TOR.com: J.J. Abrams and the Homogenization of Geek Pop
Many fans enjoyed J.J. Abrams work on revisioning Star Trek with his 2009 film and thereby rebooting the franchise. Others, such as myself, were not so pleased with the efforts. After Disney purchased the Star Wars franchise from George Lucas it announced plans for a new film, and the search for a director began. After […]
Science Fiction and “Big Theogical Questions”
James McGrath of the blog Exploring Our Matrix recently brought an item to my attention from i09, a post by Charlie Jane Anders titled “Big Theological Questions that Science Fiction Should Answer.” The essay notes that science fiction frequently addresses theological questions, but suggests a different series of questions that are largely unexplored. This piece […]
Roddenberry and Dick: Competing visions and our future
In a recent film review of the new science fiction film Looper, James Pinkerton raised important questions related to science fiction and our utopian vision. In his essay “What ‘Looper’ tells us about the American vision,” Pinkerton opens his piece with the following thought provoking paragraph: Which science-fiction scenario better describes the future: “Star Trek” […]
Star Trek: The Next Generation 25th Anniversary
TheoFantastique wishes Star Trek: The Next Generation a very happy 25th anniversary.
Star Trek Celebrates 46th Anniversary
On Saturday, September 8, Star Trek as a franchise turns 46 with the premiere of the original Starship Enterprise. Happy birthday, and thanks for many years of entertainment, and giving fans much to think about in terms of human possibilities.
Star Trek: The God-Thing
Yesterday on Facebook I came across an image that is making the rounds by skeptics. It was a photo of Mr. Spock from Star Trek with a quotation that expressed serious skepticism about God and how the deity is portrayed in the Judeo-Christian tradition. The quote was attributed to Star Trek: The Motion Picture. I […]
Obituary: William Windom
Veteran character actor, William Windom, recently passed away at the age of 88. His body of work included roles in science fiction and fantasy/thriller, such as the part of Commodore Decker in the Star Trek original series episode “The Doomsday Machine,” an episode of Night Gallery, and episodes of The Twilight Zone, including the classic […]
Shatner’s Insight on “Get a Life!”
William Shatner’s latest documentary was recently released, William Shatner’s Get a Life!. The title comes from the (in)famous Saturday Night Live episode in 1986 where Shatner poked fun at Star Trek fans and their devotion to the series and Trek universe. Yet with the passing of years the actors seems to not only have come […]
CFQ Spotlight Podcast 2:48.1 on Trek Nation and Star Trek
CFQ Spotlight Podcast 2:48.1 with a focus on Trek Nation and the legacy of Star Trek is now online at Cinefantastique Online. There I am a guest with regular contributors Dan Persons, Steve Biodrowski, and Larry French. Click here to enjoy the show.
Trek Nation: Documentary on a Fatherhood and Pop Culture Legacy
The documentary Trek Nation debuted on the Science Channel on November 30, presenting an interesting personal quest to understand the life and legacy of Gene Roddenberry. While many books and television programs have been done exploring Roddenberry and the Star Trek phenomenon he created, the unique aspect of Trek Nation comes in the form of […]
