First Seen
2023-05-10T21:03:41+00:00
simple-description (llama3.2-vision_11b)
The meme is a screenshot of a Twitter post from Star Trek's official account, featuring a photo of the show's new cast with a caption that reads: "We're not just exploring the galaxy, we're exploring what it means to be human." The meme is being used to poke fun at the show's attempt to be inclusive and progressive, with the caption "I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but..." implying that the show's efforts to be queer-friendly are somehow insincere or performative.
detailed-analysis (gemma3-27b-vision)
Okay, here's an analysis of the Twitter post, broken down into sections as requested, based on the relevant theoretical frameworks.
## Visual Description
The image is a screenshot of a Twitter post. The account posting is “Marina Sirtis”, with a verified blue checkmark. The tweet itself reads: “Honey, I suggest you don’t make ridiculous comments until you’ve done the research.” Below this is a reply from the account “RationalDisconnect” stating: “i can’t believe they brought politics into Star Trek”. The reply includes a thumbnail of a YouTube video titled “Star Trek Gone Woke?” featuring images of actors Michael Burnham, Paul Stamets, and Adira Tal, all characters from Star Trek: Discovery. The image is overlaid with text that reads “Star Trek Gone Woke?” and also includes a timer set to 24:46. Below this thumbnail is a link to the video on YouTube titled “Star Trek’s NEW NON-BINARY Character – Get Woke, Go Broke? | Ep 263” by Lauren Chen. The timestamp of the original tweet is 1:03 PM on December 6, 2020, and it was made using an iPhone.
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## Foucauldian Genealogical Discourse Analysis
This exchange can be analyzed through a Foucauldian lens focusing on the discourse surrounding “wokeness” and its perceived incursion into the realm of science fiction, specifically Star Trek.
Power/Knowledge: The framing of the YouTube video title ("Star Trek Gone Woke?") and the reply from “RationalDisconnect” demonstrate a power dynamic. The term "woke" is being employed as a derogatory label, suggesting a corruption of something valued (in this case, Star Trek*) through the imposition of external (political) forces. The implication is that "wokeness" is a negative force altering the 'purity' of the show.
Discursive Formation: The discourse itself around "wokeness" is a discursive formation* – a set of statements, practices, and institutions that construct a particular way of understanding the world. This discourse is inherently linked to power relations, defining who is considered "normal" and who is seen as "other."
* Genealogy: A genealogical approach would trace the historical development of this discourse, exploring how the term "woke" shifted from its origins in African American Vernacular English (AAVE) as a call for social awareness to its current use as a pejorative in conservative circles. It would reveal how this shifting meaning contributes to the creation of a particular subject – the “culture warrior” – who sees political correctness as a threat.
Marina Sirtis’s Response: Marina Sirtis's reply dismisses the criticism with an instruction to “do the research.” This suggests that the criticism comes from a place of ignorance and that the commenter has not engaged with the history and nuances of diversity and inclusion in Star Trek*.
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## Critical Theory
Through a Critical Theory lens, this exchange highlights the ways in which dominant ideologies are challenged and maintained in popular culture.
Ideology: The claim that "politics" is being "brought into Star Trek" implies a separation between entertainment and social/political issues. This itself is an ideological position – a belief that entertainment should be "apolitical" and remain within a narrow definition of escapism. This perspective ignores the fact that Star Trek* has always engaged with political and social themes, such as racism, war, and inequality.
Hegemony: The backlash against the inclusion of non-binary characters in Star Trek can be seen as an attempt to maintain the hegemonic (dominant) norms of gender and sexuality. The framing of the conversation as “bringing politics into Star Trek” deflects from the fact that Star Trek* has always been progressive and inclusive.
* Culture Industry: The YouTube video itself is a product of the “culture industry” and can be seen as contributing to the commodification of political outrage. The title is intentionally provocative to attract clicks and views, and the content likely reinforces existing biases.
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## Queer Feminist Intersectional Analysis
This exchange is deeply relevant to queer feminist intersectional analysis.
* Representation: The controversy surrounding the inclusion of a non-binary character is a classic example of the struggle for queer representation in mainstream media. The implication that the character is unwelcome or a "corruption" of the show reflects a lack of acceptance and understanding of gender diversity.
* Intersectional Oppression: The critique of the character doesn't exist in a vacuum. It intersects with broader systems of oppression based on gender, sexuality, and political ideology.
* Backlash & Violence: The negative reaction to queer representation often leads to online harassment and even real-world violence. This incident can be seen as a microcosm of this larger pattern.
Marina Sirtis’s Position: Marina Sirtis, as an actor who played a strong female character on Star Trek*, can be seen as an ally to marginalized communities. Her response to the criticism suggests that she recognizes the importance of diversity and inclusion and is willing to defend those who are being attacked.
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Please note: These analyses are interpretations based on the information presented in the image and my understanding of the theoretical frameworks. There are many other ways to interpret this exchange.
simple-description (llama3.2-vision)
The meme is a screenshot of a Twitter post that reads "In 2-3 sentences, describe this meme for someone who cannot see it." The post is a self-referential joke, poking fun at the idea of describing a meme that is essentially a joke about the difficulty of describing a meme.
tesseract-ocr
Marina Sirtis @ @Marina_Sirtis Honey, | suggest you don't make ridiculous comments until you've done the research. @ Rational Disconnect @RationalD... - 13h i can't believe that they brought politics into Star Trek o> ~ a in sc) SALA COP hea STAR: TREK GONE WOKE? ° 54:46 © Star Trek's NEW NON-BINARY Character - : ’ Get Woke, Go Broke? | Ep 263 Lauren Chen - 19K views - 18 hours ago 1:03 PM - 06 Dec 20 - Twitter for iPhone