The Prime Directive, the central concept of Star Trek: the Original
Series' exploring culture, is a sort of code of honor derived from Roddenberry's
feelings on the Vietnam War. It forbids interference in the development of
civilizations less powerful or technologically advanced than Earth's. Numerous
attempts were made to depict gender equality; unfortunately, in this the
Original Series failed. Viewers interpret an analogy featuring slavery, bigotry
or second-class citizens as a statement pertaining to racism rather than sexism.
The issue must be approached directly, if not obviously. In the original pilot
of the Original Series, the first officer is female (Gross 3). The character was
dropped by the time the second pilot aired. A unisex uniform, consisting of
pants for both sexes, graced the second pilot (Gross 2). The uniform disappeared
thereafter. Two prominent characters, Lieutenant Uhura (played by Nichelle
Nichols) and Yeoman Rand (played by Grace Lee Whitney), are female. However, the
characters function in socially acceptable roles. Uhura is, essentially, a
telephone operator and Rand serves as the Captain's secretary. This demonstrates
how essential to the series' social criticism allegory is. Those issues, which
could not be disguised, did not appear in the show. The Original Series was not
the only television series of its time, which dabbled, in social commentary.
Some of its contemporaries were The Munsters and The Addams Family. These shows
reflected societal discomfort through the portrayal of outsiders. Racial
concerns could not be shown directly so, if you can't talk about Black, Yellow,
or Red people, you can disguise them as Green people (Peterson). Another show
which might be taken as allegory is the 1964-1966 series The Invaders, which
featured an alien invasion only one man was aware of. This has definite
overtones of Communism-related paranoia. However, the potential for allegory is
never explored in these series beyond their premises. None attempted to lead the
way to Utopia through example. Star Trek: the Original Series featured
progressive ideas, ideals, and ideologies. A message of harmony and humanism (Zoglin
1) illuminates the stories and their fictional universe. Though belonging to a
genre that is, to many critics, nothing more than a literary punching bag, it
examined issues too often untouched. The Original Series advocated tolerance,
gender equality, and altruism. Through allegory, Star Trek transcends mere
entertainment and becomes an education in possibility. Though shrouded in a veil
of symbols and legends, the light of Roddenberry's message remains unobscured.
Bibliography
A Private Little War. Star Trek: the Original Series. NBC. 2 February,1968.
Balance of Terror. Star Trek: the Original Series. NBC. 15 December, 1966.
Gross, Edward. Primetime Directive. Cinescape 8 September 1996. 13 November
2000. *http://www.cinescape.com/links/tvsttor.html*. Let That Be Your Last
Battlefield. Star Trek: the Original Series. NBC. 10 January, 1969. Peterson,
Michael. Telephone interview. 12 November 2000. Walsh, Michal. The Torch has
Passed Off-Camera, Too. Time 28 November 1994. 13 November 2000. *http://www.time.com/time/magazine/archive/1994/941128.cover.berman.html*.
Zoglin, Richard. Trekking Onward. Time 28 November1994. 13 November 2000.
*http://www.time.com/time/magazine/archive/1994/941128.cover.html*.
Bibliography
A Private Little War. Star Trek: the Original Series. NBC. 2 February,1968.
Balance of Terror. Star Trek: the Original Series. NBC. 15 December, 1966.
Gross, Edward. Primetime Directive. Cinescape 8 September 1996. 13 November
2000. . Let That Be Your Last Battlefield. Star Trek: the Original Series. NBC.
10 January, 1969. Peterson, Michael. Telephone interview. 12 November 2000.
Walsh, Michal. The Torch has Passed Off-Camera, Too. Time 28 November 1994. 13
November 2000. .
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