Although I am often hesitant to admit to people I am a fan of Star Trek, I have really nothing to worry about compared to the guys portrayed in Trekkies, a fascinating documentary about the fans of the world's most successful franchise. Basically, this is Cinemania with Star Trek enthusists.
The film is produced and hosted by Denise Crosby, who starred for one season on The Next Generation as Tasha Yar, and follows the actress as she attends various Trek related events and interviews fans, fellow actors and writers for the series. Like most everyone involved in the production of the series, Crosby approaches the fans with a combination of pride, awkwardness and awe. Everyone is certainly glad that their work is appreciated, but what can you say when a man brags about role playing your female character with a blonde wig at home while his wife plays the guy you had sex with on the series? And that same guy runs his own Star Trek themed dental office, and forces his secretaries and hygienists to wear uniforms?
It is probably impossible to overstate how big Trek fandom is (one guys says that the tie-in merchandise alone is a billion-dollar industry). Just watching the film, it's astonishing to see how many people are really, really really into this stuff. There's Barbara Adams, a Whitewater juror who wore her uniform to court to "show Star Trek pride." There's the people who have their own Klingon club and play miniature golf for charity in full costume (Who would give them money?). There's the guy who runs a Vulcan funeral parlor (thankfully the film doesn't say exactly what a Vulcan funeral entails).
The strange difference between this film and Cinemania is that unlike the depressed, lonely cineastes, the Trekkies (some of whom insists one being called "Trekkers") seem to be relatively happy people, and contrary to popular belief, many are married. Star Trek seems to bond them to other fans instead of isolating them. In fact, if you set aside the fact that they are wearing fake-looking uniforms, many of the couples and families featured are so clean cut and straight arrow that they could be the next door neighbors on Leave It to Beaver or The Donna Reed Show.
So, are these people tragic figures who are wasting their lives away for a TV show, or are they lovable eccentrics? I guess that if you have positive interactions with others, have a job and contribute to society (many say there local Trek club requires community service as part of the series "philosophy"), you can do whatever you whatever you want. One fan makes an intriguing point - you can watch sports every day of the week, memorize sports statistics and dress or paint your body to support your team and you are considered totally normal, but if you watch Star Trek, memorize fictional backstory and go to conventions, and you are a weirdo from the planet Geekdom.
I do think, however, that a lot of energy can be better spent in other areas. I like Star Trek because I think that it's artistically good and fun to watch (I hate the people who have never seen it and think it's a more adult version of Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers), but I don't think it would be appropriate to adopt the "philosophy" to one's life. There have been a lot more "real" and better thought out philosophies around, one's that actually have a definable text. For me, the most moving part of the film depicted Crosby as the guest on a radio show. A caller related a story- back in the '80's, his father died and coincidentally the episode where Crosby's character is killed aired around the same time. He said the episode helped him with his pain and thanked the actress for her performance (I've seen it and it is very moving). That's one way art can make a positive effect in someone life, and one you don't need to dress up in a cheesy costume to appreciate.
Trekkies (1997)