Synopsis: On a mission to investigate disturbances in the Neutral Zone the crew of the Enterprise encounter three Klingons who have taken over a cargo vessel.
“Heart of Glory” elucidates the idea of different ways of seeing, both physically, as the blind Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge does using his visor, and culturally, as Lt. Worf does from his unique perspective as a Klingon who is also a Starfleet officer.
Through a technological experiment, while examining the Batris, a disabled cargo vessel, the bridge crew of the Enterprise is able to see what La Forge sees through his visor, instead of how they perceive reality using their eyes. Once this is put on a viewscreen for all to see, Captain Jean-Luc Picard remarks: “Now, I’m beginning to understand him” (Hurley & Bowman, 1988). And moments later there is another interaction between Picard and La Forge, when Picard remarks that there is so much visual information coming through and he asks La Forge: “How can you make head or tail of that?” La Forge answers: “I select what I want and disregard the rest . . . something I’ve learned” (Hurley & Bowman, 1988). Whether or not this is intended, it is an apt analogy to what happens in our society. Finally, when La Forge points his visor at what appears to be Lt. Commander Data, Picard remarks that there seems to be an aura visible around him. La Forge tells him of course there is, he’s an android, and seems surprised that non-blind humans do not see this. Illustrating how easy it is to take for granted that our way of interpreting the world is the only way it can be seen.
Later in the episode, we are able to see three different viewpoints from Klingon culture. There is Worf, who was born Klingon, but raised by adoptive non-Klingons, but still feels the instincts of his native culture. Then there are the three Klingons that were aboard the cargo vessel who have revolted against the current Klingon regime, because it was trying to make peace for a culture of warriors. Finally, there is the commander of the Klingon vessel, K’Nera, who considers the three Klingons the crew of the Enterprise encountered on the Batris as criminals, and demands they be returned to him. This illustrates a very postmodern ideal, that even the civilizations that we do not understand are not monolithic but comprised of individuals all having their own individual points of view.
Reference:
Hurley M. (Writer), & Bowman, R. (Director). (1988, March 19). Heart of glory (Season 1, Episode 20) [TV series episode]. In G. Roddenberry (Executive Producer), Star trek: The next generation. Paramount Television.
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