Redshirt (character)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Redshirt is a slang term for a minor stock character in an adventure drama who dies violently soon after being introduced to dramatize the dangerous situation faced by the main characters. The term originated with the science fiction television series Star Trek, from the red shirts worn by Starfleet security officers, who frequently beamed down with a landing party, only to become the first, and sometimes only, victims within the party.[1]
[edit] Star Trek
In many episodes of the original 1966 Star Trek series, security officers, who wear red uniforms, accompany the main characters on landing parties. The officers usually die violently soon after.
In the Pocket Books Star Trek novel Killing Time, a crew member says, "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: Rarely survive beyond the second act break".[3]
[edit] In popular culture
A number of recent television series and movies have referred to redshirts, including a Family guy episode. Redshirt Blues satirizes Star Trek's redshirts.[4]
[edit] See also
- Cannon fodder
- Character shield
- Forlorn hope
- Greenshirts (G.I. Joe)
- Sacrificial lamb
- Stormtrooper effect
- Scapegoat
- Spear carrier
[edit] Notes
- ^ 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.
- ^ Behr, Ira Steven; Robert Hewitt Wolfe. Legends of the Ferengi. ISBN 0671007289.
- ^ Ross, Dalton (2001-09-10). "What To Watch". Entertainment Weekly. http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,254840,00.html. Retrieved 2009-09-03.
