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Professor Anthony Rotolo, who teaches at Syracuse University, is a Star Trek fan like no other. Rotolo was so captivated by Star Trek, and it’s influence on our culture, that he often used Star Trek analogies in his teaching. In fact, he used them so much someone suggested he come up with a class based on Star Trek. Which he did.
Since 2010 Rotolo has been teaching a class on Star Trek at Syracuse. Needless to say, it has been a popular class. So popular in fact, he has taught special sessions at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas and at Star Trek conventions as well.
Rotolo has also been published on Star trek.com in a blog series format as well. While there are probably quite a few Star Trek fans in the Syracuse area and many attend classes at the university, it was simply not practical for a majority of Star Trek fans to take the course. That is, until now. TrekClass, billed as the Galaxy’s only open course on the science fiction of Star Trek, started this month (September) and will be running through December with new lessons released each week.
The class is designed to show the cultural impact Star Trek had on the world as well as allowing students the chance to explore the human experience as seen through the lens of the Final Frontier. Rotolo has designed the course for not only those who may be steeped in Star Trek knowledge but for the novice as well.
The professor’s goal is to challenge the seasoned Star Trek fan to see the show in a new light, discovering new ways to interpret and discuss the phenomenon known as Star Trek. Below, Prof. Rotolo presents a special session of #TrekClass on stage at the Official Star Trek Convention in Las Vegas | Image Courtesy of www.trekclass.com
While challenging those who have grown up with, or learned to love Star Trek to see the show in a different light, Rotolo takes great pains not to take for granted all students are Star Trek fans, and in doing so makes sure the content is relevant and understandable to someone being introduced to the science fiction universe created by Gene Roddenberry.
Speaking of Roddenberry, the class begins well before the first episode was filmed, back to an unemployed screenwriter’s dream of creating a show which would challenge not only the viewer’s perception of the world but societies as well. The initial class will follow Roddenberry’s journey from idea to reality as he pitches the concept multiple times before finding a home on NBC.
Classes also show how the show’s science fiction, much of it based on actual science, was a precursor of things which would come to fruition and others yet to be realized. The modern day cell phone and computer tablet both trace their beginnings to Star Trek.
Roddenberry was not satisfied in creating entertainment with Star Trek. Through the lives of the crew of the starship Enterprise, Roddenberry challenged the world to see societal issues such as race, gender, warfare and even global politics in a fresh now light. Rotolo’s class builds on this concept by challenging the class to do the same thing.
By now, many reading about the class may be saying to themselves, “Well, this is all well and good, but how much does it cost?” The answer may surprise. Nothing. Rotolo is offering the course free of charge online.
Yes, there are some recommended readings, which would require attendees to purchase books but they are not required. Of course, classmates will need a method to watch specific Star Trek episodes or movies each week, but many already have that capability through services such as Amazon Prime or Netflix. It should be noted that the class does not offer college credit, nor is it affiliated with Syracuse or any other credit-bearing school. It is simply offered as a free, fun online learning experience.
Each week students can, time permitting, attend an online class in which they watch episodes and interact with one another via a live Twitter feed. Between classes, students are offered “Away Missions” (homework) in the form of more episodes, and instructions on what to look for and how to interpret the material.
According to the website (TrekClass.com) there are basically four steps to successful completion of the course:
- Review the live screenings and join the online Twitter discussions. (Because the professor is teaching a live version of the class at these times, online students are interacting in real time with the professor and class.) Those who are unable to attend the live class may view the material later.
- View the weekly mission and video briefing. (New materials are released each Monday at 6 p.m. Class begins at 7 p.m.) There will usually be some new “lecture” reading material as well.
- Conduct the Away Missions. (Rotolo considers these “binge watching” portions of the course.) The Away Missions will be accompanied by questions or concepts Rotolo wants to focus on for that week.
- Engage! (Share thoughts and observations with the online community. Rotolo wants attendees to be involved and participate in the online discussions.)
For those who want to purchase the reading material, Rotolo suggests “These Are The Voyages” by Marc Cushman, which is a three-volume set. The adventure begins with, believe it or not, a viewing of an episode of the iconic TV western "Wagon Train".
Why? Because Roddenberry pitched Star Trek as a “Wagon Train to the stars,” stating the show would be a western set in outer space. Don’t worry, however, most of the viewing will definitely be Star Trek. Where the journey ends, we do not know. This is the first time the course has been offered free and online.
To check on enrollment or to learn more, simply visit the website at TrekClass.com. You can also find the class on Twitter @trekclass.
ARE YOU TAKING THE TREK CLASS OR ARE YOU INTERESTED IN TAKING THE CLASS?
Written by MARK BERRYMAN | STORMY — MARK.BERRYMAN@UFPLANETS.COM
Edited by CALLIB CARVER | KRAZIYK — CALLIB.CARVER@UFPLANETS.COM
