Analysis Four

Patriarchal Order: Re-establishing the Social Expectation?

Although progress has been made in social equality, there still exists an imbalance in the social views of men and women, both in art and in society. Arguably, there may be a formula to any heroic story. The male hero, although flawed finds a solution or is physically capable of solving the problem, while he charms the beautiful woman, he saves the day. This formula, although somewhat varied, seems to fit most branches of art and in some cases social structures. If this formula is not adhered to, then the imbalance becomes corrected as resolution nears, and herein feminism challenges the perpetual patriarchal hierarchy, which is presented continuously in society. In the following clips of the original “Star Trek” series, the crew encounters a Romulan Commander who confronts their intrusion into Romulan airspace, and ultimately confronts her authority and position as a female commander.

The female Romulan Commander, upon confronting Captain Kirk and First Officer Spock, quickly establishes her authority and high intellect by determining their intent and accusing them of espionage by a series of questions and political leverage, citing there is a “violation of treaties” (Lucas). After further questioning, the commander alleges the ship and crew of the Enterprise “knew of the cloaking device…[and] deliberately violated Romulan space with a blatant spy mission by order of the federation” (Lucas). This opening sequence is necessary as it establishes the intellect of the commander and once again reestablishes her power and authority as a military official.

However, as quickly as the commander’s character is fortified as a formidable military official, her gender is used to dismantle her strength noting her female weaknesses. The Commander becomes enamored with first officer Spock, to the point which she states her wishes, over special foods she had prepared for him, and asks that he take control of the Enterprise, and willing submits to an equal if not subordinate position next to him, “there you will take your rightful place as it’s commander, and you lead the ship…with my flagship at your side” (Lucas). The act of preparation for the male and willingly reducing her own authority and power coincide with Rivkin and Ryan’s concept of a patriarchal culture instituting the idea that “men are somehow superior to women” (768). Do these clips, this extension of art, thereby an extension of culture, perpetuate the idea that “maintains the submission, subordination, and exploitation of the ‘feminine’?” (Rivkin 797).

Sadly, the imbalance of patriarchal hierarchy is reestablished when the commander discovers that her first suspicions of espionage were correct. She is inadvertently taken hostage aboard the Enterprise, and is thus stripped of her authority and military power, and also humiliated as this was done by playing on her feminine weaknesses, by courtship; “you must be mad…why would you do this to me, what are you that you could do this?” (Lucas). Why is it, that this particular outcome is favorable? Does this echo the sentiment of a “one-woman revolution,” which “emphasizes her helplessness and her isolation,” and is ultimately doomed to failure (Rivkin 823)? Why should it be celebrated, since the Enterprise, did in fact break a treaty? Logically, wasn’t the female commander righteous in her actions? If we were to designate the United States to the identify of the Romulans, and the Soviet Union to that of the Federation, wouldn’t these actions by the Soviet Union spark an international incident, as they broke the peace treaty? Yet, this outcome is celebrated, because perhaps the female commander is in fact vilified, because she is in such a high power position, and thus she must be a villain. Perhaps, we have not made as much progress in society, as we have thought. The commander’s character may be right, “there is a truth here that remains unspoken” (Lucas).



Works Cited

Lucas, John, Dir. Star Trek: The Enterprise Incident. 1968. Youtube. 13 August 2009. < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ol5Npu5caRY >

Rivkin, Julie and Michael Ryan. Literary Theory: An Anthology. Malden: Blackwell Publishing, 1998.