While watching Star Trek: The Motion Picture today. In the Rec Room scene, there were several different types of people visible. One that particulary struck me were two Native Americans, female and male, who wore the sterotypical feathers and beads in there hair and as necklaces and such.
I would think this kind of decoration would be only ceremonial, and not worn during standard duty hours. I know Chakotay doesn't wear any kind of Native American clothing or other. So, why would these people be wearing it?
------------------ "The things hollow--it goes on forever--and--oh my God!--it's full of stars!" -David Bowman's last transmission back to Earth, 2001: A Space Odyssey
In the rec. room scene? Maybe they like to wear those things because it identifies them as native Americans and they enjoy wearing items of apparel that identify them as such? After all, it was the rec. room.
I know lots of folks who wear cowboy hats, bluejeans and boots, who haven't been near a horse or a steer for most of their adult life. They just like to wear the accoutrements of their ancestors. There's lots of guys who wear John Deer hats who don't own (or need) tractors as well.
Well, it was the Rec Room, but it was when the entire crew was there, not when people were just playing games and such. Also, the two people wearing the stuff were not standing together at all, and apparntly weren't associated with each other (I can only assume).
One odd thing though. The old man looked exactly like the stereotypical "old Indian man". Dark, wrinkly skin, narrow eyes, and, of course, the feathers.
------------------ "The things hollow--it goes on forever--and--oh my God!--it's full of stars!" -David Bowman's last transmission back to Earth, 2001: A Space Odyssey
There are better scenes that show them, but here are images of one:
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Posted by Starship Freak (Member # 293) on :
I know it isn�t considered canon, but one TAS-episode that I know of featured a native-american in a leading role on an away-mission
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Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
I can imagine two possibilities. One, the scene is supposed to be a visual testimony to Roddenberry's vision of a harmonious future. That message might override technical consistancy.
Two, this scene was cast with fans. That might simply have been how those two were dressed when they arrived at the studio.
------------------ "What did it mean to fly? A tremor in your soul. To resist the dull insistance of gravity." -- Camper Van Beethoven
Posted by Timo (Member # 245) on :
Three, perhaps these people in the rec room are supposed to be references to TOS episodes, and the two are from "Paradise Syndrome"? That episode featured a transplanted native American society where such decorations were worn in normal daily life. So, Starfleet regulations allowing, these people would also wear feathers etc. in regular duty hours, even if most actual 23rd century native Americans from Earth would consider that silly to the extreme.
Timo Saloniemi
Posted by Harry (Member # 265) on :
Hey, on the second picture you can see Odo!
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Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
Timo: Along those lines, were any references ever made in TOS or the movies to how strict SF dress code is? We know that, by the current era, they don't even allow Bajorans to wear their ear decorations; I'm sure they wouldn't allow full native American dress. But that's now. Do we know how they were then?
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Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
Well, they let Scotty wear a Kilt.
------------------ You are wise, witty, and wonderful, but you spend far too much time reading this sort of trash.
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
I've always wondered how Worf has been able to get away with wearing his baldric even as a Lt J.G., yet on at least two occations, we've seen Bajorans made to remove their earrings. The two items basically have the same functions, and the two races share basically the same relationship with the Federation: Allies but not members. Care to explain?
------------------ "A gathering of Angels appeared above my head. They sang to me this song of hope, and this is what they said..." -Styx
Well, in "Enisgn Ro", the Bajorans weren't really allies, were they?
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
Well, we know they were at least friendly. At some time before that, SF had apparently been really big on getting Bajorans into Starfleet (this is from Voyager's recent episode "Good Shepherd", for those of you who haven't seen it and wonder where I came up w/ this). You'd think, if SF wants so many Bajorans, they'd let them wear their little clip-on earrings...
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Posted by The359 (Member # 37) on :
Timo, there is one flaw. Prime Directive. The people on Miranamee's planet were obviously pre-warp, and therefore, could not join the Federation.
------------------ "The things hollow--it goes on forever--and--oh my God!--it's full of stars!" -David Bowman's last transmission back to Earth, 2001: A Space Odyssey
On the other hand, they were human, and had been plucked from Earth by an advanced alien race. The argument could be made that the Prime Directive doesn't apply.
Though personally, I'd imagine the Federation would probably leave them there, at least until further study could be done.
------------------ "What did it mean to fly? A tremor in your soul. To resist the dull insistance of gravity." -- Camper Van Beethoven
Posted by Timo (Member # 245) on :
The dress code might be strict only in theory. In practice, the only time it is enforced is when the superior officer specifically wants to make life less enjoyable for the subordinate, which was Tuvok's aim in "Learning Curve" and may have been Riker's in "Ensign Ro".
As for Miramanee's planet being PD protected, I guess it would be. But the movie might still have included deliberate "tips of the hat", even if they were bad continuity. And who knows, perhaps the primitive-looking people in fact were capable of warp speeds and high tech after taking a little telepathic sip of knowledge from the obelisk, and had simply forgotten to take it for a few successive months and lost the skill? Kirok's visit would jolt their memory...
Timo Saloniemi
Posted by Harry (Member # 265) on :
Bajorans can't wear their funny ear-thingies and Worf can wear his ....errr... thing?
That easy to explain: There is onnly one Worf, and he *is* Klingon. Try telling a grumpy klingon to take of his honourable thing. There are lots of Bajorans, and it's probably just a formality.
------------------ "When You're Up to Your Ass in Alligators, Today Is the First Day of the Rest of Your Life." -- Management slogan, Ridcully-style (Terry Pratchett, The Last Continent, Discworld) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prakesh's Star Trek Site
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 138) on :
On the subject of uniform, Troi was allowed to wear her dresses all the time instead of a blue uniform until Captain Jellico came along.
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Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
I think Timo has nailed this one down. Someone working down in the sensor control room can probably get away with dressing a lot more casually than someone working on the bridge or a more hazardous location like engineering. Commanding officer's discretion, and all that.
------------------ "What did it mean to fly? A tremor in your soul. To resist the dull insistance of gravity." -- Camper Van Beethoven
