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Introduction
The film Star Trek was produced during the civil rights turmoil in the United States. The film addressed various issues that affected the country at that time, such as gender inequality, war, and civil rights. Star Trek has highlighted various leadership models, and how they have affected the country and the entire world. An example of these types of politics are Trump, Marxism and Schmittan models. The film has been vocal about issues of prejudice, religion, technology, individualism, war, gender, and capitalism. This paper will analyze the book Star Trek and Popular Culture, and analyze the issues addressed such as Trump politics, civil rights, war, and gender inequality.
Trump Politics and What They Portend For the Future
One kind of politics that can label as Trump politics is Nazism. Gonzalez (2021) connects Nazism to Trumps leadership since the president based his leadership and government on white supremacy. Nazism refers to a political ideology that has its roots in the nineteenth-century German racism movements led by Adolf Hitler (Gonzalez, 2021). Gonzalez notes that the contemporary culture has normalized Nazism and has changed its idea to grave the crimes that Hitler committed (Gonzalez, 2021). The American established tried to whitewash the Nazi ideology by avoiding any criticism of the anti-Bolshevism of the Nazis. Instead, it shifted its attention to anti-Semitism, a product of anti-Bolshevism (Gonzalez, 2021). The Nazis hated Bolshevism, which resulted in their dislike towards Jews because they saw them as its propagators. By viewing Nazism this way, the Americans do not blame Hitler for his political program, but the number of people killed during his leadership.
Trumps politics were based on white supremacy, and he was vocal about this move. His ideologies and those of Hitler were similarly based on racism. The US normalized such politics because the citizens voted for him, even after he was expressive of his ideologies and method of governance (Gonzalez, 2021). The United States has undergone significant changes regarding the issue of racism. After George Floyds murder, the global demonstrations show that most people are committed to rebranding the publics debate (Gonzalez, 2021). However, another dangerous side of the debate sought to rehabilitate and normalize racial supremacy through Trumps governance (Gonzalez, 2021). This group of people attempted to build a notion of a white majority, trying to defend their power by any possible means. Through president Trump and Stephen Miller, his chief speechwriter, white supremacy was able to return to America, which will significantly impact the countrys future.
Stephen Miller highly advocated for several white supremacy concepts such as eugenics, race science, the great replacement, and linking immigrants with crime. This is the same notion that led to Nazism, and the only thing missing in Millers ideologies was anti-Semitism, which is because he is Jewish (Gonzalez, 2021). Trumps administration offered a platform for the people who believe in white supremacy, which was dangerous for the country. In the future, America might have a president who will implement Millers suggestions, taking the country back to the notion of racism and white supremacy (Gonzalez, 2021). Such future politicians will develop subtle approaches to stoke hatred and fear. They will coat the racist traditions in forms and languages to make it easy for the ideologies to penetrate the political discourse.
An example of a leader driven by white supremacy is Matteo Salvini. He is the former deputy prime minister and the federal secretary of the Italian Northern League party. He advocated for the closure of the national borders to prevent the country from Islamic invasion (Gonzalez, 2021). Another leader is Victor Orban, who built a fence to keep immigrants out to maintain the countrys traditions and ways of operation. Leaders indicating that racism and discrimination based on ethnicity, religion, and race, are highly prevalent in the current society (Gonzalez, 2021). Star Trek highlights these ideologies to prevent the world from going back to where it was several decades ago.
Gonzalezs Argument on the Components of Star Trek
Feminism Movements
Feminism movements advocate for womens rights and campaign against gender inequality. Gonzalez (2021) argues that Star Trek was a component of anti-war, feminist, and civil rights movements. The series was against patriarchy because it portrayed how minorities, especially women, suffered greatly because of anti-communism. During the 1950s, a man would represent his family in public and make decisions on the life course of his children (Gonzalez, 2021). On the other hand, women had to submit to their husbands authority and nurture children. The Star Trek series denounced the oppression and discrimination against women during that period. The television series openly presented female characters and condemned sexism (Gonzalez, 2021). Portraying female characters helped in showing the society that women are capable of being more than just housewives.
Additionally, it portrayed a future with total equality, and this is a feminist movie. After the release of the series, the liberal feminist movement was formed in the 1960s, and it played a role in ending the oppression that women faced during the 1950s (Gonzalez, 2021). Star Trek was bold in addressing the oppression of women and queer people, which helped trigger the feminist campaigns. The series featured women who were successful in the career industry, finding healthy intimacy amongst their co-workers. Lt. Uhura, a regular character in the film, was a successful bridge officer and a career woman. The series portrays the strength of women and campaigns against womens oppression and regression in society.
Civil Rights
Star Trek aided in advocating for anti-racism movements, and it helped in ending the open proclamation of white supremacy. The series was a significant victory for the civil rights movement in the 1960s, and it played a part in ending the open white supremacy in South America (Gonzalez, 2021). Star Trek aired at the time when people supporting white supremacy were attacking the civil rights movement, claiming that it was part of a global communist conspiracy. Lt. Uhura was an African American bridge officer in the series, and her role was significant in the civil rights movement. Martin Luther King Jr. convinced her to stay on Star Trek after she contemplated leaving (Gonzalez, 2021). First Officer Spock and Captain Kirks characters helped in rejecting ethnic bigotry, and this was a step towards the achievement of civil rights.
Captain Kirk notes that the portrayal of Abraham Lincoln contributed significantly to civil rights movements. In the television series, Lincoln is seen as a figure of great global and historic importance (Gonzalez, 2021). In Savage Curtain, he depicts the global outlook of the anti-racists, which is highly evident in the Star Trek series. Lincoln helped in forwarding progressive modernism on a global basis (Gonzalez, 2021). By doing so, he created a foundation for the civil rights movement.
Star Trek has addressed the topic of civil rights movement, through its characters. The aliens address the issues surrounding civil rights movements that began in the 1960s (Gonzalez, 2021). Lokai, part of the oppressed cast, depicts the history of slavery in South America by stating that the masters tore them from their families and herded them together like cattle (Gonzalez, 2021). Bel, a member of the Jim Crow South, replies to Lokai by saying that they freed them from poverty by welcoming them into their homes. Lokai responds by saying that the Jim Crow South freed the enslaved people from being husbands and fathers and living life in dignity and inequality (Gonzalez, 2021). Jim Crow South defended slavery by acting as though they were helping the enslaved people. The television series shows both sides, which enables the viewers to understand slavery. The creation of awareness triggered civil rights movements by helping people understand their rights, and it helped promote equality and end discrimination.
Anti-War Movements
The film is not a metaphor for Cold War, instead, it commemorates the power politics that were in place during that era. After the Vietnam War, the television series addressed the issue directly, raising the question of whether America was trying to promote justice in Vietnam through the war (Gonzalez, 2021). Star Trek openly rejected the idea that the Vietnam War was motivated by America trying to fight injustice in the country. The television series criticized the politics of power balancing that America was trying to practice. In the series, Kirk describes the Vietnam War as a weapon that can easily cut both sides, and justice cannot find through such strategies (Gonzalez, 2021). Star Trek was bold in demonstrating that the war was driven by Americas hate for Vietnam and condemned such moves by the government. Other Vietnam War critics are tactful in expressing their views, but this was not the case with Star Trek.
Historical Politics in Star Trek and Popular Culture
Historical moments help draw people together and advocate justice through ideologies such as gender biases, ethnicity biases, and social classes. The television series used this move because it would help people to gain knowledge and awareness of the issues affecting society (Gonzalez, 2021). Critics of the television series argue that everyone cannot be equal in the world and that the films ideas are vague and unrealistic (Gonzalez, 2021). Identity politics critics argue that the film is racist by attacking progressive dialectic, Marxism, and enlightenment (Gonzalez, 2021). Star Trek uses history to improve and reform the future, working towards a society with gender equality, civil rights, no social classes, and no racism.
The implications of this debate for future and broader politics are that there are three possible turns of the society these are Trumpian turn, the Schmittan turn, and the Marxist turn. Television warns greatly about the Trumpian and Schmittan turn (Gonzalez, 2021). The two turns can be seen as politics that directly lead to a political movement that promotes racism. There is a possibility of the two turns happening in the future, and they will result in a repetition of the events that occurred during the 1960s (Gonzalez, 2021). The Marxist turn is another future possibility that will promote justice, fairness, and humanity. The debates regarding the politics of history and future possibilities help enlighten the people on what they should look out for in the ideologies of future politicians (Gonzalez, 2021). Voting for leaders such as Trump, will make the world go back to the era of racism, discrimination, and xenophobic acts. On the other hand, voting for leaders who will promote justice, humanity, and equality, will allow all countries to be better placed that accommodates people from all corners of the earth.
Conclusion
Leadership highly influences how a country operates, and that is why people should vote wisely. Trumps politics reflect Nazism and white superiority, as seen in his ideologies. His speechwriter, Miller, was a part of this governance, and he proposed some cruel policies regarding immigration. The court found that the policies risked death or harm to the immigrants and did not pass them. If the court were comprised of people who uphold white supremacy, the policies would have passed, and America would be in a different place. The creation of awareness is vital because it allows the citizens to assess the leaders before voting them into office. Star Trek helped immensely in creating awareness and helping in fighting against racism, ethnicity, gender equality, and wars. The television series promoted feminism and civil rights movements, which helped shape the world into what it is today. Star Trek was not only a form of entertainment but a tool for educating people and fighting against factors that affect society negatively.
Reference
Gonzalez, G. A. (2021). Star Trek and Popular Culture: Television at the Frontier of Social and Social Political Change in the 1960s, 1(1), 2-98. Web.
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