13

By that I mean that the basic premise being: that the means of (re)creating new technology is lost, the current technology around is treated as sacred and the function marred in elaborate rituals or prayers because they don't know how to otherwise operate it, and to a lesser extent that new ideas or (often xenophillic) research is met with suspicion or outright rejected because it doesn't fit with the religious dogma.

I keep feeling that a similar group is somewhere in Star Trek, right on the cusp of my memory, but I can't seem to recall any specific examples.

all 17 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[-] Nmyownworld@startrek.website 12 points 1 year ago

TOS has such episodes.

Yonadans in "For the World Is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky" s3e8.

To a lesser extent the people on Beta III in "The Return of the Archons" s1e21. They don't know how to work the technology, but they fear more than worship Landru.

Maybe the people on Gamma Trianguli VI in "The Apple" s2e5, although I don't remember whether or not they were descendants who lost knowledge of technology and just started worshiping Vaal.

[-] Stormygeddon@startrek.website 1 points 1 year ago

Thanks for the answers. I'm going to see if I can check some of those episodes out.

I think that Trek plays with ideas like this by creating throw away alien races. By that I mean they’re not foundational, but rather are used as a cardboard cutout to illustrate a point for the plot of an episode.

For the tech angle, I think there’s a couple of candidates. The Bynars, for instance, had an intimate coupling of technology and society - and here I’m mostly thinking about the way they were floated in TNG.

At the other end of the spectrum you have the Pakleds. Although they have a high tech space faring society, their grasp of the science and engineering that the tech requires is… rudimentary and primitive. They’re not creating new technologies.

[-] atlasraven31@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago

They don't need to if they can just scavenge other people's tech/trash.

[-] Flyberius@hexbear.net 5 points 1 year ago
[-] atlasraven31@lemm.ee 5 points 1 year ago

I don't have a big enough helmet to reply to this comment.

[-] Basilisk@mtgzone.com 3 points 1 year ago

The Aldeans, from TNG's first season "When The Bough Breaks" are close, though they don't necessarily treat their advanced technology as "sacred", though they certainly see it as infallible. The whole setup of the episode is that they would hide the planet away from the universe at large and have only appeared before the Enterprise to steal their children as the now-deteriorating technology is causing the Aldeans to become sterile.

Try that on a small planet, I guess.

[-] buckykat@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 1 year ago

Hysperia operates its technology and society with a sort of ren faire aesthetic, calling the fusion reactor a dragonsbreath flame for example. They know what's really going on though, it's just a very elaborate cosplay.

[-] Stormygeddon@startrek.website 1 points 1 year ago

Close enough. Thanks.

[-] acockworkorange@mander.xyz 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Not Star Trek, but it brought to memory the train wreck that is the movie Zardoz.

[-] JoYo@lemmy.ml 0 points 1 year ago

donno, but I hope they got that crunchy bass voice.

[-] Stormygeddon@startrek.website 2 points 1 year ago

Between the OST's for Mechanicus and Ixion Guillaume David does not miss.

[-] JoYo@lemmy.ml 0 points 1 year ago

I just got ixion the other day, I'm on my first playthrough.

track 3 sounds the most mechanicus.

this post was submitted on 14 Aug 2023
13 points (88.2% liked)

Star Trek

10571 readers
253 users here now

r/startrek: The Next Generation

Star Trek news and discussion. No slash fic...

Maybe a little slash fic.


New to Star Trek and wondering where to start?


Rules

1 Be constructiveAll posts/comments must be thoughtful and balanced.


2 Be welcomingIt is important that everyone from newbies to OG Trekkers feel welcome, no matter their gender, sexual orientation, religion or race.


3 Be truthfulAll posts/comments must be factually accurate and verifiable. We are not a place for gossip, rumors, or manipulative or misleading content.


4 Be niceIf a polite way cannot be found to phrase what it is you want to say, don't say anything at all. Insulting or disparaging remarks about any human being are expressly not allowed.


5 SpoilersUtilize the spoiler system for any and all spoilers relating to the most recently-aired episodes, as well as previews for upcoming episodes. There is no formal spoiler protection for episodes/films after they have been available for approximately one week.


6 Keep on-topicAll submissions must be directly about the Star Trek franchise (the shows, movies, books etc.). Off-topic discussions are welcome at c/quarks.


7 MetaQuestions and concerns about moderator actions should be brought forward via DM.


Upcoming Episodes

Date Episode Title
11-28 LD 5x07 "Fully Dilated"
12-05 LD 5x08 "Upper Decks"
12-12 LD 5x09 "Fissue Quest"
12-19 LD 5x10 "The New Next Generation"
01-24 Film "Section 31"

Episode Discussion Archive


In Production

Strange New Worlds (2025)

Section 31 (2025-01-24)

Starfleet Academy (TBA)

In Development

Untitled comedy series


Wondering where to stream a series? Check here.


Allied Discord Server


founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS