Synopsis: In an alien society in the future, a simulation of Voyager is put on exhibit.
This episode can be seen as an illustration of the way in which the Logos-driven rational conscious ego initially becomes aware of bits of Eros-driven irrational unconscious material through projection.
In “Living Witness” an alien culture in the future has found some artifacts from Voyager, and has created a simulation of what happened 700 years ago, when Voyager came in contact with their planet. Another Voyager artifact is found, and this one contains The Doctor’s program. The Doctor objects to the way that Voyager has been perceived, and tells the Kyrian curator, Quarren, that the simulation, created with only partial information about what actually occurred, is not correct. However, this is so unsettling to the culture that riots break out. This incident is then looked at from another time in the future to show when the “Dawn of Harmony” (Fuller et al., 1998) began on the planet.
In this episode both the Kyrians and Vaskans on the planet had relied upon only partial information when they tried to recreate an important event in the past. Because they did not have all the information, they had to project their beliefs onto the material they did have. Their projection was in error. This is similar to how the conscious ego projects bits of unconscious material onto another individual, someone that holds either an attraction or repulsion, not realizing that the material being projected is part of its own psyche. When the projection is removed, then the person who is doing the projection can see the other person for who they are, and ideally understand the reason that this person either attracted or repulsed is because the person is projecting bits of one’s own unconscious onto another. When this happens, the person doing the projection also has the chance to integrate these bits of unconscious material into the ego, making it stronger and the psyche more whole.
Reference:
Fuller, B. (Writer), Braga, B. (Writer), Menosky, J. (Writer), & Russ, T. (Director). (1998, April 29). Living witness (Season 4, Episode 23) [TV series episode]. In J. Taylor & R. Berman (Executive Producers), Star trek: Voyager. Paramount Television Network.
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