Classic Star Trek Through Fanon

Fanon and “A Private Little War”

“A Private Little War” is an exemplary Star Trek episode speaking to colonialism and literary views of dominant cultures.   The show features the Klingon Empire in the initial stages of colonizing one of two local villages on an isolated planet.   Frantz Fanon’s The Wretched Earth accurately depicts the resulting social changes and the formation of new relationships.  Additionally, Edward W Said’s Orientalism moves the story beyond mere parallels to provide real reflections of American culture at the time of the shows airing.   “A Private Little War” will demonstrate how the imposing culture instills its values on new cultures, how the indigenous people react towards and against the change, and ultimately, Said will demonstrate how the episode reflects United States foreign policy and the underlying social tension during the Viet Nam War.

The Klingon Empire wishes to colonize a planet inhabited by two peaceful villages.  Both villages have advanced to using bows and arrows.  The Klingons, warlike and morally paired against the crew of the Enterprise, initiate colonization by introducing flintlock rifles and a culture of violence.  The rifles give the villagers a clear advantage over the other tribe. A villager asks a Klingon commander how to best award a captured woman among his men.  The Klingon states, “Giver her to the man that killed the most of their people.  The others will see the profit in killing.”  In addition, the Klingon states that he will make Klingon out of the villager and promises him a governorship over the new Klingon colony.  Fanon writes, “The cultural obliteration is made possible by negation of national reality … “ and “Every effort is made to bring the colonized person to admit the inferiority of his culture … “ (1440).   That the tribe sees the Klingons as superior is a given.  A villager comments “Its easier to kill than it is to trade” (Private) and effectively demonstrates their national reality shifting from one of peace to that of war. 

The other village wishes to keep its peaceful values, but it is confronted with routine murders of its people.  The Chief and his wife are deeply divided.  The Chief, portrayed as a touch slow but wise, represents national values and believes the other village will return to its peaceful ways. The wife, portrayed as racially different, intelligent and cunning, wants to acquire weapons for the defense of the village. Fanon suggests “ … the intellectual throws himself in frenzied fashion into the frantic acquisition of the culture of the occupying power and takes every opportunity of unfavorably criticizing its own culture … “ (1440).  The wife uses guile, violence and seduction in her attempts to gain knowledge of advanced weaponry and openly criticizes the Chief’s position.  Fannon accurately describes the behavioral differences between the two characters.

Supplying flintlock rifles to the unprotected village is the final solution, along with any improvements to match the Klingons involvement. The crew of the Enterprise is aware they have started an arms race to keep “A balance of power” (Private).   Edward Said spoke to understanding the historical contexts and dominant views when interpreting texts pertaining to colonialism (1440).  An argument could be made “A Private Little War” portrayed American justification for their involvement in the Vietnam War.  The episode aired in 1968, during the height of the war.  The crew of the Enterprise represents American idealism and support of South Vietnam and the Klingons representing the threat of communism and arms support of the North.   Additionally, the relationship between the Enterprise and the Klingons is analogous to the cold war relationship between the United States and Russia, and it is exemplified by the notion that mutually shared destruction is the best solution for peace.  Said’s thoughts on historical context sparked the review of social and political events that reveal the underlying tensions forming the episode.  Multiple and divided notions on the Vietnam War were present in 1968, but the dominant view was portrayed.

The work of Frantz Fanon provides accurate descriptions of dominating cultures assuming control of weaker cultures.  Edward Said provides the insights that textual documents need to be reviewed in light of their historical context.   Although directed towards colonialism, their thoughts are applicable to any literary interpretations involving dominant cultures.  It is a pleasing thought that people in the twenty third century would be aghast at the thought of peace through mutually shared destruction.  However, if they have access to Frantz Fanon’s and Edwards Said’s work, then they have the tools necessary to review history in context and hopefully sidestep the mistakes of the past.

   

Works Cited

“A Private Little War.” Star Trek. CBS Television Distribution. August 23, 1968. Television

Fanon, Frantz.  The Wretched of the Earth.  Ed. Vincent B. Leitch et al.  2^nd ed. New York: W.W.Norton & Co., 2010. 1437-1446. Print.