This year, I was invited to speak about “Teaching with Trek” at the Official Star Trek Convention in Las Vegas.   The goal of this series was to show how Star Trek could be used to teach media literacy as well as other important themes in the classroom as well as at home and in society.  I spoke about Star Trek as modern myth, its message of diversity, and “Why Klingons Have Ridges and Tribbles Don’t.”  If you were in my Media Criticism or Media and Modern Mythology classes at The University of North Alabama, those are familiar topics.  My son, Chris, and my husband, Randy came along for moral support.  Chris and I have been to conventions before, but this was Randy’s first Star Trek convention.

I have to admit, I was more than a little nervous, but the audiences were so welcoming and supporting, I moved right into “teaching mode”.

    The first presentation was in a large lecture hall.  We were pleased to have approximately 650 people in the audience.   The other two presentations were in a smaller venue, and we had a full house both times.  Trek fans were engaged, interested, and they asked lots of questions.  It was lots of fun to share what I teach with them.  It felt like the best of both worlds: teaching and Star Trek!

We had some other firsts as well.  We all had an opportunity to try VR for the first time and experience a museum of Gene Roddenberry’s keepsakes from Star Trek.  I wish I had a photo of the three of us in headsets.  I kept trying to walk through the hall of the Enterprise D and kept bumping into that table!

The picture above-right is part of the Ten-Forward set from The Next Generation.  You can see it behind the table holding VR equipment for the Virtual Reality demonstration.

There are always lots of interesting things to do and see at a Star Trek Convention.  Discussion about production design, writing, and lot of interviews with ST cast and production team members.

The costume contest is always fun too!

It was really interesting to see the props, costumes, and production art from the Mirror Universe in season 1 of  Discovery. 

Of course the most exciting moment of the entire week was when Patrick Stewart announced  that Jean Luc Picard will be back in a new Star Trek series.

All in all, it was an amazing week! Chris and I had were in our natural element.  Randy is not a big Trekker, but he had a great time too.  We have lots of great memories, and we’re looking forward to next year!

Jan, Chris and Randy ready to go home. Chris and I are wearing our DS-9 25th Anniversary T-shirts.

The first day at a Star Trek convention involves registration, figuring out where everything is, seeing the vendor room and booking photo ops.  Once those things are settled,  we really enjoy the wide variety of activities.   I especially like the programs about the writing and production in the franchise.  Michael Westmore did two interesting ones on design and makeup for cast members  and aliens.  Others focused on costuming and production design.

There were interviews with series writers and show-runners and lots interesting interviews with celebrities from the series and films.  We were lucky to see Patrick Stewart because he doesn’t often make the conventions.

Cast interviews are big part of these conventions, especially in an anniversary year.  William Shatner, Nichelle Nichols, George Takei, Patrick Stewart and most of The Next Generation cast were there.  It’s lots of fun to see the actors, hear their stories and see how they interact with each other.

Attendees also have the opportunity for photos and autographs with cast members.  William Shatner and others use this to raise money for the charities they support. Last year, at 50^th Anniversary Convention, we met Michael Dorn and Brent Spiner.  This year, we had our picture taken with William Shatner and Nichelle Nichols.   These pictures are on my office wall along with the picture Patrick Stewart autographed.

A large exhibit featured the costumes, sets, props and make-up in the new Discovery series.  The detail on all of these much more elaborate than previous series.  Some were designed and produced using 3-D printing technology.

I used Star Trek in my classes since I began teaching more than 30 years ago. I filled a small notebook this time with information about the creation and production of the new Star Trek series, Discovery.

There were lots of people in costume and fans from all over the world.  There  was a sense of comradery, respect and belonging that felt more like church than a fan convention.  These were people who share a vision is positive, diverse, expansive and exciting.  Respect is foundational.  At times there were crowds, lines, and complications, but only once in five days did I hear a cross word.

There are lots of interesting displays at the convention including a collection of art celebrating Star Trek: The Next Generation.  One of my favorites was the restored set from the original series.

My husband Randy is not a Trekker.  He would never choose a Star Trek Convention as vacation destination, but I would love him to go with me some time.  It’s such a unique experience, and I’d love to share it with him.  (Don’t hold your breath….)

I’m not sure when Chris and I will make another Star Trek trip, but I know there’s one in our future someday —maybe even with a next generation of McMullen Trekkers.  Now that sounds like a plan!

August 12, 2017