Memory Alpha:Projects/Image categories for individuals

This project exists to coordinate efforts to create categories for individual characters. This was originally put forward at the category suggestions page in February 2021 and quickly gained consensus. After laying dormant for over three years, the proposal entered the implementation phase on 26 May 2024.

Tree[]

Memory Alpha images (Human individuals)

Memory Alpha images (Christine Chapel)

Memory Alpha images (Pavel Chekov)

Memory Alpha images (James T. Kirk)

Memory Alpha images (Leonard McCoy)

Memory Alpha images (Janice Rand)

Memory Alpha images (Montgomery Scott)

Memory Alpha images (Hikaru Sulu)

Memory Alpha images (Nyota Uhura)

Phase I: Initial discussion[]

I'm bringing back an old suggestion to implement individual categories for each major character (see here). I've been told it's already been implemented in Memory Beta (as seen here) and it would be extremely helpful not only to create subdivisions in the extremely populated Category:Memory Alpha images (Humans), but also create a more user-friendly method to find all the pictures of their favorite characters. What do you think? | Pedronog (talk) 23:33, 20 February 2021 (UTC)

Support -- for the series main casts (i.e. Kirk, Riker, Hoshi, etc.), as I agree Category:Images of Humans is so large (11,000+) it's essentially unnavigable. Per Memory Alpha:Image use policy, "Memory Alpha is not an image gallery!", but I think this would serve to organize what needs organized, and provide a gallery of sorts for those interested. We'll continue to remove superfluous/duplicate images. Would we then put "Category:Memory Alpha images (William T. Riker)" under "Category:Memory Alpha images (Human individuals)" under Category:Memory Alpha images (Humans)? - AJHalliwell (talk) 15:44, 22 February 2021 (UTC)

I think we should indeed do that. But what about The Doctor? Would "Category:Memory Alpha images (The Doctor)" be simultaneously under "Category:Memory Alpha images (Human individuals)" and under "Category:Memory Alpha images (Human holograms)"? Is that OK? | Pedronog (talk) 16:35, 22 February 2021 (UTC)

The "images (The Doctor)" category should fall under "Category:Memory Alpha images (Human holograms)"; where all current images of The Doctor should be. For Humans, I recommend a "Human individuals" subcategory. For alien mains, with there being far fewer, maybe they could fall under the species category since there would only be a few (i.e. "images (Worf)" under "images (Klingons)" instead of "images (Klingon individuals)".) - AJHalliwell (talk) 23:09, 22 February 2021 (UTC)

Just for example's sake, the Memory Beta equivalent starts at Category:Memory Beta images (regular and recurring characters) and trees down from there. Obviously it can't be a total carbon copy because of minor differences in naming conventions and major differences in subject matter, but it's grown pretty well with organic adds -- captainmike 22:56, 28 February 2021 (UTC)

This should be approved by now, right? | Pedronog (talk) 18:32, 8 March 2021 (UTC)

As nice as it would be to (mostly) duplicate MB's category tree for this, we really can't because Category:Memory Alpha images (Humans) is an in-universe category, whereas the MB categories are real-world POV (i.e. Memory Beta images (regular and recurring characters) -> Memory Beta images (DS9 regular and recurring characters), etc.). We *can* mirror the ones below there, though, since Memory Alpha images (Julian Bashir) as a sub-cat of Memory Alpha images (Humans) doesn't veer into RW territory. But bearing that in mind, I'd say go for it, at least for the main characters with lots of images. -- Renegade54 (talk) 18:53, 8 March 2021 (UTC)

Before we go live with this, I'd suggest doing the following:

Make a page with a list of each of the main characters (I'd suggest starting with Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Scotty, and Uhura as a trial)
List each image that would go into each of those categories

Once that's done, we can run a bot on these rather than requiring an individual to edit several hundred image pages. That'll give us an idea of scope and size for these categories I think. Then we can start growing out series by series moving forward. -- Sulfur (talk) 19:01, 8 March 2021 (UTC)

I'm sure there are a few mistakes, but to get started I compiled: User:AJHalliwell/Images by character, primarily based on the "what links here" files for the main performer's page. - AJHalliwell (talk) 21:55, 8 March 2021 (UTC)

I added just a couple of pictures to Kirk. Are we going to consider every single image where a piece of Shatner is seen, while playing Kirk?

For instance, what if he's really small? Like in here:

File:Kirk-Spock in 1930.jpg

Or only showing his back? Like these ones:

And do we count images where only his hand is being seen?

Pedronog (talk) 08:57, 12 March 2021 (UTC)

My understanding would be anytime "Category:Images of Humans" would otherwise be used; so yes for really small, yes for only his back, but no for only his hand, because those are not illustrating a Human, they're illustrating an object. Similarly, if an image of a stunt double is depicting the stunt double - it's not considered an in-universe image of Kirk, it should be written from real world perspective as an image depicting the stunt double. And Marta imitating Kirk is not an image of Kirk. This is also a good reminder that, in group photos, the bot will need to make sure it leaves on "Category:Images of Humans" and not just replace. - AJHalliwell (talk) 04:22, 24 March 2021 (UTC)

Got it! | Pedronog (talk) 06:49, 24 March 2021 (UTC)

Any further along on this? LauraCC (talk) 03:17, 29 October 2022 (UTC)

Is there a way to auto-generate a list of images that have a given character's name in the image description ({{rl|}} with images only? (To start with; others that don't can be added one at a time. -LauraCC (talk) 01:02, 1 May 2024 (UTC)

I've created Category:Memory Alpha images (Human individuals) for Human individuals, and created subcats for Kirk, McCoy, Scott, and Uhura, as suggested above (I'm just doing Humans for now, so I haven't done Spock). There were some bumps along the way, but I've figured out a good process to populate the categories with virtually no errors. Unfortunately, in trying to prevent erroneous additions to the categories, I've left out lots of images that should be categorized as such, which will now have to be added manually. This seems to be the best possible method, though, and it works well nonetheless.

If I have time, I'll keep working on this tomorrow. 🖖 Mr. Starfleet Command ^{(talk • contribs)} 05:45, 26 May 2024 (UTC)

In terms of updates on this, I would remind all: [category] suggestions should take into consideration what the editing community has the capacity + interest to accomplish. Per Category tree: "After a suggested category has been approved, don't expect anyone else to actually create it for you! Anyone can create an approved category, and while someone is bound to come along eventually, it won't happen as quickly as it would if you did it yourself." - AJHalliwell (talk) 21:39, 24 June 2024 (UTC)

A little feedback saves the hassle of reversions. :) I throw ideas out there and see what sticks. I have done a few myself before. -LauraCC (talk) 18:03, 26 June 2024 (UTC)

Phase II: Specific suggestions[]

Pike next? -LauraCC (talk) 23:58, 27 June 2024 (UTC)

I was thinking I would go by show, and just Humans for the time being – so TNG next. Those folks have appeared so much, I'm sure that will take out a great deal of the images clogging up the Humans image category.

Sorry I haven't been getting any headway on this in a while... I'll try to devote some time tomorrow (or maybe tonight, depending). 🖖 Mr. Starfleet Command ^{(talk • contribs)} 03:26, 28 June 2024 (UTC)

Unless there are any objections, I'll create a new project to track our progress on this, and I'll move this discussion there. I think that would be a more useful place for this. 🖖 Mr. Starfleet Command ^{(talk • contribs)} 03:30, 28 June 2024 (UTC)

Since it's definitely happening, sure. Main characters -> recurring guests -> recurring (named) background characters -LauraCC (talk) 03:34, 28 June 2024 (UTC)