A “Trekkie” is a term used to describe a person who is a fan of the Star Trek fictional universe. Their world revolves around Star Trek, and in some cases, people live their lives through Star Trek characters. Star Trek is much more than just a television show; it is a way of life for many people.
In the article, “Get a Life!” by Henry Jenkins, fans, poachers, and nomads are all discussed, and “Trekkies” are the prime example given. In his article, Jenkins discusses the fan culture and the affect the media has upon them. The article opens up with an example from Saturday Night Live, when William Shatner (Captain James T. Kirk) appears on the show and tells “Trekkies” to get a life.
This clip does a fantastic job of characterizing the stereotypical “Trekkie”. In the article, Jenkins discusses the stereotypes about these types of fans. This topic is something that has had much class time devoted to it, and is a good topic of discussion. Personally, I think that the stereotypes are somewhat true, and that they are brainless consumers. They are brainless consumers, but they are the basis for the success of many programs (Star Wars, Harry Potter, X-men, Star Trek, etc.). As Jenkins notes, they are beneficial to society and to the programs to which they are devoted.They are considered brainless consumers because they will buy anything associated with the program. Many fans devote the majority of their income to Star Trek memorabilia. Because of this devotion, series like the ones exampled above can last for many years.
Ironically, as much as Shatner wants to tell the “Trekkies” to get a life, they are the ones who are paying his paycheck. The “Trekkies” may not be able to separate fantasy from reality, but they have a great impact on the economy and help shows like Star Trek stay afloat.
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