Captain Kirk

Captain Kirk

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Talkin' Mythology

Is Captain Kirk an American icon?
Americans have spent much of the past 50 years bringing our fictional protagonists down to eye level. Where once we had Captain Ahab and Paul Bunyan and John Henry, now we have Rabbit Angstrom and Jack Bauer and Tony Soprano, characters consumed by their faults or quirks or doubts.

That makes for great tragedy and great realism but, perhaps, not great myth. And “Star Trek,” as a history of the future we desire, is unrepentantly mythic.
Translation: Shatner Kirk, yes. Pine Kirk, not so much.

BTW, have you watched The Omega Glory lately? Kirk even gives a "come-hither" look to the American flag! You can't get more iconic than that!

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