The significance of composition in supplementing extratextual narrative: a topical cue analysis of Star Trek: discovery to provide narrative meaning within instrumentation

Forbes, Aidan Jarod

The significance of composition in supplementing extratextual narrative: a topical cue analysis of Star Trek: discovery to provide narrative meaning within instrumentation

Thesis / Dissertation

2025

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

College of Music

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Abstract

This dissertation is an exploration of the latest instalment of the Star Trek franchise, Star Trek: Discovery. In its most rudimentary form, this is a study of the characteristics of the soundtrack, but intrinsically, it is an investigation into the extratextual narratives which the music conveys – the story the music tells – through its musical design. In a great sense, the narrative bases itself on the “Star Trek vision” which perpetuates progressive ideals, at times obstinately against the grain. The vision promises a future and critiques a present, and centres itself around theories of utopianism in various incarnations, from assertions of racial equality through the allusion to Afro-futurism in the racially volatile mid-century, to the hyper-representation of queer identities during a time of ideological turbulence in the American landscape of the late 2010s. Empowerment and idealism-to-a-fault have always permeated throughout the Star Trek vision. The music arguably shares this. This dissertation will explore these themes of idealism and utopianism, in contexts of heroism and romance, by considerations of the musical cues in applicable narrative moments, through harmony, melody, and instrumentation. Existing analyses of the Star Trek musical corpus are sparse, and the field of academia that concerns itself with Star Trek rarely ventures into musicology and music theory. Individual theses and journal articles can be identified, of which only a handful align with this study's analytical methodology, and even fewer with the focus area of Discovery. While concern of this scarcity is valid, the sparse research field contributes to a more creative research approach and methodology. While semiosis is a core figure in the research, other methodological paradigms such as spectromorphology are referenced. Linguistic and morphological notions are key in the ultimate methodology of the analysis. A model of analysis synergises various semiotic and typographic methodologies, with the non- technological aspects of spectromorphology – that is, an approach that designs its assertions around aural observation rather than pure pictographic interpretation. Tomaszewski, seminalsemiotic film music theoretician's approaches, the approaches of analysts Metz, the theories behind Smalley's analyses, and the writings of Getman, all come together to inform the design of this study's methodology. Within this study, Star Trek: Discovery (2017-2024) will be analysed and an investigation into the nonverbal linguistics of the instalment will require, at times, references to earlier instalments to ultimately ascertain not only meaning but a definitive sense of evolution or divergence within the soundtrack. Discovery is the flagship series of the fourth wave of television media in the Star Trek franchise – the first wave was the genesis series, Star Trek: The Original Series (1966-1969); the second wave was the exodus, expanding the Star Trek universe with multiple new series, Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994) the progenitor and the central narrative of this era of Star Trek; the third wave consisted of one series, Star Trek: Enterprise (2001-2005). Discovery lay the groundwork for a new generation of Star Trek, modernly situated and trailblazing notions beyond the Star Trek vision. Its music, in its divergent style and nature, assures this novel progression.

Keywords

Star Trek

Reference:

Collections

Masters

Full item page