Are you "aging out" of Star Trek?

[tafkats]

OK, to the original question... I don't think I'm aging out of Star Trek, but I would say that I don't enjoy modern production aesthetics as much as I liked '90s and early 2000s aesthetics. That may well be a product of when I grew up, but it could also be that aesthetic pendulums swing ... for instance, right now the rapid increase in how easy it is to do computer-generated VFX has led us to a very "more is more" attitude in productions, but I doubt that will last forever. In fact, one of the things I enjoyed about Season 1 of SFA is that it wasn't quite as "whiz bang wow" as the other streaming-era live-action series. But in general, even though I often enjoyed the characters and stories, I had some trouble connecting to Discovery and SNW just because I didn't like the style as much.

This TrekCulture video does a pretty good job explaining those stylistic things:

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[Airmandan]

I wouldn't say I've aged out of it but i feel its an intellect thing. I grew up in the 90's with TNG, DS9 and bits of Voyager, along with rewatches of TOS. They were thinking shows, sure there was action, but the story was in the dialogue more than what you saw visually. The modern stuff feels like the opposite, and frankly it feels so much dumber. The Kelvin movies were very guilty of this. All this is probably why I've adored the book series so much. They were always so much more nuanced and better written for obvious reasons than what we would see on screen.

 

[TheAussieGonz]

... This TrekCulture video does a pretty good job explaining those stylistic things:

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Brilliant. I enjoyed the video as much as any Trek episode, and feel a little more intelligent to boot.

 

[korblborp]

places like the bridges becoming dark, cavernous spaces, sparsely populated, with some tron lines and regularly scheduled flamethrowers is certainly disconcerting

it's funny, i didn't like the E's bridge because of that, and then starfleet started taking design cues from Shinzon

la sirena's cockpit not having a wall bothered the crap out of me

 

[Bajorassian]

i would rather say Star Trek is aging out... i wonder what the average age of a forum member here is..... 40?... 45? 50?

 

[FredH]

i would rather say Star Trek is aging out... i wonder what the average age of a forum member here is..... 40?... 45? 50?

I think this is probably true. Plus, and I hate to say it, I increasingly feel that Trek’s general worldview — as expressed all the way from TOS through the modern shows, and as certainly was formative for me — is an expression of 60s/70s liberalism that the world in general is moving away from (and I hate that apparent fact).

 

[bdub76]

I think this is probably true. Plus, and I hate to say it, I increasingly feel that Trek’s general worldview — as expressed all the way from TOS through the modern shows, and as certainly was formative for me — is an expression of 60s/70s liberalism that the world in general is moving away from (and I hate that apparent fact).

Trek definitely feels disconnected from modern science fiction. However, I really enjoy reading today 60s and 70s science fiction. I prefer my science fiction mostly free of the culture wars and more focused on an surprising twist at the end.

Sometimes new Trek comes across inclusive of everything but plot.

 

[CetiAlphanEel]

I grew up on Star Trek, TOS as a youngster, TNG as a younger adult, then DS9, VOY... later I even watched ENT... but I'm not into cartoons, Discovery was painful and I dropped it after the first few episodes. I watched the first season of SNW but loved all three seasons of Picard. But now as a senior citizen, I'm finding I just can not seem to bite on the new stuff. Am I the only one who has issues with the new stuff or just a basic, meh?

Im 36 and don't feel like I'm aging out just yet, but I haven't liked most of New Trek Ive seen I admit. I've liked enough of it though that I havent given up watching

 

[CetiAlphanEel]

I think this is probably true. Plus, and I hate to say it, I increasingly feel that Trek’s general worldview — as expressed all the way from TOS through the modern shows, and as certainly was formative for me — is an expression of 60s/70s liberalism that the world in general is moving away from (and I hate that apparent fact).

Yeah I like Star Trek optimistic liberalism/progressivism but the general mood is far more pessimistic now so that's a good point.

 

[FredH]

Yeah I like Star Trek optimistic liberalism/progressivism but the general mood is far more pessimistic now so that's a good point.

Thing is, things were pretty pessimistic in TOS’ era, too; it was partially a response against that. But decades farther along, with what seems like an ongoing regression, it feels like the world’s outright rejecting it all.

That’s probably depression talking, though.

 

[CetiAlphanEel]

Thing is, things were pretty pessimistic in TOS’ era, too; it was partially a response against that. But decades farther along, with what seems like an ongoing regression, it feels like the world’s outright rejecting it all.

That’s probably depression talking, though.

You're right, but I think the weight of things on my generation (millennials) and those younger seems bigger and more outright pessimistic. I guess that's what I was getting at

 

[fireproof78]

And yet I see greater enthusiasm in individuals to make changes. I'm more excited for this upcoming generation than for mine.

 

[bdub76]

And yet I see greater enthusiasm in individuals to make changes. I'm more excited for this upcoming generation than for mine.

They're more doomed. They get the impacts of warming and contaminating the oceans. But they get better medicine and computers that will "think" for them.

 

[Ssosmcin]

And yet I see greater enthusiasm in individuals to make changes. I'm more excited for this upcoming generation than for mine.

The generation before mine is f'king things up horribly.

My generation is too busy arguing internally about it to make any changes.

The younger generation is saying "Christ, you are all d-holes, just die so we can fix it."

I wish them Godspeed.

 

[fireproof78]

They're more doomed. They get the impacts of warming and contaminating the oceans. But they get better medicine and computers that will "think" for them.

That's the spirit. No matter how dark it is keep drawing the shades.

The generation before mine is f'king things up horribly.

My generation is too busy arguing internally about it to make any changes.

The younger generation is saying "Christ, you are all d-holes, just die so we can fix it."

I wish them Godspeed.

I excited for them. They show more desire, gumption, and effort to have an authentic life. Not always focusing on the petty or stupid things my generation has insisted is important.

 

[CetiAlphanEel]

And yet I see greater enthusiasm in individuals to make changes. I'm more excited for this upcoming generation than for mine.

Yeah things are so bad, people are being pushed to actually do something, that is a silver lining.

 

[bdub76]

That's the spirit. No matter how dark it is keep drawing the shades.

I never thought we'd have an even darker version than Tim Burton's Batman.

 

[fireproof78]

I never thought we'd have an even darker version than Tim Burton's Batman.

We have the capacity for great good and evil. Access to knowledge and information is at its highest, as well as greater access to clean water. There is potential on either side and I will not be daunted by the plague of downer misinformation of ills online. Humans are not meant to be in constant contact of all the problems of the world and the cynicism starts to show.

 

[FredH]

You're right, but I think the weight of things on my generation (millennials) and those younger seems bigger and more outright pessimistic. I guess that's what I was getting at

Sadly, I believe you. (sympathy across generations)

 

[Lord Garth]

I think Post-2028 will basically be a New Era by force, but that's getting into politics and current events.

As far as Star Trek? I don't think I'm aging out of it. I bailed out on Trek toward the end of the Berman Era, but I was open to more Star Trek once he was replaced. I've bailed out on Trek towards what looks like the end of the Kurtzman Era, but I'm open to more Star Trek once he's replaced. The same story 20 years apart.

So, it's less aging out of Star Trek and more "I've had my fill of the current era!" Moral of the story: don't overstay your welcome. And the thing that matters the most to me as a viewer: What have you done for me lately? That's basically what it all boils down to.