Redshirt (character)
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A redshirt is slang term for a stock character, used frequently in Star Trek, whose primary purpose in the plot of a story is to die soon after being introduced, thus demonstrating the dangerous circumstances faced by the main characters. The term originates from the science fiction television series Star Trek (The Original Series) and is taken from the red shirts worn by security officers. On Star Trek, anonymous security officers often accompanied main characters on dangerous missions where they would invariably meet their death.[1]
[edit] Star Trek origins
In the original 1966 Star Trek series, security officers, who wear red, meet tragic ends in many episodes. Typically, a landing party includes at least one red-shirted security officer accompanying the main characters who is dead soon after the mission begins.
In the Pocket Books Star Trek novel Killing Time, a time-tampering plot twist turns Captain James T. Kirk into an ensign. While he is dressing for duty, a fellow crew member says, "Let's just say that on this ship — or probably any other — you don't want to wear a red shirt on landing-party duty."[2]
In the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine book Legends of the Ferengi, an entry comparing the life-span of various beings with the shelf life of gold-pressed latinum includes the entry "Lifespan of a Federation hew-mon working for Starfleet security (who for some reason are called red-shirts even though they wear yellow): Rarely survive beyond the second act break".
[edit] See also
- Cannon fodder
- Character shield
- Forlorn hope
- Greenshirts (G.I. Joe)
- Sacrificial lamb
- Stormtrooper effect
- Scapegoat
- Spear carrier
[edit] References
- ^ Robert W. Bly (1996). Why You Should Never Beam Down in a Red Shirt: And 749 More Answers to Questions About Star Trek. ISBN 0062733842.
- ^ Hise, Della Van (1985). Killing Time. Pocket Books. ISBN 0671524887.
