Star Wars and Star Trek

The Development of the “Auteur” Notion

The middle of the 1940s saw the development of the “auteur” notion. According to the theory, the director is the “author” of the film and the final product is a reflection of the filmmaker’s ideas, topics, and motifs with regard to diverse points of view. There are several similarities between J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek and Star Wars, which highlight how the director’s aims and artistic choices influenced the films’ final results. Both Star Wars and Star Trek are excellent examples of the “auteur” notion because they vividly convey J.J. Abram’s artistic vision and originality in directing the two movies through the liberal application of contrasts and analogies. Both Star Wars and Star Trek bring about the theme of power in a unique way that relates to the contemporary set up and human understanding and existence. In both films, the center of the struggle amounts to a war between good and evil. In Star Wars, for instance, there is a battle between the Rebels against the Empire and the general Republic who are fighting the oppressive rule of the Separatists. The journey that the young person takes in the mythical realm in Star Wars is in contrast with that found in the anonymous enemy force that is destructive and not noble in preserving peace and harmony. Brace, Patricia & Robert (pg.291) affirm that Star Trek is equally similar to Star Wars in the sense that, through Kirk who is the future captain of the Trekkies, there is a hope of unity and peace. As the captain that was mentored by Pike, Kirk is a symbol of power and hope to the different races of aliens and humans that dwell together in harmony and understanding.

Motifs

Both Star Wars and Star Trek use different colors and outfits for various characters and the roles they play. Darth Vader, for example, in Star Wars wore black which is symbolic of evil as the bad people wore dark colors. J.J Abrams (pg.91) states that noble people like Luke had all white clothes which are also a depiction of their characters. The Jedi masters Obi and Yoda on the other hand, who are also monks, wear brown clothes which relate to the color of the earth itself and an indication of their character traits. In Star Trek, colors equally differentiate between the roles of different characters. The color red, for instance, shows command and is mostly worn by commanding officers. The yellow uniform stands for the crew that is under operations and tactical officers while blue stands for scientists that include engineers and the medical staff.

Differences

J.J Abrams argues out that Star Wars revolves around beleaguering the man while Star Trek is about being the man. In Star Wars, there is the general powerlessness that the individual has. Additionally, the individual has to make decisions and choices that are impactful on them at the same time. Star Wars builds the characters and plot through focusing on the people and their actions that keep changing over time and affect the overall outcome. In Greven & David’s views (pg. 8), Star Trek, on the contrary, is all about humanity and the entire universe and how the ideal world and social structure ought to look like. Unlike in Star Wars, Star Trek depicts a form of stable government that catalyzes and affects the behavior of the individuals to be in line with the societal expectation. Star Trek is the ultimate depiction of societal existence and what people ought to behave like for a peaceful co-existence.

Works cited

Brace, Patricia, and Robert Arp. The Philosophy of J.j. Abrams. , 2014.

Greven, David. Gender and Sexuality in Star Trek: Allegories of Desire in the Television Series and Films. Jefferson: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, 2009.

Trek, Star. “JJ Abrams.” Paramount Pictures (2009).