Supporting Role People

In Star Trek–The Next Generation with Jean-Luc Picard (played by the British actor Patrick Stewart, who has also played King Henry II and who’s the type referred to as “The Actors Actor”) in an episode with Q–called “trickster god” by some reviewers and “extra-dimensional being” by others and played by John de Lancey–Picard learns what it’s like to be both a leading role figure–the captain–and a lowlier type, a subservient. This is the episode called Tapestry. Of course Picard doesn’t like the deal, and wants to return to his former role, his more noble self. Yet in many ways Patrick Stewart challenges our idea of leading role types and successfully convincing us of his leading role capabilities and all the perks–he’s a man of courage, intelligence and wisdom–and there are other perks, including romantic perks (e.g. Vash), that go along with being a leading role type. In some episodes he even gets to play “sex symbol.” He is quite convincing. And certainly he’s among the acting elite.

Often actors, like Patrick Stewart, must also form their own production to produce and star in their own movies.

As for the typical–and genuine?–nerds. Sometimes they become presidents of computer companies, and the types of companies that nerd-type manage. And sometimes they are praised as leading figures.

How can you tell if people consider you a supporting role person or a leading role person?

This is very easy.

You can tell in the manner in which people approach you.

Again, let’s say you have a group of actors. These actors are always approaching each other. If you witness a group of actors and they are all defering to a Clint Eastwood, or a George Clooney, or a Denzel Washington, then you know that they recognize them as leading role types.

Whether they recognize them as greater actors is not necessarily the point.

Possibly.

But certainly they recognize the type, and moviemaking like society is typecasting.

All societies have some version of the totem pole and totem pole philosophy.

Sometimes leading roles and supporting roles are assigned not just to individuals but to whole groups and whole societies.

The Pilgrims when in England had to play a supporting role. When they came to America they got to play a leading role.

The Pilgrims can be a metaphor for many.

It’s possible that you’re a leading role figure, even though your society assigns you a supporting role.

It’s equally possible that you’re a supporting figure, even though your society assigns you a leading role.

It’s also possible to have societies in which there are no leading or supporting roles, no masters or subservients. Again, the stuff of science fiction?

But even in societies that speak democracy and speak equality, nevertheless there are leading roles and supporting roles, and certainly there are systems of merit.

These are all things for societies to ponder. And that we often exclude supporting types from leading roles just based upon type is something to ponder. (Likewise it can be problematic for leading role types who are excluded from supporting roles because of their typing.)

Gender and age have a role in leading and supporting roles and the psychology of role-playing.

Some people for example accept children as leading role figures, others do not.

Some people for example accept women as leading role figures, others do not.

People do not consider a child in most societies qualified to be president, although children historically have become kings and queens.

In spiritual civilizations children have also been assigned leading roles.

Matriarchal societies freely accept women as leaders. Patriarchal societies often do not.

In most Patriachal societies, no matter how great the woman, she must be “assigned to” a greater man. And similarly in Matriarchal societies.

Also, there are societies although not formally Matriarchal or Patriarchal, have a matriarchal or patriarchal sensibility.

In movies and in societies, those assigned supporting roles are often perceived as villainous if they dare to even attempt to assume a leading role. There are many episodes of Star Trek also that demonstrate this idea. Note the psychology of Q. Although an extra-dimensional being, he must nevertheless play a supporting role to the mere human being Jean-Luc Picard.

Experts on roles and role-playing need to continuing to study the phenonomena, psychology, and philosophy of leading and supporting roles in societies and civilization.