women and reimaged science fiction

[spiderstars]

So I've been thinking about sci-fi, and what happens with fans when directors redo old series, and decide that maybe the chicks should have a bigger role than standing off in the corner with a headset.

Comments

[eibheall]

I can't say much about BSG, but being born of a Trekkie, I'll comment on that. I know a lot of old fans were pretty shocked about Uhura/Spock, and I expected a few to be unhappy about it, but I assumed they'd get angry because he's Spock, not because of her. Nichelle Nichols (the original Uhura) actually considered leaving the show because she was getting so little face time, but MLK told her to stay because of the importance of a show suggesting that in the future, black women will have a place on the bridge - not as servants, not as low-ranking help, but as officers. Don't get me wrong, TOS didn't do great by any standards of women's rights (Yeoman Rand comes to mind, and especially how the male officers handle her near-rape in one episode), but the presence of Uhura was, in a sense, already path-breaking back then. It's quite sad that now, in the very future that Star Trek was trying to show, fans of all people would be upset that MLK was right - a black woman has a right to be on the bridge, on screen, and not just to scream at monsters or smile at the hero.

[spiderstars]

This was a good point, and thanks for your insight! Of course, I do think my point still does stand: having Uhura talk and do things and maybe be badass sometimes is an even better step, but I do think it's fair to acknowledge that in TOS having Uhura as a bridge officer at all was a pretty big deal.

=)

[eibheall]

Oh, I agree entirely with your point. I just find it interesting that people would complain about the new Uhura doing essentially what the old Uhura did - being where you wouldn't expect her. Although, really, at this point, if people don't expect her there (by which I'm also referring to any minority character in an important position who gets meaningful screen time), then I don't even know where to start with them.