Star Trek – a question of genre…

• What genre IS Star Trek?– Science fiction– Action adventure– Fantasy– Space Western

• What about sub-genre?– Romantic drama– Catastrophe– Mutation of creatures– Space/time travel

Star Trek – science fiction?• Setting time – future/alternative

timeline/historical past that contradicts records

• Setting place – outer space/other worlds/alternative version of earth

• Narrative development/application of – new technology/new scientific principles/new political systems

• Narrative steer – good vs evil

• Symbolism – futuristic props/costumes/setting that represent scientific advancement

• Techniques – close ups of futuristic technologies/scientific elements/SFX

Different settings allow viewers to see the narrative from a neutral perspective.

Narrative development creates dialogue between new ideas and imagination of viewers.

Star Trek – action adventure?• Setting time – future/present/past

• Setting place – modern/big city

• Narrative development/application of – destruction/mission to be completed

• Narrative steer – good vs evil

• Symbolism – futuristic cars/explosions/crashes/hi-tech machinery

• Techniques – close ups of futuristic technologies/fight scenes/deaths of loved ones/SFX

Setting place is used to create chaos/tension due to ‘busy’ on-screen.

Fast-paced fight scenes and editing used to create peaks in viewing experience.

Star Trek – fantasy?• Setting time – future/alternative

timeline/historical past that contradicts records

• Setting place – make-believe world/world running alongside our own

• Narrative development/application of – journey or quest/traditional ideologies (gender/morals)

• Narrative steer – good vs evil

• Symbolism – fantasy props/costumes/setting that represent magic, wonder, supernatural

• Techniques – close ups of magical props and elements/creatures/SFX

Different settings allow viewers to see the narrative from a neutral perspective.

Narrative development creates dialogue between new ideas and imagination of viewers.

Star Trek – space western?• Setting time – future/alternative

timeline/historical past that contradicts records

• Setting place – make-believe world/world running alongside our own

• Narrative development/application of – exploration/new frontiers

• Narrative steer – good vs evil

• Symbolism – futuristic props/costumes/setting that represent scientific advancement

• Techniques – close ups of futuristic technologies/scientific elements/fight scenes/SFX

Different settings allow viewers to see the narrative from a neutral perspective.

Narrative development creates dialogue between new ideas and imagination of viewers.

Star Trek – sub-genres• Romantic drama –

Spock/Uhura/Kirk

• Catastrophe – Vulcan planet/threat to earth

• Mutation of creatures – Spock/Romulan/insectoids/humans

• Space/time travel – transporters/black holes/time travel/alternative realities