Dr. Mendenhall’s presentation is called “Mr. Spock from Star Trek: A Popular Culture Icon as Symbol for the Importance of Accepting the Eros Within”
Sometimes wisdom from the heart can come from aliens. Specifically, I believe that the character Mr. Spock from Star Trek can be seen as a symbol of the importance of the integration of material from the Eros-driven unconscious, the heart if you will, into the Logos-driven conscious rational ego. When we first meet him in Star Trek: The Original Series, Spock is introduced as the half-Vulcan science officer. Vulcans are a race that long ago decided to forgo emotions entirely in order to save their species, and Spock tries to suppress all emotions from his troubling half-human self. Yet, in his last appearance in Star Trek: The Next Generation, we see an older and wiser Spock who has learned the importance of integrating emotions into his persona, and not only on a personal basis. This paper will argue that the appeal of Mr. Spock and the Star Trek television series and films is one way to spread the idea that emotions of the heart are as important as logic.
About Dr. Mendenhall
Margaret Mendenhall, PhD resides in Long Beach, California and is a graduate of Pacifica Graduate Institute’s Mythological Studies Program. Her blog, My Daily Soul Trek, analyzes Star Trek episodes and films chronologically from a depth psychological perspective (https://mydailysoultrek.com/). Additionally, she has written, performed, and produced two myth-based one-woman shows, and produced and hosted the public access television series Myth Is All Around Us. Margaret is currently at work on her second dissertation which explores how the individuation process is illustrated by Star Trek.