Mentation Ventilation: Star Trek and Star Wars
Recently, I was asked the question: “Why is Star Trek considered nerdier than Star Wars?” I decided to share my opinionated response with you, and solicit your thoughts and ideas.
Star Wars tends to embody the spiritual and the emotional whereas Star Trek is more technical and cerebral. Most people can relate to feelings, general discord, and the nature of good vs. evil with greater empathy than relating to scientific conundrums, intellectual dilemmas, and global utopianism.
Star Wars effortlessly draws from the wealth of centuries-old, multi-cultural mythologies that are universal, timeless, and understandable by everyone. Jedi are viewed like knights of old saving kingdoms (planets, galaxies) and damsels in distress. They fight for the preservation of virtue, values, and the continual victory of righteousness. Star Wars rightful has a place in our collective tales and core mythos since it closely mirrors sempiternal themes, and weaves new fables from the myths and beliefs of many past and present civilizations.
Star Trek speaks to people of science, to the spirit of what is possible, to the almost obtainable future. This is a show for the individual that is fascinated with how a ‘warp drive’ would function beyond theory or how many uses a ‘deflector shield’ could have. The kid that takes apart his radio to see how it works or the adult that advances the integrated circuit are more likely to recount every episode, reflect upon the misdeeds and virtues each series, and ratify or scorn every movie that has carried the Star Trek name.
Star Trek represents a sophisticated and optimistic society that bares the stamp of faint belief when viewed through our dystopian eyes. It is a future of endless opportunity and unparalleled academics, a not-yet-realized golden age for humanity. However, it lacks the depth our ingrained fallibility; the tang of brackish reality symptomatic of our daily lives. I believe this idealism adds a layer of disillusion for some, a disconnected and foreign narrative. Some people just cannot identify with a genial future as portrayed in Star Trek.
So what is your opinion on this matter? Please let me know.
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