Star Trek, Pop Culture, the 1960s, and Trump Politics

Introduction

The art of popular culture often reflects and represents truths, ideals, or realities of specific ages and erasmoments in time that are intensely highlighted and depicted in popular art as means of processing the zeitgeist. However, it can also become an important part of an era and of a movement because it acts as a kind of lightning rod or banner or signal to others who might also be looking for a cause behind which to rally and march. One example of popular art that spanned the latter half of the 20th century and has carried on into the first half of the 21st century is the show and film series Star Trek. As Gonzalez points out, Star Trek is many things to many people, mainly because as popular art it appeals to a lot of different groups and reflects many different issues and ideas that are important to or that affect those groups. Thus, Gonzalez makes the argument that the original Star Trek series was a salient component of the civil rights, feminist, and anti-war movements of the 1960s: those movements were happening as the series was being produced, and the artists behind the series reflected real life concerns and problems in the plot lines and stories of the science-fiction television drama. That is how popular art becomes a kind of magnifying glass of popular culture: it distills themes and issues, examines consequences and effects, takes real life drama and unfolds it in the safe space of the make-believe. This is not something confined to the 1960s, either. In fact, the same principles hold true today, which is why one can use Star Trek and popular culture still to analyze what can be called Trump Politics and discuss what that might portend for the future. This paper will do just that and it will also engage Gonzalezs argument that Star Trek served as an important component of the civil rights, feminist, and anti-war movements of the 1960s.

Trump Politics

Popular culture has always had a significant impact on society and politics (Dyck). It often reflects and reinforces societal values, beliefs, and norms (MacKenzie). Popular culture also shapes people's perceptions of the world and their understanding of politics and social issues (Edensor).

Donald Trump's politics are often associated with populism, nationalism, and conservatism. During his time in office, he pursued policies that focused on America-first, such as withdrawing from international agreements, imposing tariffs on foreign imports, and building a wall on the US-Mexico border. Trump's politics also emphasized law and order, and he sought to take a tough stance on crime and immigration.

In the case of Trump Politics, however, there is no consistency in terms of public perception. Some have argued that his politics resemble those of a typical villain in popular culture (Omeara). Others have argued his political antics characterize him as an over-the-top hero of a pop culture dramedy (Prusa, Brummer). The character of the villain in popular culture is often a narcissistic, power-hungry, and authoritarian figure who wants to control others and bend them to his will. It is not difficult to see how Trump might fit that mold. However, it is also not surprising to find that those who align politically opposite of Trump have suggested that Trump embodies these qualities much more than he does the supposed good ones that the Right attribute to him. For those on the left, Trump and his politics are a reflection of a type of villainous character. Trump supporters, on the other hand, see him as a hero figure fighting the pernicious enemy known as the Deep State. In either case, Trump Politics calls to mind stark terms in which there is some conflict between good and evil, right and wrong.

As Gonzalez points out, on the one hand, Trump can be viewed as reflecting the political disaffection the public feels toward official politicsas reflected in such shows as VEEP, etc. (111). Overall, Trump Politics represents a moment of pessimism and demoralization in America, wherein the popular culture has reached such a state that it would seemingly back a wrecking ball to bring it all down rather than try to work constructively within the confines of that some governmental structure it seeks to destroy (Gonzalez 100). Trump Politics is a moment in which a kind of moral nihilism in popular culture has won the day. By speaking in the terms of the little guy, of middle America, Trump cast himself as the defender of working class values, the crusader pitting himself against the corruption of Washington and the woke politics of the new left.

In contrast, the world of Star Trek has often been seen as an idealized vision of the future, where humanity has overcome its most basic flaws and works together for the greater good. Star Trek promotes values such as diversity, tolerance, and cooperation, which are often seen as the antithesis of Trump's politics. Gonzalez tates that Star Trek communicates that collective decision-making (human agency) is central to the progressive dialectic (37). At the same time, Gonzalez argues that according to the Star Trek text, neoliberalism is posed to destroy civilization (59). In other words, society is at a critical point in history and a change is needed in order for the next great leap forward. That change is part of the Hegelian dialectic encountered in Star Trek: Both Hegel and Star Trek argue that the ontology of objects vis-a-via the Absolute extends to human civilizationswith Star Trek indicating that human existence itself can/will cross into a different qualitative/existential plane (47). In some ways, therefore, it could be argued that Trump Politics represents this crossover moment; whether it is for good or for ill depends upon ones subjective experience of that moment. Like in the Mirror Mirror episode of Star Trek, alternative realities seem to exist in which different loyalties and allegiances are manifested in our own current society. Left and Right both have...

…command a starship, a position that is denied to her because of her gender. In order to achieve her goal, she uses a device to switch bodies with Captain Kirk, allowing her to take over the Enterprise and prove herself as a capable leader. Throughout the episode, Lester's actions are portrayed as misguided and delusional, as she becomes increasingly unstable in her quest for power. However, her initial desire to break through gender barriers and achieve equality is a theme that resonated with many women at the time, who were fighting for their own rights and opportunities in a male-dominated society.

All of these episodes show Star Trek not just as a series that reflected social movements but also added something to them by exploring themes, such as gender and the glass ceiling or war vs. pacifism, in dramatic and meaningful ways. These shows were packed with tension and emotion, and viewers experienced catharsis by watching them. They learned to question, to challenge, and to grow as a result.

In the end, however, the show was notable for its progressive and inclusive themes. The crew of the USS Enterprise was often presented as a diverse group, with different ethnicities and backgrounds, showing that people from all walks of life could come together and work towards a common goal. This representation resonated deeply with viewers and provided a much-needed message of hope during a time when civil rights, gender equality, and anti-war activism was at a peak. The characters of Star Trek also challenged traditional gender roles and questioned conventional wisdom, presenting empowering role models for viewers to look up to. All these messages of inclusion and progressivism made Star Trek a key part of the civil rights, feminist, and anti-war movements of the late 1960s.

Conclusion

The politics of art, like the politics of life, are not always simple and easy to categorize or label. Star Trek was good at dealing with complexity and nuance, as it did in City on the Edge of Forever. Today, lessons from Star Trek could be applied to teach us about what is going on in our own society. For instance, with Trump Politics, we need to figure out if they are a wrecking ball that society is deliberately pushing through in order to tear down the existing structures so as to rebuild later, or whether they are the manifestation of authoritarianism. Donald Trump's politics are often considered to be highly divisive and polarizing, and as such, they may portend a future where people of different backgrounds and beliefs are not seen as equals. However, Star Trek (the original series) showed that diversity and inclusion can be strengths rather than weaknesses, and the show's progressive and inclusive themes provided a platform for discussing issues related to civil rights, gender equality, and anti-war sentiment that were particularly relevant during the late 1960s. As such, Star Trek can serve as an important reminder that progress, tolerance, and inclusivity are all possible, no matter how challenging the times may be. Whether…