Pandora's Box

Phew! Finding that box of Star Trek stuff has opened the doors that closed for me all those years ago. As I type this, I am waiting on receiving the Star Trek Next Gen movies I ordered from Netflix. I decided that after watching Star Trek beginning to end, the situation required further examination. Today I watched Trekkies and Trekkies 2, both produced by and starring Denise Crosby.  Tasha Yar was one of my favorite characters.  At eleven years old, my most valued possession was the "Skin Of Evil" Episode 23 collector's card, featuring a photo of Tasha Yar giving herself a eulogy on the holodeck.  I had bought it at my second convention.  It cost me $33.00 because it had Denise Crosby's signature on it.  It came in a hard-shell clear plastic protective case, and when ever I needed to feel especially good, I would take it out of the binder where I kept it and just hold it, carefully turning it over in my hands like it was a sacred artifact that had materialized from the world of my imagination...

*Ahem*  Well, I know that sounds pretty creepy.  But it was cute when I did it.  I thought maybe watching Trekkies and Trekkies 2 might help me reconnect with my roots.  But instead of feeling like a part of a major cultural phenomenon, I felt very much on the outside of it.  Not because I am so far removed from my convention-going days, but because it was filmed that way.  Crosby's lens was that of an outsider, a tourist, amusedly gawking at these bizarre creatures.  It promoted a stereotype, on the whole, an unattractive one, of hard-core fans.  

There was a Brent Spiner stalker who kept every single photo she took of him on stage and then took photos of the photos and stored them all in archival binding in a safe.  (I've seen Brent Spiner talk at a convention and as I recall I was not impressed, though he had my mom in stitches the whole time.)  The rest were mostly over-weight, greasy complexioned, speech-impeded maniacs.  I'm sure there are plenty of Trek fans that are gorgeous, brilliant, articulate and successful, too.  They just didn't happen to be in the movie.  For the most part, it simply wasn't a very flattering mirror she held up for me.  On the other hand she did let several cast members share tearful stories about Trekkies who had touched them deeply.  I was moved almost to tears by their stories as well.  Especially the older cast.  Anyway, my point is, some of us geeks are cool, and we deserve respect.  Its like that lady in Arkansas who showed up for Jury duty on a high-profile case in full Star Fleet regalia would say.  She was sort of a comical civil rights leader for Trekkies...

OOhhh!  I just discovered i already have a bunch of VHS copies of Star Trek movies.  I have Insurrection and a bunch of original series episodes and movies.  I had forgotten that my aunt handed them over to me last summer.  I got her kids into Trek back when I was a "carrier" myself.  I think I took them begrudgingly.  Now I'm glad I did.  

Well, my coffee seems to be getting a "skin of evil" on top and the VHS is ready to rock, so off I go on another investigation.  I will report later.