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[[File:Star Trek-Jacob Kogan-Child Spock.jpg|150px|thumb|left|Spock in his childhood, as portrayed by [[Jacob Kogan]] in the 2009 ''[[Star Trek (film)|Star Trek]]'' film]] |
[[File:Star Trek-Jacob Kogan-Child Spock.jpg|150px|thumb|left|Spock in his childhood, as portrayed by [[Jacob Kogan]] in the 2009 ''[[Star Trek (film)|Star Trek]]'' film]] |
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===Background=== |
===Background=== |
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Spock's parents are [[Sarek]] ([[Mark Lenard]]), the Vulcan Ambassador to the Federation, and [[Amanda Grayson]] ([[Jane Wyatt]]), a Human teacher.<ref name="Encyc" /><ref>{{Cite episode|title=This Side of Paradise|episodelink=This Side of Paradise (Star Trek: The Original Series)|series=Star Trek: The Original Series|serieslink=Star Trek: The Original Series|airdate=March 2, 1967|season=1|number=24}}</ref> As shown in the 2009 ''Star Trek'' film, Spock has a difficult childhood, often suffering bullying (both verbal and physical) from his peers due to his mixed heritage. Spock decides to attend [[Starfleet Academy]] and serve as a Starfleet officer, rather than attend the Vulcan Science Academy, contrary to his father's wishes |
Spock's parents are [[Sarek]] ([[Mark Lenard]]), the Vulcan Ambassador to the Federation, and [[Amanda Grayson]] ([[Jane Wyatt]]), a Human teacher.<ref name="Encyc" /><ref>{{Cite episode|title=This Side of Paradise|episodelink=This Side of Paradise (Star Trek: The Original Series)|series=Star Trek: The Original Series|serieslink=Star Trek: The Original Series|airdate=March 2, 1967|season=1|number=24}}</ref> As shown in the 2009 ''Star Trek'' film, Spock has a difficult childhood, often suffering bullying (both verbal and physical) from his peers due to his mixed heritage. Spock decides to attend [[Starfleet Academy]] and serve as a Starfleet officer, rather than attend the Vulcan Science Academy, contrary to his father's wishes<ref name=StarTrek.com>{{cite web|url=http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/series/TOS/character/1112508.html |title=Star Trek Spock |publisher=Startrek.com |date= |accessdate=April 6, 2011}}</ref> The relationship between Spock and Sarek is strained, often turbulent, although rooted in an underlying respect and carefully restrained love for each other.<ref name="compendium">{{cite book |title=The Star Trek Compendium |first=Alan |last=Asherman |date=May 1, 1993 |isbn=978-0671796129 |publisher=Pocket Books |location=New York}}</ref><ref name="tngcompanion">{{cite book |title=Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion |publisher=[[Pocket Books]] |date=January 7, 2003 |last=Nemeck |first=Larry |isbn=978-0743457989}}</ref> Prior to the events depicted in ''The Original Series'', Spock served aboard the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)|USS ''Enterprise'']] for eleven years under the command of Captain [[Christopher Pike (Star Trek)|Christopher Pike]]. |
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===Starfleet career=== |
===Starfleet career=== |
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==Cultural impact== |
==Cultural impact== |
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Spock has been parodied by, and has also been the inspiration for, pop culture works in various media. Composer/keyboardist [[George Duke]]'s ''1976 Solo Keyboard Album'' features two tracks which pay homage to Spock: "Spock Gets Funky" and "Vulcan Mind Probe". Rock guitarist [[Paul Gilbert]] wrote the song "Mr. Spock" on his ''[[Space Ship One (album)|Space Ship One]]'' album. Swedish [[synthpop]] band [[S.P.O.C.K]] makes music heavily influenced by the Star Trek universe. Even Nimoy got in on the act; assuming the Spock character, Nimoy recorded a number of novelty songs, the first being "[[Highly Illogical]]", in which Spock pointed out the foibles of human thought, such as relationships, automobiles, and greed. The second song, "A Visit to a Sad Planet", was darker in tone and told the story of Spock visiting Earth in the future and discovering it had been ruined by war, violence, and environmental irresponsibility. According to comic book writer and editor [[Bob Budiansky]], ''[[Transformers|The Transformers]]'' character [[Shockwave (Transformers)|Shockwave]] was inspired by Spock.<ref>{{cite web|author=Author |url=http://rustingcarcass.yuku.com/topic/954/t/Bob-Budiansky.html |title=Bob Budiansky in Interrogative Forum |publisher=Rustingcarcass.yuku.com |date=September 28, 1958 |accessdate=April 6, 2011}}</ref> |
Spock has been parodied by, and has also been the inspiration for, pop culture works in various media. Composer/keyboardist [[George Duke]]'s ''1976 Solo Keyboard Album'' features two tracks which pay homage to Spock: "Spock Gets Funky" and "Vulcan Mind Probe". Rock guitarist [[Paul Gilbert]] wrote the song "Mr. Spock" on his ''[[Space Ship One (album)|Space Ship One]]'' album. Swedish [[synthpop]] band [[S.P.O.C.K]] makes music heavily influenced by the Star Trek universe. Even Nimoy got in on the act; assuming the Spock character, Nimoy recorded a number of novelty songs, the first being "[[Highly Illogical]]", in which Spock pointed out the foibles of human thought, such as relationships, automobiles, and greed. The second song, "A Visit to a Sad Planet", was darker in tone and told the story of Spock visiting Earth in the future and discovering it had been ruined by war, violence, and environmental irresponsibility. According to comic book writer and editor [[Bob Budiansky]], ''[[Transformers|The Transformers]]'' character [[Shockwave (Transformers)|Shockwave]] was inspired by Spock.<ref>{{cite web|author=Author |url=http://rustingcarcass.yuku.com/topic/954/t/Bob-Budiansky.html |title=Bob Budiansky in Interrogative Forum |publisher=Rustingcarcass.yuku.com |date=September 28, 1958 |accessdate=April 6, 2011}}</ref> |
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⚫ | Spock has also had an impact in weightier matters such as ethical theory, law and politics. For example, although the philosophy underlying it is grounded in [[Utilitarianism|utility theory]], Spock's statement in ''The Wrath of Khan'' that "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few" has become known by some as the "Spock principle".<ref>{{cite book|last=Clawson|first=Jeff J.|title=Principles of emergency medical dispatch|year=2000|publisher=Priority Press|isbn=0965889025|page=450|edition=3rd|coauthors=Kate Boyd Dernocoeur}}</ref> The Spock principle has even been cited in legal decisions. |
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⚫ | Spock's physical appearance in the ''Original Series'' episode "[[Mirror, Mirror (Star Trek)|Mirror, Mirror]]" has itself spawned a trope of the "[[Evil twin#The goatee|evil twin]]" archetype found in various fictional genres. In that episode, several members of the ''Enterprise'' travel to a parallel universe inhabited by evil versions of themselves. The parallel universe version of Spock is distinguished physically by his [[goatee]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/series/TOS/feature/17535.html|title=Top 40 Reasons Why We Love Star Trek|accessdate=April 13, 2009}}</ref> Examples of the evil goatee's appearances include: the ''[[South Park]]'' Halloween episode ''[[Spookyfish]]'', where "mirror [[Eric Cartman|Cartman]]", who sports a goatee, is actually much more of a "good" character than the beardless, loathsome "regular" Cartman; in ''[[Futurama]]'' where the goatee is referenced by [[Bender (Futurama)|Bender]]'s 'evil twin' Flexo, who is constantly accused of being the bad Bender because of his goatee |
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{{-}} |
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⚫ | |||
⚫ | Spock has also had an impact in weightier matters such as ethical theory, law and politics. For example, although the philosophy underlying it is grounded in [[Utilitarianism|utility theory]], Spock's statement in ''The Wrath of Khan'' that "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few" has become known by some as the "Spock principle".<ref>{{cite book|last=Clawson|first=Jeff J.|title=Principles of emergency medical dispatch|year=2000|publisher=Priority Press|isbn=0965889025|page=450|edition=3rd|coauthors=Kate Boyd Dernocoeur}}</ref> The Spock principle has even been cited in legal decisions |
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⚫ | Spock's physical appearance in the ''Original Series'' episode "[[Mirror, Mirror (Star Trek)|Mirror, Mirror]]" has itself spawned a trope of the "[[Evil twin#The goatee|evil twin]]" archetype found in various fictional genres. In that episode, several members of the ''Enterprise'' travel to a parallel universe inhabited by evil versions of themselves. The parallel universe version of Spock is distinguished physically by his [[goatee]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/series/TOS/feature/17535.html|title=Top 40 Reasons Why We Love Star Trek|accessdate=April 13, 2009}}</ref> Examples of the evil goatee's appearances include: the ''[[South Park]]'' Halloween episode ''[[Spookyfish]]'', where "mirror [[Eric Cartman|Cartman]]", who sports a goatee, is actually much more of a "good" character than the beardless, loathsome "regular" Cartman; in ''[[Futurama]]'' where the goatee is referenced by [[Bender (Futurama)|Bender]]'s 'evil twin' Flexo, who is constantly accused of being the bad Bender because of his goatee; and a 2009 episode of ''[[The Colbert Report]]'' featuring [[Stephen Colbert (character)|Stephen Colbert]] and congressman [[Dan Maffei]] (a ''Star Trek'' fan) wearing fake goatees and pretending to be evil versions of themselves.<ref>{{cite episode |title= Better Know a District - New York's 25th - Dan Maffei|episodelink= Better Know a District |series= ''The Colbert Report''|serieslink= The Colbert Report|network= [[Comedy Central]]|airdate= April 7, 2009|season= 5}}</ref> |
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<blockquote> |
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Appropriately weighty principles guide our course. First, we recognize that police power draws from the credo that "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few." Second, while this maxim rings utilitarian and Dickensian (not to mention Vulcan), it is cabined by something contrarian and Texan: distrust of intrusive government and a belief that police power is justified only by urgency, not expediency. |
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''See'' Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (Paramount Pictures 1982). The film references several works of classic literature, none more prominently than ''A Tale of Two Cities''. Spock gives Admiral Kirk an antique copy as a birthday present, and the film itself is bookended with the book's opening and closing passages. Most memorable, of course, is Spock's famous line from his moment of sacrifice: "Don't grieve, Admiral. It is logical. The needs of the many outweigh . . ." to which Kirk replies, "the needs of the few."<ref name="SCoT">''Robinson v. Crown Cork & Seal'', [http://www.supreme.courts.state.tx.us/historical/2010/oct/060714c2.htm Supreme Court of Texas No. 06-0714] (2008). supreme.courts.state.tx.us. Retrieved April 2, 2011</ref> |
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</blockquote> |
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After the release of the [[Star Trek (film)|2009 ''Star Trek'' film]], Spock was compared with U.S. President [[Public image of Barack Obama|Barack Obama]] by several media outlets.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/ent/feature/2009/05/07/obama_spock/index.html |title=Obama is Spock: It's quite logical |publisher=Salon.com |date=May 7, 2009 |accessdate=April 6, 2011}}</ref> [[Maureen Dowd]] noted "Mr. Obama has a bit of Mr. Spock in him (and not just the funny ears). He has a Vulcan-like logic and detachment."<ref>{{cite web|last=Dowd |first=Maureen |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/01/opinion/01dowd.html?ref=opinion |title=Spock at the Bridge |publisher=Nytimes.com |date=February 28, 2009 |accessdate=April 6, 2011}}</ref> ''[[Newsweek]]'''s Steve Daly said "Spock's cool, analytical nature feels more fascinating and topical than ever now that we've put a sort of Vulcan in the White House," and noted the similarity between Spock and President Obama both being the product of [[interracial marriage|mixed-race marriages]].<ref>{{cite web|author=April 25, 2009 |url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/195082 |title=We're All Trekkies Now |publisher=Newsweek.com |date=April 25, 2009 |accessdate=April 6, 2011}}</ref> Obama was apparently nicknamed "Spock" by British officials at the [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]]: "Almost everyone felt a little unloved by Obama. Not for nothing was his nickname 'Spock'".<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog/2010/dec/23/gordon-brown-anthony-seldon-book|title= Thirty new facts about Gordon Brown from Anthony Seldon's book|author= Andrew Sparrow |date= December 23, 2010|work= Politics Blog|publisher= The Guardian|accessdate=December 23, 2010}}</ref> |
After the release of the [[Star Trek (film)|2009 ''Star Trek'' film]], Spock was compared with U.S. President [[Public image of Barack Obama|Barack Obama]] by several media outlets.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/ent/feature/2009/05/07/obama_spock/index.html |title=Obama is Spock: It's quite logical |publisher=Salon.com |date=May 7, 2009 |accessdate=April 6, 2011}}</ref> [[Maureen Dowd]] noted "Mr. Obama has a bit of Mr. Spock in him (and not just the funny ears). He has a Vulcan-like logic and detachment."<ref>{{cite web|last=Dowd |first=Maureen |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/01/opinion/01dowd.html?ref=opinion |title=Spock at the Bridge |publisher=Nytimes.com |date=February 28, 2009 |accessdate=April 6, 2011}}</ref> ''[[Newsweek]]'''s Steve Daly said "Spock's cool, analytical nature feels more fascinating and topical than ever now that we've put a sort of Vulcan in the White House," and noted the similarity between Spock and President Obama both being the product of [[interracial marriage|mixed-race marriages]].<ref>{{cite web|author=April 25, 2009 |url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/195082 |title=We're All Trekkies Now |publisher=Newsweek.com |date=April 25, 2009 |accessdate=April 6, 2011}}</ref> Obama was apparently nicknamed "Spock" by British officials at the [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]]: "Almost everyone felt a little unloved by Obama. Not for nothing was his nickname 'Spock'".<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog/2010/dec/23/gordon-brown-anthony-seldon-book|title= Thirty new facts about Gordon Brown from Anthony Seldon's book|author= Andrew Sparrow |date= December 23, 2010|work= Politics Blog|publisher= The Guardian|accessdate=December 23, 2010}}</ref> |
Revision as of 23:39, 28 May 2011
Spock | |
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Portrayed by | Leonard Nimoy Zachary Quinto (2009) |
Spock is a fictional character in the Star Trek media franchise.[1] First portrayed by Leonard Nimoy in the original Star Trek series, Spock also appears in the animated Star Trek series, two episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, seven of the Star Trek feature films, and numerous Star Trek books, comics, and video games.[1][2] In the 2009 film Star Trek, Nimoy reprised his role alongside Zachary Quinto, who played a younger, alternate-timeline version of the character, with Jacob Kogan playing Spock as a child.[2]
Spock serves aboard the starship Enterprise, serving as science officer and first officer, and later as commanding officer of two iterations of the vessel. Spock's mixed human-Vulcan heritage, as well being the first Vulcan to serve in Starfleet, serve as an important plot element in many of the character's appearances. Along with James T. Kirk and Leonard McCoy, he is one of the three central characters in the original Star Trek series and its films. After retiring from Starfleet, Spock serves as a Federation ambassador, contributing toward for the détente between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. In his later years, he serves as Federation ambassador to the Romulan Empire and becomes involved in the ill-fated attempt to save Romulus from a supernova.[3]
Depiction
Background
Spock's parents are Sarek (Mark Lenard), the Vulcan Ambassador to the Federation, and Amanda Grayson (Jane Wyatt), a Human teacher.[1][4] As shown in the 2009 Star Trek film, Spock has a difficult childhood, often suffering bullying (both verbal and physical) from his peers due to his mixed heritage. Spock decides to attend Starfleet Academy and serve as a Starfleet officer, rather than attend the Vulcan Science Academy, contrary to his father's wishes[5] The relationship between Spock and Sarek is strained, often turbulent, although rooted in an underlying respect and carefully restrained love for each other.[6][7] Prior to the events depicted in The Original Series, Spock served aboard the USS Enterprise for eleven years under the command of Captain Christopher Pike.
Starfleet career
After Pike's promotion to Fleet Captain, Spock continues to serve aboard the Enterprise as science officer and first officer under Captain James T. Kirk.[1] The series depicts a "troika" of Spock, Kirk, and McCoy; while McCoy often acts as Kirk's conscience, Spock offers the captain an emotionally detached, logical perspective.[6] The character also offers an "outsider's" perspective on "the human condition".[6]
At the beginning of Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979), Spock is no longer in Starfleet, having resigned and returned home to pursue the Vulcan discipline of Kolinahr. Spock is unable to complete the Kolinahr ritual after he senses the coming of V'ger, and rejoins Starfleet to aid the Enterprise crew in their mission.[1] The Kolinahr is the process by which Vulcan's rid themselves of the final vestiges of emotion, and become beings of pure logic. It is never revealed if ever Spock returns to complete his studies, but his development over the years demonstrate an acceptance of the existence of his emotions, even if he does not readily express them.
Spock, now a Captain, is commanding officer of the Enterprise re-tasked as a training vessel, at the beginning of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982).[1] At the film's end, Spock transfers his "katra" - the sum of his memories and experience (essentially the Vulcan "soul") - to McCoy, and then in a defining moment in the Star Trek franchise's history, sacrifices himself to save the ship and its crew.[1]
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984) focuses on his crewmates' quest to recover Spock's body, resurrected by the Genesis matrix in the previous film. Spock, who rapidly ages to adulthood, is portrayed by Carl Steven, Vadia Potenza, Stephen Manley, Joe W. Davis, and Nimoy. At the film's conclusion, Spock's revived body is reunited with his katra.[1]
Spock is next seen in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986), which depicts Spock recovering from the after-effects of his resurrection. Although the integration of his katra and body is successful, his mind has had to be re-trained, and he struggles with the reality of his emotions, becoming more overtly logical than before. In the final scene he rejoins the crew of the newly commissioned USS Enterprise-A under Kirk's command.[1]
In Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989), Spock and the Enterprise-A crew are on a mission to confront the Vulcan renegade Sybok (Laurence Luckinbill). Sybok is later revealed to be Spock's half-brother, sharing Sarek as their father.[1] Sybok can be viewed as a mirror to Spock - whereas the latter constantly struggles with balancing his human nature, having chosen to follow the Vulcan philosophy of logic, the former is a full-Vulcan who has fully embraced the emotions that exist but are rejected by most of his brethren. The film also shows Spock's growing acceptance of his relationship with Kirk and McCoy and the nature of that friendship.
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991) reunites the Enterprise-A crew on a mission to prevent war from erupting between the Federation and Klingon Empire. Foreshadowing his later career as a Federation ambassador, Spock serves as a special envoy to broker peace with the Klingons after a natural disaster devastates their homeworld. The Undiscovered Country marked Spock's final appearance in the Star Trek films until 2009's Star Trek.
Later years
Spock appears in "Unification" (1991), a two-part episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Set 75 years after the events of The Undiscovered Country, the episode focuses on Federation Ambassador Spock's attempt to reunite Vulcan with their Romulan brethren.[7] Filming of The Undiscovered Country overlapped with production of this episode.
Star Trek (2009)
Spock's next appearance in the live action Star Trek franchise is the 2009 Star Trek film. In the film's prologue (set 19 years after the events of Unification, and as depicted in the graphic novel Star Trek: Countdown[3]) the elderly Ambassador Spock (portrayed by Nimoy) promises the Romulans he will use Vulcan technology to save them from a rogue supernova that threatens to destroy their Empire. The mission is only partially successful, and in the aftermath Spock is pursued into the past by Nero (Eric Bana), a Romulan driven mad by the loss of his homeworld and family, setting into motion the events of the film.
In the film's opening act, Nero's ship emerges in the year 2233, and through its interaction with the inhabitants, inadvertently creates an "alternate, parallel 'Star Trek' universe".[8][9] Stranded in the alternate past, the prime version of Spock helps alternate, younger versions of himself and Kirk (portrayed by Zachary Quinto and Chris Pine, respectively) to thwart Nero's attempt to destroy the Federation.
The film also features Jacob Kogan in several scenes depicting Spock's childhood, including his abuse at the hands of other Vulcan children due to his half-Human heritage, and his relationship with his parents (portrayed in the film by Ben Cross and Winona Ryder). The film also depicts Kirk and Spock's initial clashes at Starfleet Academy, and the gradual development of their friendship based on shared mutual respect,[8] what the elder Spock calls "... a friendship that will define [them] both in ways [they] cannot yet realize."[10] A major change in characterization from the primary timeline is alternate Spock's involvement with alternate Uhura (Zoe Saldana), his former student. At the end of the film, the young Spock opts to remain in Starfleet, while his older self stays in the altered universe to aid the few surviving Vulcan refugees, as Nero had destroyed Vulcan, Spock's home planet.
In other media
In addition to television, feature films, books, and parodies, Spock has also been portrayed in fan fiction. Since 2004, the online fan production Star Trek: Phase II (originally called Star Trek: New Voyages) has continued the further voyages of the cancelled initial series. The fan-series' creators feel "Kirk, Spock, McCoy and the rest should be treated as 'classic' characters like Willy Loman from Death of a Salesman, Gandalf from Lord of the Rings or even Hamlet, Othello or Romeo. Many actors have and can play the roles, each offering a different interpretation of said character."[11]
Spock was portrayed by Jeffrey Quinn for the first three episodes of Star Trek: Phase II. Brandon Stacy, who succeeded Jeffrey Quinn and Ben Tolpin in portraying Spock, also served as a stand-in for Zachary Quinto in the 2009 Star Trek film.[12]
Development
Spock, as originally described in Gene Roddenberry's 1964 pitch for Star Trek, is described as "probably half Martian, he has a slightly reddish complexion and semi-pointed ears".[13] Early versions had the character ingest energy through a plate in his stomach. Writer Samuel A. Peeples told Roddenberry these attributes made Spock too alien, and suggested "he should at least be half-human and have the problems of both sides",[14] believing the human traits made the character more interesting and able to comment on the human condition more believably. Spock's home planet was changed because Roddenberry thought if the show was a success, humans might actually walk on Mars during the series' run.[15]
Roddenberry sought an alien-sounding name when he created "Spock", and did not know until later of Dr. Benjamin Spock, the famous child psychologist.[16] In the initial, rejected pilot, "The Cage" (1964), Spock is greenish yellow and from the planet Vulcan. After DeForest Kelley in 1964 stated his disinterest in playing the role,[17]: 133, 147 [18] Roddenberry cast Nimoy because he knew him from a guest appearance in his pilot The Lieutenant; after Roddenberry saw Nimoy's thin face and sharp features, no other actors were considered.[19] Had Nimoy turned down the role, Roddenberry would have approached Martin Landau.[20]
The "pointy ears" worn by Nimoy while portraying Spock are a form of facial prosthesis, mainly composed from molded and painted syntactic foam.[21] The foam was created by filling a ceramic matrix with hollow particles called microballoons, which result in a low density prosthesis with easy wearability. However, the process of ungluing the ears was painful for Nimoy, and meant that he had to come in an hour and a half early before filming, and stay behind for a half hour each day after filming, to apply and remove the glued pieces. The pain and inconvenience were so great that when producer Robert H. Justman jokingly proposed plastic surgery, Nimoy momentarily considered doing so.[22] NBC was concerned about Spock's satanic appearance, however, and asked for the character to be dropped; according to Oscar Katz, the network was worried "the 'guy with the ears' would scare the shit out of every kid in America". Publicity shots of the character were airbrushed so Spock had normal eyebrows and round ears. With Katz's help, Roddenberry was able to keep the character.[15] Throughout the character's television and movie appearances, the shape of Spock's ears have varied, due in part to the different makeup artists applying them.[23]
Spock did not originally have the logical manner which would become associated with the character, this instead being a trait of the character Number One (Majel Barrett). However, Number One was dropped in developing the second pilot, "Where No Man Has Gone Before" (1966). This episode presents a more fully formed Spock, with his trademark logic.[24] Nimoy liked the character's newly logical nature, observing the character is "struggling to maintain a Vulcan attitude, a Vulcan philosophical posture and a Vulcan logic, opposing what was fighting him internally, which was human emotion".[25] Spock's behavior has been described as representing, in part, a type of normative judgment.[26] Spock's Vulcan salute references a sacred hand position used by the ancient Jewish priestly class. Desilu vice president Herbert Solow believes Nimoy was the key contributor to the character's depiction.[27] Nimoy recalled, "As a Jew from Catholic Boston, I understood what it was like to feel alienated, apart from the mainstream...There were a number of values in 'Star Trek' that I felt very comfortable with as a Jew".[28]
Death in The Wrath of Khan
Nimoy had not intended to join the cast of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, but was enticed back on the promise that his character would be given a dramatic death scene.[29] Nimoy reasoned that since The Wrath of Khan would be the final Star Trek film, having Spock "go out in a blaze of glory" seemed like a good way to end the character.[30] In an earlier draft of the script, Spock had died in the first act in a shocking demise that the movie's producer Harve Bennett compared to Janet Leigh's early death in Psycho.[31] But Gene Roddenberry, enraged that Spock would be killed, had leaked that detail from the script,[citation needed] and the fan response was overwhelmingly negative, especially among the hard core "Trekkies." One fan paid for trade-paper advertisements urging Paramount to abandon the plan.[32] Some fans even went so far as to issue death threats against Leonard Nimoy's family. According to Bennett:
For some reason fans got the impression that he [Nimoy] wanted Spock dead. He'd written a book "I Am Not Spock," and that gave people the idea. Anyway, when a fringe group of Trekkies learned that we were going to kill the Spock character, it was like we'd taken a child of theirs onto the Brooklyn Bridge with the intention of throwing it off. And their reaction was, "let's get Leonard."[33]
I thought everything was managed in excellent taste. I feel proud. When it was first suggested to me that Spock would die, I was hesitant. It seemed exploitative. But now that I've seen how it was accomplished, I think it was a very good idea.
Leonard Nimoy, Associated Press interview[32]
By April 1981 a revised script was completed that moved the character's death into the movie's final act.[34][35] Spock's death scene was shot over three days, during which no visitors were allowed on set.[35] The death was intended to be irrevocable, but Nimoy had such a positive experience during filming that he asked if he could add a way for Spock to return in a later film. The scene showing Spock's mind meld with McCoy was filmed without actor DeForest Kelley's prior knowledge of what was going on.[36] Test audience reaction to Spock's death and the film's ending (the tone of which was dark and final) was poor,[30] so Bennett made it more uplifting by adding the final scene revealing Spock's casket on the Genesis planet and Nimoy's closing "These are the voyages" monologue. Director Nicholas Meyer objected, but did not stand in the way of the changes,[37] and even Nimoy did not know about the new scene until he viewed the film.[38] Before the film opened, the media reassured worried fans that "Spock will live" again.[32]
Recasting
Zachary Quinto was cast in the role of a young alternate-timeline Spock for the 2009 Star Trek film, directed by J. J. Abrams.[39][40] Quinto mentioned he heard about the new film and revealed his interest in the role in a December 2006 interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.[41] The article was widely circulated and he attracted Abrams' interest.[42] Quinto expressed interest in the role because of the duality of Spock's half-human, half Vulcan heritage,[43] and how the character "is constantly exploring that notion of how to evolve in a responsible way and how to evolve in a respectful way. I think those are all things that we as a society, and certainly the world, could implement."[44] Nimoy befriended Quinto after being cast in the role. Although Quinto watched some episodes of the show during breaks in filming, Nimoy was his main resource in playing Spock.[45]
Reception
From early on, the public's reaction to Spock was strongly positive, even fanatical. To Nimoy's great surprise Spock became a sex symbol,[46] and teenagers asked questions about current events such as the Vietnam War and LSD as if he were the Vulcan scientist.[47] A fan even asked the actor to lay his hands on a friend's eyes to heal them.[48] Nimoy recalled, more than a decade after the show's cancellation:
The 'Star Trek' phenomenon continues to amaze and confound me. It was incredible, and it still is, although it is gentler now than it used to be. For a time, it was hysterical - it was so wild I had to be very careful where I went. If I went to a restaurant, I had to plan my entrances and my exits so I wouldn't be mobbed and hurt. Same thing in hotels and airports - any public place. It isn't that hysterical any more, but it is still a potent force.[49]
NASA made Spock an informal mascot of the space agency. Nimoy was invited to be guest of honor at the March 1967 National Space Club dinner, and to take an extensive tour of the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD. The actor concluded from the warm and intense reception he received that astronauts like John Glenn and aerospace industry engineers, secretaries, and shareholders alike all regarded Star Trek, and especially the character of Spock, as a "dramatization of the future of their space program".[13]
UGO named Spock one of the 50 greatest TV characters.[50] According to Shatner, much of Star Trek's acting praise and media interest went to Nimoy.[51]
Reaction to Spock's death
The Wrath of Khan had its first public screening at a science-fiction convention in Overland Park, KS on May 8, 1982, almost a month prior to general release. Although Paramount executives were concerned that Spock's death would set the fanbase against the movie, the audience actually applauded following Spock's final death scene. "It was sensational. I hate to be given to superlatives but it absolutely reached everything we wanted it to. I couldn't ask for anything better," said Co-producer Robert Sallin of the audience's reaction at the advance screening.[52]
However, critical reaction to Spock's death was mixed at the time. Film critic Roger Ebert lauded Spock's death: "He makes a choice in STAR TREK II that would be made only by a hero, a fool, or a Vulcan. And when he makes his decision, the movie rises to one of its best scenes, because the "Star Trek" stories have always been best when they centered around their characters."[53] On the other hand, The Washington Post's Gary Arnold stated Spock's death "feels like an unnecessary twist, and the filmmakers are obviously well-prepared to fudge in case the public demands another sequel."[54]
A quarter century later, Spock's death in The Wrath of Khan ranks number 2 on Total Film's list of 25 greatest Star Trek movie moments,[55] and number 1 on IGN Movie's top 10 Star Trek movie moments.[56]
Star Trek (2009)
The Boston Globe described Quinto's performance in the 2009 film as "something special", and that Nimoy's appearance "carries much more emotion than you'd expect".[57] Slate.com said Quinto played Spock "with a few degrees more chill" than Nimoy brought to the original character.[58] Entertainment Weekly said that Quinto "... invests Spock with a new layer of chilly-smoldering sex appeal, [and] Quinto does a fantastic job of maintaining Spock's calm, no-sweat surface but getting quietly hot and bothered underneath."[59]
Cultural impact
Spock has been parodied by, and has also been the inspiration for, pop culture works in various media. Composer/keyboardist George Duke's 1976 Solo Keyboard Album features two tracks which pay homage to Spock: "Spock Gets Funky" and "Vulcan Mind Probe". Rock guitarist Paul Gilbert wrote the song "Mr. Spock" on his Space Ship One album. Swedish synthpop band S.P.O.C.K makes music heavily influenced by the Star Trek universe. Even Nimoy got in on the act; assuming the Spock character, Nimoy recorded a number of novelty songs, the first being "Highly Illogical", in which Spock pointed out the foibles of human thought, such as relationships, automobiles, and greed. The second song, "A Visit to a Sad Planet", was darker in tone and told the story of Spock visiting Earth in the future and discovering it had been ruined by war, violence, and environmental irresponsibility. According to comic book writer and editor Bob Budiansky, The Transformers character Shockwave was inspired by Spock.[60]
Spock has also had an impact in weightier matters such as ethical theory, law and politics. For example, although the philosophy underlying it is grounded in utility theory, Spock's statement in The Wrath of Khan that "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few" has become known by some as the "Spock principle".[61] The Spock principle has even been cited in legal decisions.
Spock's physical appearance in the Original Series episode "Mirror, Mirror" has itself spawned a trope of the "evil twin" archetype found in various fictional genres. In that episode, several members of the Enterprise travel to a parallel universe inhabited by evil versions of themselves. The parallel universe version of Spock is distinguished physically by his goatee.[62] Examples of the evil goatee's appearances include: the South Park Halloween episode Spookyfish, where "mirror Cartman", who sports a goatee, is actually much more of a "good" character than the beardless, loathsome "regular" Cartman; in Futurama where the goatee is referenced by Bender's 'evil twin' Flexo, who is constantly accused of being the bad Bender because of his goatee; and a 2009 episode of The Colbert Report featuring Stephen Colbert and congressman Dan Maffei (a Star Trek fan) wearing fake goatees and pretending to be evil versions of themselves.[63]
After the release of the 2009 Star Trek film, Spock was compared with U.S. President Barack Obama by several media outlets.[64] Maureen Dowd noted "Mr. Obama has a bit of Mr. Spock in him (and not just the funny ears). He has a Vulcan-like logic and detachment."[65] Newsweek's Steve Daly said "Spock's cool, analytical nature feels more fascinating and topical than ever now that we've put a sort of Vulcan in the White House," and noted the similarity between Spock and President Obama both being the product of mixed-race marriages.[66] Obama was apparently nicknamed "Spock" by British officials at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office: "Almost everyone felt a little unloved by Obama. Not for nothing was his nickname 'Spock'".[67]
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Okuda, Mike and Denise Okuda, with Debbie Mirek (1999). The Star Trek Encyclopedia. Pocket Books. ISBN 0-671-53609-5.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Weeks, Adam (July 25, 2007). "Zachary Quinto Is Spock". Moviehole.net.
- ^ a b Mike Johnson and Tim Jones (writers), David Messina (artist) (2009). Star Trek: Countdown. IDW Publishing. p. 98. ISBN 978-1-60010-420-6.
- ^ "This Side of Paradise". Star Trek: The Original Series. Season 1. Episode 24. March 2, 1967.
{{cite episode}}
: Unknown parameter|episodelink=
ignored (|episode-link=
suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|serieslink=
ignored (|series-link=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Star Trek Spock". Startrek.com. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
- ^ a b c Asherman, Alan (May 1, 1993). The Star Trek Compendium. New York: Pocket Books. ISBN 978-0671796129.
- ^ a b Nemeck, Larry (January 7, 2003). Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion. Pocket Books. ISBN 978-0743457989.
- ^ a b Burr, Ty (May 5, 2009). "Star Trek". The Boston Globe. p. 1. Retrieved May 6, 2009.
- ^ Jensen, Jeff. "'Star Trek': New Movie, New Vision". Entertainment Weekly. p. 4. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
- ^ Abrams, J.J. (Director) (2009). Star Trek (Film). United States: Paramount Pictures.
- ^ "Star Trek: Phase II About".
- ^ Pascale, Anthony (November 18, 2008). "FanMade: Phase II Announces "Blood and Fire" Release + Casts a New Spock". Trekmovie.com. Retrieved February 3, 2009.
- ^ a b Whitfield, Stephen E. (1968). The Making of Star Trek. Ballantine Books. ISBN 9780345276384.
{{cite book}}
: Unknown parameter|coauthors=
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suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|month=
ignored (help) - ^ (Dillard 1994, p. 6)
- ^ a b (Alexander 1988, pp. 230–231)
- ^ Whitfield, Stephen E. (1968). The Making of Star Trek. Ballantine Books. p. 236. ISBN 9780345276384.
{{cite book}}
: Unknown parameter|coauthors=
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suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|month=
ignored (help) - ^ Rioux, Terry Lee (2005). From Sawdust to Stardust: The Biography of DeForest Kelley, Star Trek's Dr. McCoy. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0743457625.
- ^ Asherman, Allan (1988). The Star Trek Interview Book. Pocket Books. p. 43. ISBN 067161794X.
- ^ Alexander, 227–228.
- ^ (Dillard 1994, p. 10)
- ^ Hickman, Martin (November 18, 2002). "It's the final frontier as Mr Spock's ears are put on sale for £2, 000". The Independent. Retrieved February 3, 2009.
- ^ "Robert Justman - Co-Producer Co-Creator of Star Trek". BBC. Retrieved May 07, 2011.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|accessdate=
(help) - ^ Okuda, text commentary for Star Trek VI.
- ^ (Dillard 1994, p. 13)
- ^ (Dillard 1994, p. 15)
- ^ de Marneffe, Peter (2003). "An Objection to Attitudinal Hedonism". Philosophical Studies. 115 (2). Springer Netherlands: 197–200. doi:10.1023/A:1025030803776.
{{cite journal}}
: Invalid|ref=harv
(help) - ^ "Star Trek's ex-chief movie praise". BBC. June 2, 2009. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
The Mr Spock character was 20% created by Gene Roddenberry, 20% created by me and 60% created by Leonard Nimoy
- ^ Pfefferman, Naomi (2003-12-04). "Bimah Me Up, Scotty!". The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles. Tribe Media Corp. Retrieved May 03, 2011.
{{cite news}}
: Check date values in:|accessdate=
(help) - ^ Rioux, 243.
- ^ a b The Making of Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan, by Allan Asherman, Pocket Books, 1982.
- ^ Dillard, 77.
- ^ a b c "While casket sits on planet Genesis, Nimoy dickers role in 'Star Trek III'". Eugene Register-Guard. AP. June 3, 1982. p. 1D. Retrieved April 4, 2011.
- ^ Anderson, Nancy (July 4, 1982). "Trekkies wrath worse than Khan's". The Evening News. Copley News Service. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
- ^ Robinson, Ben (editor) (2002). "Special 'The Wrath of Khan' Issue". Star Trek: The Magazine. 3 (5). Fabbri Publishing.
{{cite journal}}
:|author=
has generic name (help); Unknown parameter|month=
ignored (help) - ^ a b Meyer, Nicholas (August 6, 2002). Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, The Directors Edition: Audio commentary (DVD; Disc 1/2). Paramount Pictures.
- ^ Rioux, 248.
- ^ Rioux, 249.
- ^ Boucher, Geoff. "Leonard Nimoy riffs on William Shatner, George Lucas and ... Jimi Hendrix?" Los Angeles Times, June 12, 2010.
- ^ Owen, Rob (July 24, 2007). "Pittsburgh native to play Spock in new "Star Trek"". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- ^ Pascale, Anthony (July 26, 2007). "Abrams Confirms Zachary Quinto and Leonard Nimoy". Trekmovie.com.
- ^ Owen, Rob (December 3, 2006). "TV Preview: Pittsburgh native Quinto is face of 'Heroes' villain". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved April 3, 2011.
- ^ Anthony Pascale (May 5, 2009). "Interview with Zachary Quinto". TrekMovie.com. Retrieved May 7, 2009.
- ^ Jeff Jensen (October 24, 2008). "'Star Trek': New Movie, New Vision". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 16, 2008.
- ^ Anthony Pascale (April 14, 2008). "Grand Slam XVI: Two Spocks Rock The House". TrekMovie.com. Retrieved April 15, 2008.
- ^ "WonderCon 09: Star Trek Panel Detailed Report & Pictures". TrekMovie.com. February 28, 2009. Retrieved March 1, 2009.
{{cite news}}
: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=
(help) - ^ Kleiner, Dick (1967-12-04). "Mr. Spock's Trek To Stardom". Warsaw Times-Union. Warsaw, Indiana. Newspaper Enterprise Association. p. 7. Retrieved May 07, 2011.
{{cite news}}
: Check date values in:|accessdate=
(help) - ^ "Rumors of Cancelation Stirs 'Star Trek' Fans to Protest". Victoria Advocate. Victoria, Texas. February 8, 1968. pp. 7B. Retrieved April 29, 2011.
- ^ Michaels, Marguerite (1978-12-10). "A Visit to Star Trek's Movie Launch". Parade. Retrieved May 02, 2011.
{{cite news}}
: Check date values in:|accessdate=
(help) - ^ Kleiner, Dick (June 17, 1982). "Still Spock after all these years: Nimoy really loves the Trekkies". Williamson Daily News. Retrieved April 3, 2011.
- ^ K. Thor Jensen (November 20, 2008). "Top 50 TV Characters: We list the fifty greatest characters in television history". Top 50 TV Characters. UGO. Retrieved February 3, 2009.
{{cite web}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=
(help) - ^ Shatner, William (2008). Up Till Now: The Autobiography. Macmillan. ISBN 9780312372651.
- ^ "'Star Trek' fans accept Spock death". The Montreal Gazette. UPI. May 10, 1982. Retrieved April 4, 2011.
- ^ Ebert, Roger (January 1, 1982). "Review: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved September 13, 2008.
- ^ Arnold, Gary (June 4, 1982). "Cashing in on the Spock market; 'Star Trek II' shows little enterprise". The Washington Post. p. D1.
- ^ White, James. "The 25 Greatest Star Trek Movie Moments". Retrieved April 3, 2011.
- ^ Collura, Scott. "Top 10 Star Trek Movie Moments". IGN. Retrieved April 3, 2011.
- ^ Burr, Ty (May 5, 2009). "Star Trek". The Boston Globe. p. 2. Retrieved May 6, 2009.
- ^ Stevens, Dana (May 6, 2009). "Go See Star Trek". Slate.com. Retrieved May 7, 2009.
- ^ Owen Gleiberman (May 9, 2009). "Why Spock rocks". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 11, 2009.
- ^ Author (September 28, 1958). "Bob Budiansky in Interrogative Forum". Rustingcarcass.yuku.com. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
{{cite web}}
:|author=
has generic name (help) - ^ Clawson, Jeff J. (2000). Principles of emergency medical dispatch (3rd ed.). Priority Press. p. 450. ISBN 0965889025.
{{cite book}}
: Unknown parameter|coauthors=
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suggested) (help) - ^ "Top 40 Reasons Why We Love Star Trek". Retrieved April 13, 2009.
- ^ "Better Know a District - New York's 25th - Dan Maffei". The Colbert Report. Season 5. April 7, 2009. Comedy Central.
{{cite episode}}
: Unknown parameter|episodelink=
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suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|serieslink=
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suggested) (help) - ^ "Obama is Spock: It's quite logical". Salon.com. May 7, 2009. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
- ^ Dowd, Maureen (February 28, 2009). "Spock at the Bridge". Nytimes.com. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
- ^ April 25, 2009 (April 25, 2009). "We're All Trekkies Now". Newsweek.com. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Andrew Sparrow (December 23, 2010). "Thirty new facts about Gordon Brown from Anthony Seldon's book". Politics Blog. The Guardian. Retrieved December 23, 2010.
References
- Asherman, Allan (1988). The Star Trek Interview Book. Pocket Books. ISBN 067161794X.
{{cite book}}
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(help) - Dillard, J. M. (1994). Star Trek: "Where No Man Has Gone Before" – A History in Pictures. Pocket Books. ISBN 0671511491.
{{cite book}}
: Invalid|ref=harv
(help) - Rioux, Terry Lee (2005). From Sawdust to Stardust: The Biography of DeForest Kelley. Pocket Books. ISBN 0-7434-5762-5.