A "redshirt" is a
stock character
A stock character, also known as a character archetype, is a fictional character in a work of art such as a novel, play, or a film whom audiences recognize from frequent recurrences in a particular literary tradition. There is a wide range of s ...
in fiction who dies soon after being introduced. The term originates from the original ''
Star Trek
''Star Trek'' is an American science fiction media franchise created by Gene Roddenberry, which began with the eponymous 1960s television series and quickly became a worldwide pop-culture phenomenon. The franchise has expanded into vari ...
'' (
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, its headquarters are l ...
, 1966–69) television series in which the red-shirted security personnel frequently die during episodes. Redshirt deaths are often used to dramatize the potential peril the main characters face.
Origin
In ''Star Trek'', red-uniformed security officers and engineers who accompany the main characters on landing parties often suffer quick deaths.
The first instance of what now is an established
trope
Trope or tropes may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* Trope (cinema), a cinematic convention for conveying a concept
* Trope (literature), a figure of speech or common literary device
* Trope (music), any of a variety of different things ...
can be seen in the episode "
What Are Little Girls Made Of?" (1966).
Of the 55 crew members killed in the series, 24 were wearing red shirts, compared to 15 who had unconfirmed shirt colors, 9 in gold shirts, and 7 in blue shirts. Most casualties were security personnel, whose uniform was red.
The ''
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' (abbreviated as ''DS9'') is an American science fiction television series created by Rick Berman and Michael Piller. The fourth series in the ''Star Trek'' media franchise, it originally aired in syndication from ...
'' book ''Legends of the Ferengi'' says Starfleet security personnel "rarely survive beyond the second act break". An episode of ''
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' (abbreviated as ''DS9'') is an American science fiction television series created by Rick Berman and Michael Piller. The fourth series in the ''Star Trek'' media franchise, it originally aired in syndication from ...
'' titled "
Valiant" (1998) also references red as a sort of bad luck omen, in which the plot centers around a group of cadets calling themselves "Red Squad", almost all of whom die in the episode. The 2009
cinematic reboot of the franchise features a character named Olson (portrayed by
Greg Ellis) who dies early on during a mission; he wears a red uniform in homage to the trope from the original series.
Usage
In other media, the term "redshirt" and images of characters wearing red shirts have come to represent disposable characters destined for suffering or death.
The trope, and its particular usage in ''Star Trek'', has been parodied and
deconstructed in other media. Parodies include ''
Galaxy Quest
''Galaxy Quest'' is a 1999 American science fiction comedy film directed by Dean Parisot and written by David Howard and Robert Gordon. A parody of and homage to science-fiction films and series, especially ''Star Trek'' and its fandom, the f ...
'' (1999), a comedy about actors from a defunct science-fiction television series serving on a real starship, which includes an actor who is terrified that he's going to die because his only appearance in the show was as an unnamed character who was killed early in the episode. The novel ''
Redshirts'' by
John Scalzi satirizes the trope, as does the video game ''
Redshirt
Redshirt, Red Shirt, or Redshirts may refer to:
Entertainment
* ''Red Shirts'' (film), a 1952 film about Anita Garibaldi by Franco Rossi
* Redshirt (stock character), originally derived from ''Star Trek'', a stock character who dies soon after b ...
''.
See also
*
Cannon fodder
Cannon fodder is an informal, derogatory term for combatants who are regarded or treated by government or military command as expendable in the face of enemy fire. The term is generally used in situations where combatants are forced to deliberatel ...
*
Sacrificial lamb
A sacrificial lamb is a metaphorical reference to a person or animal sacrificed for the common good. The term is derived from the traditions of Abrahamic religion where a lamb is a highly valued possession.
In politics
In politics, a sacrifici ...
*
Spear carrier
A spear carrier is a minor actor in a play or, by extension, a person whose actions are of little significance.
Overview
In the world of opera, the term is sometimes used literally: When a male chorus is required, as in ''Aida'', for example, the ...
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Redshirt (Character)
Fictional elements introduced in 1966
Narrative techniques
Star Trek characters
Star Trek: The Original Series characters
Stock characters
Running gags