Let's be real, Picard is also a weiner in First Contact. Both him and Kirk get a character development arc that shows they have room for improvement and how they grow from it in both stories.
Like First Contact, TMP serves as an important source of character development for Kirk and Spock (even though they signed on Nimoy so late into filming that it sadly doesn't read like that onscreen the way it should/did in the book).
For Jim, he has to learn the hard way that how great he was wasn't just about him being a captain -- it was about the core seven crew, how their insight and guidance is what helped shape him into a great leader, and how together they were an incredible force to be reckoned with. But Kirk has to admit that he needs them before he can grow from that realization.
Both Kirk and Picard have to swallow a great deal of pride, hubris, and wash it down with a tall glass of humbleness through the events of TMP/First Contact.
Continue below if you are down for a read. :) Feel free to jump in!
The point of TMP originally was to tell a story about **Spock**, especially his relationship to Kirk and how despite his fighting it, he belongs with his found family.
It also shows by contrast how Jim is also extraordinarily miserable in the life he ended up in and desperately wants to go back to his found family on the Enterprise crew. He took the promotion because everyone told him it was the natural next step in his career. And he hated it, or admitting he chose wrong.
It shows how separated they are both are miserable and kind of going through the motions, too proud to admit they hate it. Neither are relishing life or where they ended up because they focused too hard on the job and not enough on what fills their cup *while* working. And that's the concept of found family. They thought the job is what gave them life, but it is actually **who** they found through the job -- realising it was the people, not just the gig, that gave them life.
While that lovely story and concept is fairly clear via the TMP novel, the production issues, timing, conflicts with Nimoy and his contract etc led to a version of TMP onscreen that had very few genuine interactions between Spock and the og crew.
Even the much maligned Star Trek V at least had that poignant scene about McCoy and his father -- even that film, while insanely flawed, had some of that TOS of character heart.
Even the TMP sickbay scene, despite being lovely, falls kind of flat in the film because they had Nimoy for so little filming time that all the nuance and events that happened between the big events in the novel never made it to the film. But tons of special effects did.
That is a big part of what was left out/missing from TMP due to budget and time constraints. On screen, the story has always read as very disjointed and cerebral for that reason.
It culminates in the poignant sickbay scene which would have had a lot more impact had there been some of the of camaraderie we all enjoyed from the TOS show. Then that is paralleled with the V'Ger and Decker storyline.
What we ended up with was a very glossy, shiny film that had lots of great special effects and virtually none of that camaraderie, closeness, and humanity we all came to love and expect from the TOS crew and their stories in the TV series.
I mean none of us watching TOS pulled up specifically for mind boggling special effects, it was the characters, their dynamics, and the power of that found family against impossible odds that made us tune in -- and we didn't care if there were dogs in alien costumes for effects because we loved the characters and their stories.
Sadly, they just didn't have that time with Nimoy before the film was released to meaningfully develop some of the more personal/character driven facets of the novel -- they used up all their time doing special effects and rushed the Nimoy stuff at the end of production.
If they had had time to infuse some of that familiarity, camaraderie, and character development in between the big events and special effects of TMP the film, I think many more TOS fans would have loved it.
What we got isn't the same story as what is told in the novel, but I think TOS fans would have liked it a whole lot more of, you know . . . The TOS cast was actually in it, interacting, instead of moving from scene to scene with hardly any character interaction or development. It felt so cold and sterile, but sadly that's all the time they had.
TLDR: They should have just paid Nimoy in the first place, had him on board from the start, and made the film as they had wanted to instead of rushing to get it out for the sake of meeting a deadline.
The film we got lacked a lot of the heart and character development/camaraderie we came to know and love about TOS. While that was present in the book, the film lacked a great deal of that warmth. I like the film, but you can clearly see where it is lacking in the "tying the story back to the TOS crew" department, or their relationships.
Anyway, that was my take/two cents on why for a number of fans, the TMP film can sometimes feel quite heavily cerebral and lacking that warmth or spirit of the original show. I love it, but having read the novel I also get why it translated that way to screen given the plethora of limitations during filming.
I keep waiting for a review of a BTS concert or album that doesn’t first comment on screaming fans, often describing them as manic, crazy…
I have been waiting for an article like this. What a relief it was to read it. As much as I appreciate the hype and attention the group is getting in whatever capacity so that their dreams are achieved, watching interviews where interviewers clearly have not researched the group is honestly painful and disrespectful. They undermine the intelligence and artistry of the group and their fanbase. They ask them the usual fan fodder questions: unflattering and intrusive questions about their fans, their love/sex life -- the typical things one would ask a manufactured boyband as if the boys have no creative licence or insightful explorations to offer. It makes me cringe.
As attractive as the group is, that is not what brought me and many others here. During my very first watch of 'Idol', despite the flashy visuals, I initially read the lyrics. I was so intrigued; it did not read like a typical pop song at all. A rudimentary Google search led me to discover just how much of their own work they write and produce. My heart was actually pounding when I read over lyrics before hearing the songs as if they were poetry; and it really is poetry. I then found the song that accompanied the words, listened, and read again. What was being said in the songs genuinely resonated with me. Bapsae and First Love were especially powerful for me to read and hear on a personal level. It was a little frightening and almost cathartic to read some of my innermost submerged thoughts brought to the surface by someone else like that. The beautiful visuals and attention to detail were an added bonus.
When I got my first copy of their Love Yourself: Answer album I immediately flipped to the credits. I have been studying music and pop culture for decades now and I am still astounded by the level of work and thought they personally put into the creation of their music. The writing, the performing, the recording, the actual composition of original music. It is seldom done so authentically, especially for a group with their level of stardom power. And most impressive of all, they have always done it this way, even when they were just starting out. They were authentic artists from scratch; it's what got RM through the doors of BitHit in the first place. He was composing music by the time he was 14. That's especially rare in this day and age that they would hold out in the name of authenticity. Compounded with their good looks, it would have been so easy for them to simply let someone else speak for them, take the money and fame and run. But that's not what this group is about. They held out and worked tirelessly to tell their own stories in the name of honesty and integrity.
So many of the groups and singers I adore from the 50's, 60's, 70's -- even in writing and creating their own music, a significant portion of them did not attempt or thoroughly delve into the art of self-production. It's so rare. These Korean musicians are artists who are writing about things unique to our generation; things people don't want to publicly talk about, things that desperately need to be said that aren't being said by other artists. It embarrasses me when all of their hard work and efforts are reduced to their physical appearance or popularity.
As she mentions in the article, this is not an unheard of theme. It is something that frequently happens in art predominantly consumed by women; look at how our society perceives fan fiction, or romantic comedies and novels; look at how demonized Disco was as it lent power and a voice to female and lgbt artists and audiences. There is a tendency to attempt to discredit art and artists who create work that just so happens to speak and give power to a largely female audience and that isn't a coincidence.
This writer completely encapsulates the artistic direction, political standpoints, and socio-cultural relevance of what BTS are doing without discrediting their artistic integrity on the basis of their visuals, appeal to women, or fluency in English. Like many artists before them who wield such power over their audience, their message threatens the norm and status quo by encouraging others to think individually, have self respect, self discovery, self love. That we need not conform to predetermined expectations and guidelines and instead find our own path. That is a powerful truth to offer the world. It is disappointing that many individuals writing on them in the media are missing that due to lack of research or a lack of effort to overcome the language barrier as well as boyband stereotypes and misconceptions. It is such a profoundly sad missed opportunity.
They did it to Little Richard in the 1950's: They publicly insulted and shamed him, questioning his credibility and worth as both a man and an artist who composed some of the most iconic rock songs in music due to the fact that he wore makeup and embraced aspects of femininity. Sound familiar?
They did it to The Beatles in the early sixties; the press hardly talked about them as viable, serious musicians until they made the decision to step back from touring in 1966 and exclusively dedicate their time and focus to studio work. If you look at interviews with the Beatles during the height of Beatlemania you will see a pattern; that same embarrassing line of questioning that focuses entirely on their physical appearances, "crazy" fanbase, attention from women, love lives -- with so little interest and research done about their work and original compositions. Again, sound familiar?
During the height of Queen in the seventies the incredible, ground-breaking work they were bringing to the world stage was often left to the wayside in interviews with interviewers asking rude and pervasive questions about the nature of Freddie Mercury's sex life. Again, sound familiar?
When artists challenge the status quo publicly, those who wish to maintain it (the silver spoons) seek out ways to discredit the artistic integrity of those who do in an effort to dampen their credibility; because if you paint a person with power in an unflattering light, you may convince others that what they have to say doesn't matter.
Mark my words; as the members of BTS get older their production levels and creative licence will inevitably mature and grow with them. BTS has what a lot of other famous artists in their position do not have: experience in the field of composition and production. Even if many individuals are not ready to take them seriously as artists now, believe me when I say that as long as BTS stick to their guns and continue to push boundaries and create authentically, there will eventually be no other choice but to hear them out and acknowledge them for their artistic integrity and socio-political influence.
I know I just wrote a novel here, but I hope that everyone understands how rare and important BTS are as artists; that what is being done to them has also been done to some of the most well-respected and revered artists of our time. I'm not comparing their work, I'm comparing their experiences based on levels of fame. Not many people achieve the level of fame that BTS has, but there is a history of invalidation aimed at artists who do reach it, especially those who write the hard conversations into their music and maintain artistic integrity.
With that said, what BTS is doing right now has also never been done before. I know the ARMY has been there for them long before they were famous and I also know that they will be there for them as they continue to grow and mature as people and artists. Don't let yourself get discouraged by the attitudes of those who are not yet ready to accept them as viable musicians and artists; they have the advantage of speaking for themselves. Those who seek to discredit them will end up on the wrong side of history as they always do, and BTS has already broken enough ground and set records that will secure them on the right side of it.
Very recently, I had the honor of being able to witness the historic BTS concert in Citi Field in person along with my younger sister…
This actually moved me to tears when I read it. This is what music is supposed to be about: a uniting force, a place where we meet and embrace one another in equity, a celebration of love. They are making a positive difference in so many lives.
This week I noticed one of my ESL students had a BTS keychain on her bookbag. I leaned in and asked discreetly: "Who is your bias?" Her face just lit up and her jaw dropped. "MISS!" She got so excited and told me it was Jungkook. She asked me if it would be OK for her to stop by to chat about them during lunch and I said absolutely. As we talked and shared a meal she explained that coming to Canada was a difficult transition for her and her family; it was a challenging cultural shift and she experienced a lot of self consciousness about her accent, her clothes -- how much of her culture she should express. She frequently worried about being alienated.
She told me she found strength, confidence, and pride from BTS for their music and their visibility on the world stage; she admires the fact that they do not compromise their cultural identity and pride to be successful. I honestly had to swallow down a lump when she told me: "They made me unafraid to be myself no matter where I am."
She is the fifth student that I have had a conversation with who has expressed such a sentiment in this past week alone; boys and girls alike. I have had students visit me during recess, after school who know I am a fan of the group who want to talk about the positive impact the group has had on them; who have joined dance troops, who no longer feel embarrassed to wear their hijab to school, who feel inspired to paint, draw, sing, record.
I deeply mean it when I say these Korean artists are truly having a positive influence on the self-esteem and mental well being of so many people, including my students. I cannot tell you how important and valuable it is to me to know there is an encouraging voice in their ears telling them to love, accept, and embrace themselves as well as others.
How I feel about this character: LOVE OF MY LIFE. fiery badass angrywoman. (angrywoman is one word for a reason)
All the people I ship romantically with this character: cass!! and maybe kara?
My non-romantic OTP for this character: you mean friends? in a few years when they’re Over everything, maybe tim. also kara, ives (they were friends!), also the new batkids (harper, duke)..... she should have more female superhero friends. like anita.
My unpopular opinion about this character: she DOES have flaws and she isn’t always a ray of sunshine (and thats ok!! its good!!) she should be able to be angry and mean and jealous!!also this is only unpopular for lesbians but her and tim were kind of cute when they were like 15 and weren’t horrible to each other. remember when he brought her soup when she was sick? and they called each other ‘sweetie’? it was sweet ok.
One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon: i wish she hadn’t been written out for Years after the retcon... also more instances of her punching her dad in the face. remember when she beat him up in prison? love that.
In the thick of upcoming midterms, time to relieve some stress and draw!
I still do not possess the wherewithal to pick someone from the group independently (legit 7 biases) so here goes, the old tried and true high school solution of making choices:
AND THE MOMENT OF TRUTH:
AHHHH SEOKJIN! Mama Jin, my heart is bursting! Can’t wait to show you guys this next drawing, I’m so excited to do my very first sktech of Mr. Worldwide Handsome. 😘
The Times recently posted an article authored by Richard Lloyd Parry on BTS that honestly left me feeling uncomfortable. I was so unsettled after reading the article that I simply could not stay silent and decided to articulate my thoughts and concerns in a formal letter enforced by research pertaining to my current field of employment as Special Educator and ESL teacher; it argues the potential harmful implications and impact that the published article can have. If you would please take the time to read over what I have composed and offer any criticisms, feedback, editing suggestions etc. before I submit my complaint that would mean a great deal to me. Considering that this letter may be erroneously considered some generalized representation of the ARMY I wanted to ensure that I am representing your views well. Here is what I have written, I enabled you all to view what I have in Google Docs in the interest of preserving formatting/avoiding a wall of text here:
Please review it and let me know your thoughts, I am hoping to submit it tonight or at latest tomorrow morning. Thank you for your time and consideration, I know this is a longer post/letter to ask you to read but I dared not criticize the verity and credibility of a journalist without enforcing my own, and it is important to me that I represent the ARMY well.
