As far as I know, yes, you're right about the Sikh. I know very little about that religion, but Wikipedia says "Sikh teaching emphasizes the principle of equality of all humans [...]" which doesn't exactly sound like Khan!
I knew about the title "Khan", but in Space Seed he actually says it's his name, not a title! The things the crew says seem to confirm it. (Noonien seems to be entirely made up.)
Mixing a Muslim and Sikh name seems like either deliberate to emphasis the novelty and 'against nature' element of Khan as genetic creation
I hadn't thought of that! Considering the emphasis in Space Seed of the group being very mixed, I think you have a very good point.
Furthermore, I've always wondered why they chose a Mexican to play a supposed Indian character
It's hard to say when so much time has passed, but I think it's likely it's as you suggest. But probably coupled with that it might have been hard to find Indian actors in the US back then? It's also the sort of thing that wasn't acknowledged as racist back then, as I understand; Montalbán also played people from various American Indian tribes and even a Japanese samurai once. It's like the sexism; it's so over the top racism for us that no one would even think of saying it wasn't.
in an Islam- and xenophobic environment as today it would serve to underline the stereotype that terrorists are mostly from the Middle East or Orient.
Yeah, this is the major point, isn't it?
Thank you for the thoughtful and insightful answer!
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winterfish
no subject
Date: 2013-05-21 08:14 pm (UTC)As far as I know, yes, you're right about the Sikh. I know very little about that religion, but Wikipedia says "Sikh teaching emphasizes the principle of equality of all humans [...]" which doesn't exactly sound like Khan!
I knew about the title "Khan", but in Space Seed he actually says it's his name, not a title! The things the crew says seem to confirm it. (Noonien seems to be entirely made up.)
Mixing a Muslim and Sikh name seems like either deliberate to emphasis the novelty and 'against nature' element of Khan as genetic creation
I hadn't thought of that! Considering the emphasis in Space Seed of the group being very mixed, I think you have a very good point.
Furthermore, I've always wondered why they chose a Mexican to play a supposed Indian character
It's hard to say when so much time has passed, but I think it's likely it's as you suggest. But probably coupled with that it might have been hard to find Indian actors in the US back then? It's also the sort of thing that wasn't acknowledged as racist back then, as I understand; Montalbán also played people from various American Indian tribes and even a Japanese samurai once. It's like the sexism; it's so over the top racism for us that no one would even think of saying it wasn't.
in an Islam- and xenophobic environment as today it would serve to underline the stereotype that terrorists are mostly from the Middle East or Orient.
Yeah, this is the major point, isn't it?
Thank you for the thoughtful and insightful answer!