Cold
Terror Fleet
Taking
it too seriously or ridiculing the aliens, a Klingon dilemma
by Qob!
Dealing with the actors that acted in the "Klingon Christmas Carol"
this winter, I was pleasantly surprised by something. It is very easy,
too easy, to make fun of Klingons. I am sure you have heard the joke
"why is the Star ship Enterprise like toilet paper?." If not the
punchline will be at the end of this article. But the actors quickly
got past the ridicule and got the "spirit" of Klingon and got it right.
They got the honor thing and the appreciation of aggression. But they
also got an important part of the Klingon character that many Klingon
fans (including sadly some KAGsters) miss.
When we get into the stories of Qo'noS, the legends of Kahless, the
songs and stories, we are tempted to go too far. Especially for people
who have needs that aren't being served in Real Life, it is easy for
the fantasy of Star Trek to become reality. Frankly this is more true
for the Feddies, but I see it in klindom too. This is not a good thing,
no matter how enticing it might seem. People, starting with you
yourself, need to remember that Commander Kram is really a guy named
Bob.
But there is a flip side that is too easy. It's too attractive -
especially to people who aren't really fans - to make fun of
the fanboys that wear rubber heads and pretend to be great warriors, or
to see the Klingons themselves as fascist savages worthy of ridicule.
What made the Actors of Commedia Beauregard successful was the attitude
that they got from the IKV RakeHell, that while the Klingon universe is
a beloved place full of wonder, delight and admirable qualities, it is
also a mindset that doesn't take itself seriously. As the Klingon
blusters threatens and sings, they know that they are really quite
silly. We remember that this is supposed to be fun. When you can hit
that happy balance - having serious fun - then you've got where you
need to be. Neither too serious or too silly, but truly Klingon.
Ohm the punchine to the lame joke? The Enterprise is like toilet paper
because both hang around Uranus looking for Klingons.
- Qob!
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