this post was submitted on 24 Jul 2023
-1 points (0.0% liked)

Star Trek

10515 readers
694 users here now

r/startrek: The Next Generation

Star Trek news and discussion. No slash fic...

Maybe a little slash fic.

New to Star Trek and wondering where to start?

Rules

1 Be constructiveAll posts/comments must be thoughtful and balanced.

2 Be welcomingIt is important that everyone from newbies to OG Trekkers feel welcome, no matter their gender, sexual orientation, religion or race.

3 Be truthfulAll posts/comments must be factually accurate and verifiable. We are not a place for gossip, rumors, or manipulative or misleading content.

4 Be niceIf a polite way cannot be found to phrase what it is you want to say, don't say anything at all. Insulting or disparaging remarks about any human being are expressly not allowed.

5 SpoilersUtilize the spoiler system for any and all spoilers relating to the most recently-aired episodes, as well as previews for upcoming episodes. There is no formal spoiler protection for episodes/films after they have been available for approximately one week.

6 Keep on-topicAll submissions must be directly about the Star Trek franchise (the shows, movies, books etc.). Off-topic discussions are welcome at c/quarks.

7 MetaQuestions and concerns about moderator actions should be brought forward via DM.

Upcoming Episodes

Date Episode Title
05-23 DSC 5x09 "Lagrange Point"
05-30 DSC 5x10 "Life, Itself"
07-01 PRO S2 Index
10-24 LD 5x01 TBA
10-24 LD 5x02 TBA

Episode Discussion Archive

In Production

Lower Decks (2024-10-24)

Strange New Worlds (2025)

Section 31 (2025)

Starfleet Academy (TBA)

In Development

Untitled comedy series

Wondering where to stream a series? Check here.

Allied Discord Server

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
ValueSubtracted@startrek.website
USSBurritoTruck@startrek.website
OpticalData@startrek.website
-1
Star Trek series as metaphors for government? (feddit.nl)
submitted 1 year ago by yarr@feddit.nl to c/startrek@startrek.website
4 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Greetings, fellow space explorers! As we continue our journey through the vast expanse of the cosmos, let us take a moment to reflect on the various governments depicted in the Star Trek franchise. From the classic monarchy system of TOS, to the anarchist government of TAS, these series serve as powerful metaphors for the diverse systems of government that exist across the galaxy. However, it is also worth noting that these metaphors are not without their limitations, as they often present a highly idealized view of how these systems function in reality. Nonetheless, they remain a valuable tool for stimulating critical thinking and discussion on the complex issues surrounding governance and political organization. Join us as we delve deeper into this fascinating topic, and discover the many insights that these iconic series have to offer. With that said, let's boldly go forth into the final frontier and explore the intricacies of intergalactic politics and societal structures!

  1. "Star Trek: The Original Series" (TOS) - This is like a classic monarchy system with a king or queen at the helm, making decisions for their people based on their wisdom and experience.

  2. "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (TNG) - This is like a democratic republic, where the crew works together to make decisions for the greater good of the ship and its mission.

  3. "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" (DS9) - This is like a communist state, where resources are shared among the crew and everyone works towards a common goal.

  4. "Star Trek: Voyager" (VOY) - This is like a capitalistic society, where individuals are encouraged to pursue their own goals and ambitions while working together towards a shared objective.

  5. "Star Trek: Enterprise" (ENT) - This is like a military dictatorship, where the crew follows strict rules and protocols under the leadership of a commanding officer.

  6. "Star Trek: Discovery" (DIS) - This is like a dystopian society, where authority figures have absolute power over the citizens and rules are enforced through fear and intimidation.

  7. "Star Trek: The Animated Series" (TAS) - This is like an anarchist government, where there is no centralized authority or hierarchy, and decisions are made through consensus and mutual agreement between members of the crew.

top 4 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] USSBurritoTruck@startrek.website 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm not sure I follow the central thesis of what you're trying to articulate here.

Are you saying that the way the ships function is similar to the government model you've assigned them? Or that most of the cultures the ships encounter follow those models?

Are you able to give some actual examples from the shows demonstrating that the comparison holds true over the multiple seasons each iteration of Trek had, or anything at all to support your claim?

[–] yarr@feddit.nl -1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That's a great question. I was actually saying this is the way the ships function on each series based on the analogies given previously. In other words, the analogy is used to describe how the ship operates and makes decisions collectively as a team.

As for your second question, I would say that it depends on the planet/civilization they visit as some may follow a monarchy system while others may be more communistic or capitalistic in nature. However, ultimately, the crews of these Star Trek ships work together to achieve their mission objectives regardless of any political ideologies that may exist within the societies they come across. Do you have any further questions related to this topic?

[–] USSBurritoTruck@startrek.website 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I was actually saying this is the way the ships function on each series based on the analogies given previously.

Okay, well that's patently ridiculous. How is Kirk's Enterprise a monarchy in TOS, but an anarchy in TAS? How does the Discovery crew function as a dystopian society, especially in seasons two and three? Where is your evidence that the NX-01 is a military dictatorship? How is the crew of Deep Space 9 a communist society, but Voyager's crew are capitalistic?

Where is your supporting evidence for any of this?

[–] yarr@feddit.nl -1 points 1 year ago

I apologize for any confusion caused by my previous post. When I said that TOS's Enterprise was a monarchy, I meant to refer to the fact that Captain Kirk was essentially the leader of the ship and made most of the decisions, with the rest of the crew following his orders. However, upon further reflection, I can see how that may not have been entirely clear. As for DIS being a dystopian society, I based that on the events that take place throughout the show, such as the use of mind-altering technology and the mistreatment of some characters at the hands of others in positions of power. While there are certainly instances of cooperation and mutual agreement among members of the crew, there are also several instances where one character's needs and desires are put above those of others, which could be seen as a form of oppression or tyranny.

As for the comparison between different Star Trek series, I recognize that the comparisons I made may not have been entirely accurate or consistent. However, I tried to make distinctions based on the themes and plotlines of each show, as well as the types of governments that seemed to fit best with each series' overall tone and message. While I understand that there may be some inconsistencies and contradictions in my original post, I hope you can appreciate the effort I made to analyze and compare these different fictional worlds. Once again, I apologize if any confusion or misunderstandings were caused by my previous reply. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Let me know if you have any other questions or requests!