Case Study: Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
The concept of the border has long been a very interesting and hot topic in a lot of contemporary art forms. The border is not only defined as a physical separation between two nations, such as the Mexican/American border, but also has very deep social manifestations. The presence of a physical border separating nations as a critical impact on how a foreign culture is viewed through the eyes of a nation with different cultural practices and values. Frequently, false ideas or impressions begin to develop inside a nation's cultural and political consciousness about foreign cultures. This results in increased security measures around a nation's border caused by fear of change or the unknown. Also, the desire to keep a nation's homogeneous state in tact and free from outside cultural or political ideas. These homogeneous practices' present a problem. They in fact, make border crossing more intense. With an increased amount of security, there is also a rise in the amount illegal attempts to get across a border. It lies in the political and cultural effects of border establishment that allows us an understanding of what is felt inside the film Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. (Nicholas Meyer/1991/U.S.) In this film, we see the possible demise of The United Federation of Planets most formidable adversary, and the moral dilemma of lending a helping hand. I of course am referring to the Klingons.
The film begins with the destruction of the Klingon's principle energy production facility, due to over mining and insufficient safety precautions on their planet's moon called Praxsis. As Mr. Spock describes, “this of course means the breakdown of their ozone, and we believe they will have depleted their supply of oxygen in approximately 50 earth years.” For 100 years however, the Federation and the Klingon Empire have been sworn enemies. The federation is based on exploration. With the need to 'seek out new life and new civilizations,' in the hope of spreading peace throughout the galaxy. The Klingon's however, are a military dictatorship, taking what they want by force. Conquering worlds , turning populations into slaves. Due to the enormous military budget, the Klingon's don't have the resources to improve their situation. Facing annihilation, the Federation have ability to help. 100 years of fighting and the establishment of a 'neutral zone,' which is the border between their territories, cause many in the federation to believe the Klingons should be brought to their knees. Shown perfectly in the start of the film, the Federation high council meet and discuss what should be done. Obviously, there is an intense hatred of the Klingons present and many of these high officials are in fact, afraid of what allowing Klingons in federation space would mean. Specifically, no more neutral zone. As Admiral Cartwright states so perfectly, “to offer Klingons a safe haven inside Federation space would be suicide. The Klingons would become the alien trash of the galaxy. The opportunity here, is to bring them to their knees.” These are also the feelings of Captain James T. Kirk, whose son was murdered by Klingons. Unknown to him, Mr. Spock as committed Captain Kirk to be the first mediator in this developing peace. Kirk contests by stating, “The Klingons have never been trust worthy. Let Them Die.” Demonstrating perfectly what the expanding ideas of the federation, their globalization, has done to their ability to help an aiding species. This is a true example what Clarie Fox writes in her article entitled “The Portable Border.” Stating, “As a phenomenological theory, the border was something that people carried within themselves, in addition to being an external factor structuring their perception.” (62). No more neutral zone means the dismantlement of all the Federation starbases along the border. Petrifying to the many inside the federation and in the Klingon Empire. Unsure of what these peace talks will lead to, officials of both governments conspire together to assassinate the Chancellor Gorgon. The leader of the empire is assassinated while being escorted to Earth by Captain Kirk and the Enterprise. The circumstances however, frame Kirk for the murder. This speaks to the process of globalization occurring inside both governments.
Progressing forward, a sequence in which both the crew of the Enterprise and the visiting Klingon delegation dine on board the Enterprise, is shocking to both crews. A detailed visual emphasis of the Enterprise crew reacting to Klingons behavior. Sitting around one giant table with Kirk and Gorgon on opposite ends, our crews sit face to face. The sequence is designed to show how the neutral zone separation of cultures has effected how these people view each other and just what is acceptable behavior. Confused Klingons picking up the napkins and eating utensils and looking at the curiously, as they've never seen these before. Disgust overwhelms the faces of Commander Uhrua and Doctor McCoy watching Klingons eat by simply picking up the food with their hands with full mouths. The scene bares a striking resemblance to the ballroom scene in Luchino Visconti's The Leopard. As described by Martina Kudlacek in her interview with Issac Julien:
“Of course, that ballroom is the main space where the Visconti film takes place, which is a very famous, very long scene [in which the prince host a celebration for his upstart nephew and the nephew's commoner fiancée, symbolizing the end of the old order.]”(75)
This dinner between the two parties is the beginning of the new order in the galaxy. Dr. McCoy makes a toast to that effect saying, “To you Chancellor Gorgon, one of the architects of our future,” showing the attempt to get past these social differences.
As we see these subtle cultural differences, the discussion that is taking place is one of great importance. Mentioned by one of the Chancellors cabinet member, General Chang, who is also one of the conspirators against the peace movement, regarding Shakespeare. Specifically, the line from Hamlet “To be or not to be.” Chang believes this what Klingon's face and the future of their culture inside federation space. Another Klingon aid adds to this discussion by saying, “We know where all this is leading, the annihilation of our culture.” Though immediately disputed by Dr. McCoy seated across from this particular aid, he is not convinced. This one line spoken by the aid is ultimately what Guillermo Gomez -Pena writes in his essay “On the other side of the Mexican Mirror.” This essay is about his time in southern California after crossing the Mexican-American border. His presence was in it self an act of protest. It speaks also to American naivety regarding other races and how we are so removed from the idea of cultural hybridity. He writes:
“We simply couldn't escape our marked bodies. Being a Mexican “alien” in southern California meant to wake up everyday and choose to remain so by consciously performing our Mexicanness. Whether we like it or not, consciously or not, we became part of a culture resistance. Just to look “Mexican” or speak Spanish in public was itself an act of political defiance. Walking the lonely streets of southern California often entailed the possibility of being harassed or even busted by the police.”(7)
The Klingons feel that they will become exactly what Guillermo is describing, meaningless. Their culture being repressed while their presence would be under constant scrutiny from the authorities. That feeling is brought forward again after the delegation leaves the ship, the enterprise crew begin to speak of just how shocked they are. Mr. Scott mutters, “Thank God,” as Uhrua shouts out “Did you see the way they eat.” These cultural effects transforming cultural identities are true of how the Klingon's view the federation as well. The daughter of chancellor Gorgon states in the dinner scene, “Human, the very name is racist. The federation has become nothing more than a homo-sapiens only club.” From the outside looking in, the federation aren't always seen as the good guys.
This film takes what we have been taking about in class and adapts it to a completely new plain of realization. The film was a social commentary at the time about the fall of the Soviet Union and how after 75 years of being on the brink of nuclear war, how the American and Russian cultures were beginning to see eye to eye. That wasn't an easy change for both culture and indeed there are still many factors that prevent our cultures from coming together, mainly the American political imperialism and the unwillingness to change out cultural values because we believe that we are the greatest nation on this planet. This is so incredibly naive to hold as political thought, and as Chancellor Gorgon states after quietly listening to the arguments of his staff and the crew of the enterprise at dinner, “Well, I see we still have a long way to go.” By the end of the film, change is accepted throughout both governments and a feeling that the future isn't one of a homogeneous community. It is one of total embrace for the unknown.
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