SMC Professors’ Expertise Sought by “Star Trek” Creator’s Son
By Jake Slane

SMC philosophy professors Amber Katherine and Jim Stramel are interviewed by Eugene Roddenberry (light blue shirt) and colleague Trevor Roth.

When SMC philosophy professors Jim Stramel and Amber Katherine first launched their “Philosophy of Star Trek” class two years ago, they had no idea that one day they would emerge as experts sought by the son of the man who created the longest running TV and film franchise.

But that is exactly what happened earlier this month when Eugene W. Roddenberry, Jr. interviewed the professors and visited their Tuesday night “Philosophy of Star Trek” class. Roddenberry, son of Gene Roddenberry, is making a documentary that is exploring and celebrating the enduring legacy of “Star Trek.”

The film, "Trek Nation," will examine why the original show and its offspring have had such a profound effect on viewers. Through a series of in-depth interviews that include cast members past and present, celebrities, and regular people who have been touched by the show, "Trek Nation" will explain why the TV show and films have affected the lives of millions.

The late “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry (center, shown here with cast members from “Star Trek: Next Generation”) left an enduring legacy with his longest running TV and film franchise ever.

Since its inception in 1966, “Star Trek” has had a big impact on viewers. As its characters travel through space encountering different planets and people, the series provides a perfect forum for many ethical and philosophical questions. The episodes are often morality plays – the situations and dilemmas of the crew serving as allegories for much larger social issues like race, gender, the nature of war, and religion. The result is a message of progress, integrity, and optimism that has sustained audiences throughout the years.

“People are hungry for ideas,” Katherine told Roddenberry. “So much of television doesn't make us think. The show is popular because it does this."

For the man behind the documentary, there is something more at stake. Roddenberry Jr. is interviewing a wide range of people connected to and affected by his father's work in an attempt to understand and pay homage to him. When Roddenberry Sr. passed away in 1991, his son was just a teenager who didn't have much interest in “Star Trek.” Gradually, he realized the immense social scope of his father's work.

Today, Roddenberry Productions, along with The Atmosphere Pictures, is traveling around the world interviewing people who have something to say about the series. A Klingon wedding in Germany and a minister who preaches "Star Trek" on the pulpit will be visited. Heavyweight names like George Lucas – creator of perhaps the biggest rival of the franchise – and Dennis Rodman will share their stories alongside average fans who have all been inspired by the messages of the show. Steven Spielberg and Tammy Faye Messner (formerly Bakker) have also expressed interest in the project. What unfolds through the process of Roddenberry's eager questioning is more than just the story of a show – it is the story of a son's journey to know his father.

In their interview with Roddenberry Jr., Stramel and Katherine shared their academic expertise for the documentary. Their "Philosophy of Star Trek" class has been investigating the social dilemmas in the series and applying them to greater issues in philosophy for the past two years. One of the goals of the class, Katherine said, is "to encourage students to think for themselves about the pressing problems of our times and motivate them to develop critical thinking practices that will enable them to become effective participants in democratic life."

That is precisely the work of the show and, as Roddenberry Jr. is discovering, the work of his father.

Click here to learn more about "Trek Nation".

Back to Top