NPR (& Nimoy) Take A Look At Spock June 1, 2008
by TrekMovie.com Staff , Filed under: Nimoy, TOS , trackback
As part of their ongoing ‘in character’ series, NPR radio took a close look at the character of Spock from Star Trek: The Original Series. The six minute audio report available online includes comments from the original Spock himself, Leonard Nimoy, along with TOS writer DC Fontana and MIT professor Henry Jenkins.
Listen to the entire report at NPR.org, some excerpts below
Nimoy on the birth of ‘fascinating’
The first time Spock used his trademark line, Nimoy recounts how he shouted the line, but the director made a change that shaped the character thereafter
The director, God bless him, said be different from everyone. So on the next take: "Fascinating," in that cool, collected way. I think in that moment a very important aspect of the character was born.
Nimoy on Spock’s status as an outsider.
When [Gene Roddenberry] hired me to do the role, he gave me a very interesting dynamic to work with, in that Spock’s mother was human, his father was Vulcan. He was sort of a half-breed. I think that’s one of the most interesting things about Spock. It’s not what you’re getting, but what you don’t get — what peeks out occasionally.
MIT Professor on Spock – a multicultural sex symbol
Henry Jenkins, humanities professor at MIT, sees that Spock became an unlikely, sex symbol because of the way he showed the struggle between intellect and emotion:
It’s a struggle we all face. Are we driven by our emotion or by our intellect? And how do we reconcile those two things?…Spock is sexy for a large number of people, male and female. Many of the female fans I studied really are attracted to the emotional depths of this character. Spock represses outward signs of emotion. He’s a character "who tries to hold it all in, but who seems to be sensitive, sensuous at certain times…He seems to have a deep affection and even passionate relationship to Captain Kirk. This character, then, became the embodiment of the mystery of masculinity.
Jenkins also sees how Spock’s bridging of his human and Vulcan sides represents multi-culturalism, something that is still relevant today:
In that sense Star Trek looks ahead to the society we live in today, where so many people are mixed race, mixed cultural background,. And I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately, looking at Barack Obama. There’s something in the [Obama] mythology that seems to echo our assumption about Spock — that he’s someone able to bridge worlds. And he’s indebted to Vulcan philosophy of IDIC, the Vulcan philosophy of infinite diversity and infinite combination. Someone who is of mixed race is seen as being capable of understanding both races.
As it happens, Leonard Nimoy is a Obama supporter.
Listen to the entire report at NPR.org
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Comments»
Fascinating.
Fascinating.
Fascinating.
Nimoy Rocks, Quinto socks!
Darth “Spock Obama” Ballz
Fascinating.
Intriguing.
Nimoy ‘08! Write in candidate.
Fascinating.
Ya know, in almost forty years as a trekkie, I’ve never seen an episode of “Star Trek: The Original Series”. But everyone keeps talking about it. Sounds good, whatever it is.
I’d definitely recommend checking TOS out #10. It’s my favorite series right after DS9. Some of the episodes are cheesy and awful, but when this series was good, damn it was good!
8 Hubertus
How is Blue Ant stock doing these days?
Obama or not, I still like and respect Nimoy.
Logical
I ‘m shocked, #9 :) You missed out the good stuff.
I’ve watched all series and really love DS9 too, but TOS is eternally the one and only to me – okay, I started out as an impressed kid in 1976, but still – once you get involved in the characters, they are just eternally interesting!
Y’know, I’ve never seen this “Star Trek: The Original Series” either.
There was this show called “Star Trek” back in the day, though…
;)
It’s been awhile since someone said it: Fascinating.
Spock was always interesting when his human half peeked out. But, I think the other Vulcans let their emotions out from time to time in TOS. Especially their egos. Enterprise capitalized on that by making the Vulcans all basically the a-holes of the 22nd Century. Interesting, too, to note how few actors managed to do the detatched observer thing without coming off as bored.
“That green blooded son of a bitch. It’s his revenge for all those arguments he lost”. Despite Dr. McCoy shots at Spock, I think it was the docs way of palling around with Spock. Everyone loves Spock…..hey, that might make a cool TV series?????
” . . . . I am in control of my emotions!” boohoo! boohoo!
“JIM!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Flabbergasting!
Eminently logical.
#11 (danya)
blue ant is thriving. we’re developing a campaign worth billions based on a product that doesn’t exist. dorotea is managing it. i’m typing this from inside a jet that weighs less than an ipod…
Spock-a-doodle-dooooooo!
Logical, yet, fascinating.
#9 that has to be a joke post. Good article on NPR, fascinating !!
My favorites….
“Only Nixon could go to China”
“My mind to your mind….”
“Commander, your attire might actualy stimulate the conversation.”
Sparock Obama, anyone? No…
McCoy: “Please don’t say it’s fascinating”
Spock: “No, but it is …interesting”
Dr. Jenkins, I concur on the sexy, sensuous, passionate part. I would like to be able to analyze the data personally someday. Now if I could persuade Mr. Nimoy to supply me with said data…
Denise, are you sure it’s his data that you want?
Indeed.
Did you have to toss the man’s politics into it? Don’t we have enough politics in our lives without having our heroes become real as well? That always gets me …. I am a fan of someone for their acting and the roles they play. When you toss too much real-world crud into it, it detracts from their ability to be heroes.
Pesky real world!
“That green-blooded son of a…”
human!” LOL
As yes, Barack Obama, the only logical candidate.
It seems a lot of the Star Trek actors support Obama over Hilary and McCain. I wonder why that is? Aren’t there are Conservatives in the future?
I do not wish to stir up a hornet’s nest, but I’m tired of being told that any discussion of Star Trek and politics should be off-limits. Star Trek contributed to the forming of my political views when I was a teen, and I still consider it a natural extension of my politics. After all, what are we talking about when we say Star Trek is an optimistic portrayal of a better future humanity? What is that comprised of? Some of that is politics. And if Star Trek helped inform Leonard Nimoy’s thinking the way it has mine, his leanings are quite logical.
guys, lets not get too political and especially too personal
Commodore#31- LOL!
#39
there are in fact conservatives in the future. they are called romulans. and they are WAY conservative. check the way they dress, for example. (not to offend those 21st century conservies, whom i consider the loyal opposition, btw.)
spock is rather like an obama/clinton ticket though, isn’t he? same goals, but highly conflicted. still, lovable.
“I’m a doctor, not an escalator.” Woops that’s before they shared a body.
Serendipitous
If you go back and study the Romulan Empire in all of the Star Trek episodes (TOS TNG DS9 ENT) the Chinese government or the deceased Soviet Union resemble the Romulians most. If you watch Enterprise you truly see the Liberal perspective. In season 1 an episode hinges on setting a worm free in its native environment, and not harming even a microbe in testing the new phasers. Fast forward to season 4 of ENT and the genetically enhanced humans embryos are a problem. Ta Pol simply says destroy the embryos. Archer says it was too controversial in the 20th century. So worms and microbes are important to Libs, human embryos, destroy them when its inconvenient.
46. You make joke. You funny.
Fascinating.
The Klingons were the Soviets and the Romulans the Chinese.
Vulcans are logical and don’t hold life sacred. Spock was all for killing Gary Mitchell too. His dad was capable if killing to if he found it the logical thing to do. A Vulcan marriage can end in a fight to the death. T’pol was just offering a logical (but not necessarily liberal) solution.
curious. (can’t believe no one thought of that line!)
Interesting. Fascinatingly curious.
not Fascinating, but it is Interesting.
Fascinating
Interesting.
I’ve found it very interesting that, from my experience at least, I’ve known and ‘observed’ more Trek fans seem to be Republican than Democrat. It seems strange to me…ST never seemed to preach conservatism to me, but maybe I missed it?
There are many conservative aspects to Star Trek as well as liberal.
Kirk today would’ve been considered a somewhat conservative (center/right leaning), while Spock would’ve been more liberal (center/left leaning). And you would take one look at Dr.McCoy and just see a conservative.
I would categorize the conservative aspects of Star Trek as not so much SOCIAL conservatism but more of the pragmatic aspects.
TNG for me, seemed to be a reactionary series to that and just went more left.
Maybe Tony should make an open thread where those of you who come here to discuss politics can annihilate each other like Lazurus and Lazarus. (Or he could just link them all to TNZ. ;))
For myself, my sole comment must be:
IT’S EARLY IN THE SERIES, SO SPOCK MUST BE SHOUTING! A FASCINATING OBSERVATION!
For my money, one of the things Star Trek is best at is showing both sides of an issue, with the outlook that neither side has a total monopoly on either good or bad, or right or wrong. The best episodes espouse compromise, or at least cooperation, as the ideal method of resolving any issue.
TOS was definately more in the center politically than the later shows. That’s one of the reasons the Kirk/Spock/McCoy relationship worked so well. Spock would raise one sied of the argument, Bones would raise the other side, and Kirk would have to reach some sort of compromise. When these arguments were political, they could get very interesting. But the thing I like most about the relationship is that they all respected one another. For all their quibbling, Bones and Spock were still able to come together on things.
#56
Or maybe a Star Trek site should avoid bringing up politics (ie Barack Obama) in their articles all together if they don’t want people to discuss politics.
Or you could truly embrace IDIC.
Infinite Diversity Infinite Combinations
Diversity has come to mean something really weird in star trek and society in general…. people that look different (races) but see eye to eye. That would mean they are the same in some way. They all get along.
What about Diversity meaning different.
DIFFERENT – not the same or even opposing points of view.
That one really trips people up – its hard to tolerate a completely different point of view. You think the other person has lost their mind. How can they see it that way.
Embrace DIVERSITY, Think different, Think for yourself, Even if you are the only one.
PS: I’m playing Devil’s Advocate here.
Here is how I truly see it at this stage in my life.
Conservative and Liberal Philosophies:
We need both.
One keeps us grounded in reality and keeps us whole. The other allows us to spread our winds and fly.
Too much of one is not good.
#59 Exactly. Diversity also means diversity of opinion. You may not agree with my opinion but you SHOULD at least defend and/or respect my right to have one. The act of choosing is an exercise of freewill and independent thought..
Ironically, not choosing is also a choice…..
If you let the government choose for you then your freewill is abrogated.
UGH!! Nimoy!!! Quit spewing all your political junk! you’re an actor/writer/photographer. not a politician.
#60
Spock understood this point, especially in the movies when he said things like
“Really, Dr. McCoy, you must learn to govern your passions. They will be your undoing.”
… and after his mindmeld with Vger when he came to the realization that Logic is not enough.
The extreme extreme left is communism, and the extreme extreme right is facism. We need to be just far enough away from both, squarely in the middle. Isn’t that what Democracy is? Doesn’t Star Trek have episodes calling for democracy against both communism and facism? “The Omega Glory” and “Patterns of Force” come to mind.
Personally, I’m a liberal, but that doesn’t mean that I am opposed to listening to a conservative point of view, And while I have my personal choice for who I want to be president, all three candidates I think would do a good job.
It’s like we have Kirk, Spock, and Bones all running for office. The grumpy older progressive conservative, the radical outsider liberal, and the decicive negotiator. But they all are loyal to the same concept.
It’s a real testimony to Nimoy’s acting skill that he is able to portray Spock’s Vulcan side more convincingly than most of the actors who played full blooded Vulcans! Let’s face it, there have been some shocking attempts over the years. I’ll try not to mention Kirsty Alley… oops :-P
#64
Let’s remember that Kirstie Alley was playing a half Vulcan/half Romulan
Mixing that together pretty much gives you a Human does it not? :)
#63
Kirk, Spock, and Bones ‘08
That’s a ticket I can support!!!! Woo Hoo!
Its amazing that the three characters can gat anything done…. but they do.
They really are at their best together. A good life lesson.
62 dont for get singer!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC73PHdQX04
classic
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Fascinating? No, but it is interesting. LOL–quoting Spock himself)
Please, don’t say it’s facinating.
#62
I think at 77, Mr. Nimoy has certainly earned a right to speak his mind politically… heck, we all have… if you disgree with him, fine… as do I for anyone who feels they have the right to tell someone to keep quiet on any issue.
Polite informed public discourse is the only way we can solve issues… when people or governments get too secretive or comative, we have… um, well ,we have pretty much what we do in Washington, DC, these days.
#55
Kirk a conservative? I think not. He struck me as being modeled after John F. Kennedy. “Kirk-unit” was definitely a product of his time (and I mean the 1960s). but then that is just my opinion for what it’s worth.
NPR and Star Trek… two of my favorite things!
I think actors have the same right to state their politics as any one whose posted a message here has. On the other hand, I give his political opinion about as much weight as I give any posted here. :)
I’ve read what people have said about how McCoy represents conservatism, Spock liberalism, and Kirk made a compromising (but wise decision). I am not sure if I agree. For one, I don’t think that liberalism or conservatism is logical or illogical. If anything, they can both be logical as an extension of core principles.
An example– if you think Big Government is inefficient, then conservatism can be very logical (working towards smaller government) but if as a conservative you spend more, then you are an illogical conservative (Big Spending GW Bush). And examples can be made of logical or illogical liberalism.
I think most people get all fired up because they don’t recognize that people are honestly following their principles and instead think that they are being evil for evils sake since they don’t agree. The evil ones are those who have principles but reject them for personal expediency. And we see those on the left and right.
Happy birthday Zachary Quinto
#59: As a regular participant in a number of online political free-for-alls, I do indeed see the strong merits of IDIC–as well as the merits on both right and left.
However–with the exception of this thread–I have never seen a political discussion on TrekMovie.com that has not spun horribly out of control into rage, hatred, baseless insults, bans, protests, and all sorts of similar bad stuff. All it does is get people really, really angry–myself included. Political discussion, like all things, has its time and place, and my opinion is that its place is not TrekMovie.com.
Finally: happy birthday, Zach Quinto! You’re 31!
But, so far, no one’s beaten anyone else’s head in on this thread, so no complaints.
For the record, I thought the note in the article that Nimoy was an Obama supporter was perfectly legitimate, given the context. It’s just when politics get into threads that I get nervous.
#65
I’m not a canon zealot but technically it was never made official that Saavik was half Romulan. Having said that, regardless of what species Kirstie Alley was attempting to portray, she was terrible!
Never thought of McCoy as a Conservative. He always came across asa bit of a bleeding heart.
I don’t know how any ST fan cannot see that the future it presents is the Americanization of the world ( and the Federation of Planets itself), which is certainly a conservative concept & not a liberal one by any means. As far as diversity is concerned, like I always say, if you want me to treat you the same, stop pointing out how different you are.
77. McCoy was a southerner, so he was most likely a conservative democrat.
#55
“Kirk a conservative? I think not. He struck me as being modeled after John F. Kennedy. “Kirk-unit” was definitely a product of his time (and I mean the 1960s). but then that is just my opinion for what it’s worth.”
Where do you think Reagan got the idea of lowering marginal tax rates? (i.e. supply side economics?). The roots of it began with JFK who was arguably the last Democrat president to lower marginal tax rates AND who also believed (like Reagan) in the concept of peace through strength – an advocate of a strong military.
JFK today would’ve been in the conservative camp… on fiscal and military matters at least.
In300 years who knows how conservative the American South will be. Heck I’m from the South and I’m not conservative.