Micheal Holt
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Trekkies
For this project I decided to write about Trekkies, otherwise known as, over obsessive
fans of the television series, “Star Trek.” Trekkies are unique because they base their culture off
of a television show. Anyone who classifies themselves as a Trekkie are most likely a devoted
fan of the show, “Star Trek.” The term "Trekkie" was first created by science fiction editor
Arthur W. Saha, after he saw fans of the first season of the original “Star Trek” series wearing
pointed ears at the 25th World Science Fiction Convention in 1967. From the beginning of the
first series, Trekkie's continued to grow slowly and remain an underground culture. After “Star
Trek” was canceled in 1969, however, “Star Trek” reruns gained greater prominence of
television, and the amount of Trekkies began to intensify. By 1972, when the first widely
publicized Star Trek convention occurred, there were over 100 Trekkie fan magazines and clubs.
By 1974, the New York Star Trek convention attracted 15,000 fans. By 1976, there were more
than 250 Star Trek Clubs, Star Trek’s popularity continued to grow, leading to several Star Trek
movies and a remaking of the series in 1987 with “Star Trek: Next Generation.” By 1994, over
400,000 Trekkies attended over 130 conventions nationwide.
A subculture is defined as a group of individuals who distinctly categorize themselves by
applying significance and community based on beliefs and ideals that are in contrast to society as
a whole. This makes Trekkies a perfect candidate for being a subculture rather than a counter
culture because Trekkies exist within the mainstream culture, but are somewhat hidden. If
Trekkies were a counter culture, they would surely be acting against the mainstream culture to
benefit themselves. Additionally, Trekkies are not a deviant subculture because they do not try
and abolish the system
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or deviate far from the norms of the society as a whole. The “Star Trek” subculture is part of the
eager enthusiast culture of “media fandom.” These fans can be considered just a minuscule
fraction of the mass audience, distinguished from other general “followers” by the connection of
their social and cultural identity and the given media.
To the average Trekkie, there are specific norms, folkways, and mores that apply to their
subculture. The most common norm is that of peace; This subculture is strictly pacifist. Not
surprising considering that the show is a universe where values include non discrimination
(diversity is a fact of life), peace is always preferred over war, science and exploration are
encouraged, religion is a personal matter and not public policy, and the economy is similar to
communism, except it works. These ideas and values are what every Trekkie believes in, the fact
that there could be a utopian society like the one in the series. Without believing in these ideas
and values, that person would most likely be considered an outcast and not a true ‘Trekkie.’
There are also unique folkways in the Trekkie community, including saying the phrase, ‘Live
long and prosper’. This is a greeting and a way of saying goodbye in the Trekkie world. It is not
only common courtesy but also a sign of respect. This single line is also an expectation to be said
in the presence of another Trekkie. Just like the greeting is not mandatory or strictly enforced,
there are also acts that are considered folkways in the Trekkie subculture. These include acting
the part when dressed as a “Star Trek” character. As for mores, there are few but they have
serious consequences. This includes announcing that “Star Wars” is better than “Star Trek.”
Within the Trekkie community, there are various traits and characteristics that represent the
group. As for material aspects, Trekkies are occasionally identified with a hand gesture, the
Vulcan
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Salute. The Vulcan Salute consists of a raised hand, palm forward with the fingers parted
between the middle and ring finger, and the thumb extended. Often, the famous phrase "live long
and prosper" is said after it. The salute was devised and popularized by Leonard Nimoy, who
portrayed the half-Vulcan character Mr. Spock on the original “Star Trek” television series in the
late 1960s. This hand gesture is used as a greeting and a way of saying goodbye. Other material
objects include dress wear, which are the uniforms that the characters on the show wear, and
pointed ears.
The most incredible non material aspect of this subculture is the constructed and spoken
language, Klingon. The Klingon language first appeared on-screen in “Star Trek: The Motion
Picture” (1979). According to the actor who spoke the lines, Mark Lenard, James Doohan
recorded the lines he had written on a tape, and Lenard transcribed the recorded lines in a way he
found useful in learning them. A daily conversation or a perfect translation of literature are
difficult because of the small vocabulary of only 3000 words. Although there is known to be
only 30 people who can fluently speak Klingon, fans enjoy using the language at conventions
and for role-playing to give their character a more realistic appearance. To this day, there have
been four translated works of world literature, including Hamlet.
In 1975, a journalist described Trekkies as “smelling of assembly-line junk food, hugely
consumed; the look is of people who consume it, habitually and at length; overfed and
undernourished, eruptive of skin and flaccid of form, from the merely soft to the grotesquely
obese.” Another says, “There are some fans who have become overzealous. That can become
terrible. They leap out of bushes, look in windows and lean against doors and listen.” In the
current American society, Trekkies are viewed as crazy “Star Trek” fans who can quote any
passage from
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every “Star Trek” episode and have the social skills of a rock. Despite this stereotype, there is
much variation among the Trekkie subculture. The majority of Trekkies live normal lives, and do
not display their devotion to Star Trek, outside of their house and Star Trek fan clubs, due to the
social stigma of being a Trekkie. There has actually been a new term coined for a “Star Trek” fan
who is not as obsessive of a fan, a ‘Trekker’. Basically, a Trekkie (as opposed to a Trekker, who
is a more rational fan) is an obsessed Star Trek fan, who may wear a star fleet uniform in public,
treat “Star Trek” like a religion, or believe that Star Trek events are real, in some form. Whether
a Trekkie, or a Trekker, stereotypes will always arise and label people and groups.
Trekkies are mostly found in the United States, nationwide, usually at conventions or gettogethers for the show, “Star Trek.” In the American society, Trekkies are often looked at
harshly, with much disgust. However, Trekkies offer society a new outlook to the world.
Trekkies give us a vision for what the future not only could be, but should be. Nearly every
single Trekkie acts as an ally and will call out prejudiced behavior whenever it occurs. This
subculture provides the elimination of discrimination in society. As I stated in my opening
paragraph, Trekkies base their beliefs and values off of a television show. This trait makes this
community unique because no other subculture can go as far as to make a new language that can
be fluently mastered. In conclusion, Trekkies represent the future, and how society will only be
ideal and flawless when it resembles the values that Trekkies endorse so immensely.