Star Trek: The Experience
By Jeff Roberts
I'm quite excited to be writing a critique about Star Trek. In thinking
about entertainment media, and how they can play a part in influencing
and
shaping social patterns, Star Trek is the classic example. The legions
of
Trekkies around the country (and the world) are so dedicated to the
Star
Trek shows that they have created a whole new lifestyle around it.
And it's
easy to see why: Star Trek is entertaining, it gives people hope for
a
better future (while it sub-contextually deals with issues of relevance
today), and it provides a common mythology around which people everywhere,
of all ages, genders, races and nationalities, can connect. Watching
the
documentary film "Trekkies" is necessary for anyone who
doesn't understand
the Star Trek world, which can be described not only as transmedia
but
ultramedia, going far beyond the range of any means of broadcasting.
But
this isn't a review of "Trekkies", it's a review of Star
Trek: The
Experience, as it is advertised on the web site www.ds9promenade.com.
Star Trek: The Experience is the latest (that I know of ) attempt
to
capitalize on Trekkies' desire to bring their entertainment experience
as
close to reality as possible. This is an attraction in the Las Vegas
Hilton
constructed to approximate familiar locations from Star Trek and its
various
spin-offs, particularly Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, which takes place
on a
space station in a remote part of the galaxy. At this attraction,
guests
can eat at Quark's Bar and Restaurant (one of the main scene settings
on
Deep Space Nine) and go through replicas of other scene settings from
the
shows. On the Promenade (another set piece), fans can shop for Trek
merchandise (there is also an online shopping section on the site).
There
is also a museum of memorabilia from the show. The Experience is also
available for special events such as conventions (duh), company parties
(hmm) and weddings (wow).
I'd say by far the best part of the site is the guestbook. This is
mainly
full of remarks from people awestruck by the idea of such a place.
There
are accounts from Trekkies of all ages, male and female, either excited
about their eminent trip or wishful that someday they might put together
the
money to go. One visitor told about meeting her boyfriend through
their
Trek fandom, and how she hoped they would be able to tie the knot
on the
bridge of the Enterprise. Another raved about the new year's celebration
he
attended as the best party he's ever been to.
Looking at this site has reminded me of why I used to be a Trekkie.
It's
about being part of something which is exotic and exciting yet also
unoffensive and easily accessible to many different people. It allows
people to play in the world of fantasy while also making real social
connections. People think Star Trek is fun, and having fun with others
makes it even better. This kind of experience, and Star Trek in general,
is
the perfect counter-argument to the idea that television, as something
people can enjoy in the privacy of their homes, has an isolating effect.
When people crave an entertainment experience, they have a funny habit
of
wanting to share that experience with others as well. This is an important
part of the future of media which cannot be lost in the age of the
internet,
and I certainly doubt that it will.