 2020 10:42:50 #
Fotoartist wrote:
What does anybody care what lame actors think about politics?
These actors lived in a fantasy world then and still do now. Most of these folks have a huge sense of inflated self importance.Feb 26, 2020 12:26:39 #
Elaine2025
Loc: Seattle, Wa
FrumCA wrote: These actors lived in a fantasy world then and still do now. Most of these folks have a huge sense of inflated self importance.
These actors lived in a fantasy world then and still do now. Most of these folks have a huge sense of inflated self importance.So true, and they are mostly dems.
Feb 26, 2020 14:33:18 #
Kraken wrote:
The farce is already with him.
You now are with President Trump hey!
Feb 26, 2020 16:17:44 #
Kraken wrote:
‘A particularly heinous moment in American history... (show quote)
Far Left junk BS tabloid news.
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.