Uh… why shouldn’t they?
Comment on Karim Diané on playing Star Trek’s first gay Klingon
RalfWausE@feddit.org 1 day ago
Just to talk about the 500 pound targ in the room: I am unsure if it was ever mentioned how Klingon sexuality works (besides some glimpses into mating rituals in the TNG era and some hints regarding the anatomy in Discovery).
Why should concepts like straight / gay / bi matter in the first hand for an alien race?
Kirk@startrek.website 22 hours ago
ruuster13@lemmy.zip 1 day ago
Because they’re humanoids. We see ourselves in them. Therefore representation matters.
Homosexuality has been observed in over 5,000,000 mammaloid species, including targs.
Kirk@startrek.website 22 hours ago
Don’t feed the troll, there is no need to allow yourself to be put on the defensive justifying why an LGTBQ character exists. The person you’re replying to needs to make the case for why shouldn’t matter (but they can’t because the reason is they are bigoted).
JasSmith@sh.itjust.works 1 day ago
I don’t. I think one of the more powerful aspects of Star Trek has been accepting completely alien lifeforms as inherently valuable without anthropomorphising them. We can accept the value in life without making them just like us. That’s a cheap writing technique to shortcut any kind of important world and character building, or moral uncertainty. This is one of the reasons “new” Trek has been so controversial. Writing is as subtle and nuanced and interesting as a YA novel.
To be clear, I’m not claiming Star Trek has never anthropomorphised aliens. Nor am I claiming it should never do it. I’m arguing it should be done sparingly and only when it serves a more interesting narrative. To make a topical American culture war issue the defining characteristic of a Klingon is easily one of the laziest writing mechanics I’ve seen in Star Trek, ever. It’s beating the audience over the head with a message. Star Trek has always presented moral uncertainty to viewers and allowed them to make up their own minds. This is far more powerful and interesting storytelling. Ironically, this is why The Orville has been such a hit. Despite the comedy aspects, it feels like Star Trek because it’s comfortable with moral ambiguity and treats the audience like adults.
SaraTonin@lemmy.world 1 day ago
Klingons are very definitely one of the species who have always been heavily anthropomorphised
As for “American culture war issue”…dude, gay people exist. It’s okay for gay people to exist in fiction, too
JasSmith@sh.itjust.works 1 day ago
Of all the thought terminating cliches to ever exist, this one exists the most. No one claimed gay people don’t exist. Re-read what I wrote please.
ruuster13@lemmy.zip 1 day ago
Klingons appear humanoid. Therefore humans see themselves in them regardless of what the writers intend. Therefore we have to shove representation in as a sort of innoculation against the exact mental gymnastics you’re performing.
JasSmith@sh.itjust.works 1 day ago
Cultural inoculation is like a right wing conspiracy theory, but here you are stating it as fact. Maybe you’re right, and the writers really do view Star Trek as tool for cultural power and reeducation, instead of entertainment and art. I hope you’re wrong.
RalfWausE@feddit.org 1 day ago
I mean, yeah, i surely understand the real world reasons (especally in todays time), but in-universe?
It’s still somewhat early where i live and i just now arrived at my desk with my first coffee of the day, so please let me apogly if my question is somewhat retarded, but… was it ever confirmed that klingons (and targs) are canonical mammalian?
ruuster13@lemmy.zip 1 day ago
It’s just a phrase. You’ve heard it. To finish it off: Homophobia only exists in 1 species (which, unfortunately for my example, would likely be Klingons).
GameOverFlow@lemmy.zip 1 day ago
Can an alien from alien be gay that would be a fun watch.
ruuster13@lemmy.zip 1 day ago
It’s already more than possible in your mind.