SammichEater wrote:
And queen/senator Amidala is technically a human.
This is not correct. You seem to be forgetting the opening line of Star Wars:
Star Wars wrote:
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...
They are humanoid, but not human.
iamnotaparakeet wrote:
Of course any "alien" species which is physically attractive in an eros manner is going to resemble humanity. "Aliens" such as Deanna Troi, Jadzia Dax, Seven of Nine, Torres, T'Pol, Eryn Sun, Princess Leah, etc, are played by physically attractive actresses and so the "aliens" they portray are attractive due to their attractiveness.
I would have to completely disagree.
For me, the physical component of attractiveness is minimal, and the behavioural/mental component is of utmost importance. That is why I listed for each the personality traits which I found attractive.
I liked Deanna's ability to detect emotions -- this would make it effortless to interact with her, as I wouldn't need to use any social queues in order for her to know what I was feeling, and even if my feelings were much less than those around me, she would still be aware of precisely what I was feeling.
I loved the rough history of Tasha Yar, Kira Nerys and Ro Laren, all pretty similarly difficult lives. I have always found it attractive when a person can get through horrible situations in their life, abuse and traumas, and manage to come out the other side still hopeful about life, still learning, not just carrying on the abuse they experienced to others. THIS is attractive to me!
With 7 of 9, I hated that the show producers (Rick Berman ruined the Star Trek franchise in my opinion, the more he got involved, the more campy and ridiculous Star Trek has gotten) removed a perfectly interesting and developing character in Kes, and replaced her with a walking set of breasts. I eventually came to really like 7 of 9, especially with her trying to figure out human interactions from a completely outside perspective. Same with the holographic doctor on Voyager (he never chose a name for himself, did he?) and Data.
I found Data's daughter attractive as well, because of her difficulties fitting in and understanding humans, but she only lived for a couple days or so:
The way that attractiveness operates for me is like this:
1) I see a person in the distance.
2) I intake every bit of information I can about them even before I get close to them: what clothes they are dressed in, body language, mannerisms, what activity they are doing, hairstyle, etc.
3) I heavily analyse all this and come up with likelihoods for which things this entity is following/motivated by. For most people this is the monetary system, which I find repulsive. So before I even have arrived at the person I often find them unattractive.
4) If I was unable to see any motivations which I find unattractive, then I will look at their physical appearance to see how attractive or not attractive they are on a purely physical level. I do NOT allow this physical analysis of them to EVER influence my behaviour and actions toward them.
5) Once I arrive at the person, I continue to heavily analysis them, via body language and the content of what they say. I again search for more clues as to what motivates them in their life, and whether I find the things they are being lead by attractive or not.
6) Based on my ongoing observations in #5, my view of their physical attractiveness in #4 will continually shift. If I started out thinking they were physically unattractive, but I liked their behaviour, that would rapidly replace any notion I had for physical appearance. Or vice versa, they may start out looking absolutely attractive to me, but once they open their mouth and divulge how shallow they are, they look extremely ugly.
The primary reason why characters on Star Trek don't look "totally alien" is because they have had horribly small budgets to work with, so the facial foam masks is usually all they could afford to do. I would not care how alien they looked, if I found their behavioural routines attractive.
As a random example, I have always found Deanna's mother, Lwaxana Troi, very attractive. This is because she knows what she likes, and goes after it. She is not deterred by anybody else's negativity, and lives life full of energy. Plus the reading of minds would certainly make interacting with her effortless.
However, she probably would not like me, as my thoughts would certainly overwhelm or disconcert her.
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