Is Obama good for Star Trek?

[RAMA]

In the past, positive events that paralleled ST's fictional universe have influenced ST's popularity...the Moon landings, the naming of the first space shuttle, the increasingly "PC" 80s(if that's what you want to call it), the end of cold war. Could the election, which has caused a huge outpouring of elation..cheering in the streets, a sense of change and is an embodiment of diversity effect the popularity of ST, whose positive vision has become somewhat darker in response to an increasingly nihlistic 90s and 21st century? Will it be a good thing for the movie?

RAMA

 

[jgdst]

Not sure about this movie, as it's already a done deal, but if it gets a sequel or two, the changing mood might well be reflected.

After all, as you say, Deep Space Nine took on a darker tone, reflecting the nihilistic views, Enterprise responded to 9/11 and kinda carried on in that vein. Happy endings are starting to become popular again, so it's likely Star Trek will follow suit.

Just gotta hope the franchise is given a new lease of life after May

[edit - I didn't read the original post properly I commented on how moods may be reflected in the writing, rather than the audience response. Just ignore me ]

 

[Markas]

I think that speculative fiction gets two different types of boosts from public affairs. Either people are more receptive to it when something hopeful happens, or are driven to it when something negative occurs. In this case, having the film come out at the beginning of Obama's term could enhance it's popularity since many people (especially internationally) seem to be excited by Obama's election.

How will it affect future Trek? Hard to say. I'm willing to wait and watch, though.

 

[22 Stars]

I think an air of hope is very good for Trek. The film was made during the time of an unpopular war with no end in sight, and like the original Trek will hopefully be a beacon of optimism that American pop-culture needs and will work in tandum with the message of an Obama administration.

 

[Sector 7]

President Obama is good for the United States of America. President Obama is good for the world.
We finally have a Star Trek fan in the White House.
"Change has come to America."-President-Elect Barack Obama

As faithful Trek fans we have a new mission. The new president MUST declare for once and for all... WE WANT THE TRUTH, MR. OBAMA!!! Is it Trekkie or Trekker? WHERE DO YOU STAND, MR. PRESIDENT?!

 

[SFRabid]

Star Trek fan? I doubt that he saw much if any Star Trek while attending Columbia and Harvard.

 

[Tom]

I believe he has admited he was a star trek fan, i don't have the source of that statement but im sure someone here can find where he said that.

 

[Markas]

There is an article here that references his statement in Casper Wyoming.

During the question-and-answer portion of an event at a recreational center here, Obama was asked about the nation's space program.

"I grew up on Star Trek," Obama said. "I believe in the final frontier."

But Obama said he does not agree with the way the space program is now being run and thinks funding should be trimmed until the mission is clearer.

 

[SFRabid]

It is mentioned here.

http://trekmovie.com/2008/03/09/the-next-space-frontier/

This Star Trek connection may be more relavent.

http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2008/01/obama-jeri-ryan.html

 

[Good Will Riker]

With the upcoming May 2009 release of J.J. Abrams's Star Trek, this may as well be the first Star Trek feature film where the audience in the United States will view it as motion picture with the USS Enterprise that features "all equals," rather than being viewed as a vehicle with a white, male lead at the forefront along with an ethnically/regional diverse cast "behind him."

We are all at the forefront.

 

[Sector 7]

A member of our own TrekBBS met Obama. He said Obama even knew the Vulcan salute. He signed a cap which that member is very proud to own. It came up in another thread awhile back.
In an historic moment on January 20, 2009 a Star Trek fan will take the oath of office for President of the United States. Coincidentally, he ran on a message of Hope and Change for the future. Talk about a Star Trek message!

 

[Rush Limborg]

Ah...ha....

Now...if ol' Barry was dead serious about cutting back on NASA...frankly, we might have to wait a while....

Look, I seriously doubt than any honest, authentic, REAL Star Trek fan would cut back on NASA...especially with the new Lunar and Martian missions on the agenda.


BTW, anyone notice how, with the exception of Kennedy, it's usually the REPUBLICANS who support NASA?

Ike was the one who started NASA in the first place. And for that...I LIKE IKE!

Nixon was President during the Apollos, whereas during Johnson, NASA was just doin' a lot of preparing....

During Ford, the Shuttles kicked off...and wasn't it Ford that christened the prototype...Enterprise?

Reagan gave the ISS (originaly called "Freedom") the green light.

And Bush....

Love 'em or hate 'em, HE was the one who kept the Columbia tragedy from spiraling down into another Challenger-type aftermath. Bush was the one who gave NASA it's new agenda. It was Bush who gave Project Constellation the green light.

And I'll always thank him for that.

 

[ToddPence]

According to the Stephen Ratliff fanfic "Time Speeder", Bill Clinton was a huge Star Trek fan.

 

[maryh]

What some label as hope others see as escape from reality - especially when seen in Trekkers.

One of the biggest Trekkers, though never mentioned in the MSM, was Dick Cheney - can could name every TOS episode from memory.

 

[Cyke101]

Ah...ha....

Now...if ol' Barry was dead serious about cutting back on NASA...frankly, we might have to wait a while....

Look, I seriously doubt than any honest, authentic, REAL Star Trek fan would cut back on NASA...especially with the new Lunar and Martian missions on the agenda.


BTW, anyone notice how, with the exception of Kennedy, it's usually the REPUBLICANS who support NASA?

Ike was the one who started NASA in the first place. And for that...I LIKE IKE!

Nixon was President during the Apollos, whereas during Johnson, NASA was just doin' a lot of preparing....

During Ford, the Shuttles kicked off...and wasn't it Ford that christened the prototype...Enterprise?

Reagan gave the ISS (originaly called "Freedom") the green light.

And Bush....

Love 'em or hate 'em, HE was the one who kept the Columbia tragedy from spiraling down into another Challenger-type aftermath. Bush was the one who gave NASA it's new agenda. It was Bush who gave Project Constellation the green light.

And I'll always thank him for that.

On the other hand, Republican mantra isn't to spend much, but to spend right, and I'd have to agree with that sentiment when it comes to NASA. Now that we have private companies ready to send vessels, satellites, and probes out into space for millions cheaper and more efficiently than NASA does, it requires some sort of overhaul of funding and a review of mission priorities.

Just like the military and education, it's not enough simply to throw money at the branch, but to make sure the money's used properly.

 

[Sector 7]

What some label as hope others see as escape from reality - especially when seen in Trekkers.

One of the biggest Trekkers, though never mentioned in the MSM, was Dick Cheney - can could name every TOS episode from memory.

Which alien race is he from anyway? I just knew Cheney had to be an alien!

 

[Good Will Riker]

A member of our own TrekBBS met Obama. He said Obama even knew the Vulcan salute. He signed a cap which that member is very proud to own. It came up in another thread awhile back.
In an historic moment on January 20, 2009 a Star Trek fan will take the oath of office for President of the United States. Coincidentally, he ran on a message of Hope and Change for the future. Talk about a Star Trek message!

Actually, that milestone was made 20 years ago when W.'s poppy took the oath of office on January 20, 1989.

Barack Obama is only the most recent politician to admit that he is a fan of Star Trek.

As reported by Chicago Tribune, The admission came while Obama talked about the space program and NASA at a campaign stop in Wyoming. "I grew up on Star Trek," he said. "I believe in the final frontier." He went on to lament the fact that "NASA has lost focus and is no longer associated with inspiration."

Obama is not the first politician who is also a Star Trek fan. Al Gore, former Vice President of the United States, is an admitted fan. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, former Chief of Staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, is an original series fan who can name all seventy-nine episodes. Other American politicians who are Star Trek fans are: Alan Keyes (Deep Space Nine fan) and David Wu (Democrat from the House of Representatives from Oregon) who once made a speech on the House floor referring to people in the White House as Klingons. George Bush Sr. is supposedly to be a Star Trek fan.

Love of Star Trek is not confined to American politicians. Stephen Harper, Canadian Prime Minister is a fan of the original series. Finnish Parliament member Jyrki Kasvi is a fan who is partial to the Klingons.

Political royalty can also be counted as Star Trek fans. King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein, who rules Jordan, is such a fan that before he became King and was still a Prince, he once appeared in Star Trek Voyager: Investigations. To read more, head to the links located here and here.

link - http://www.trektoday.com/news/090308_02.shtml

 

[Bad Atom]

Well, 9/11 certainly had an impact on "Enterprise", so the connection between current events and Star Trek is still there. Maybe not as blatant as it was in the days of the original series, but there nonetheless.

 

[Good Will Riker]

Well, 9/11 certainly had an impact on "Enterprise", so the connection between current events and Star Trek is still there. Maybe not as blatant as it was in the days of the original series, but there nonetheless.

Sidebar: I wouldn't use the word "blatant" there, but "topical" when it came to addressing the current events and social issues of the day in an allegorical matter on TOS. ENT, by contrast, debuted as vapid entertainment of the lowest common denominator.

You have got to be kidding me?

When all major network TV shows and feature films to debut and return in the fall of 2001 acknowledged and paid tribute to the recent 9/11 tragedy, UPN's "Enterprise" backed away from even acknowledging it in a title card when it debuted only 2 weeks after September 11th, 2001, when even the producers of Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home had the good sense to acknowledge the passing of the 7 American astronauts aboard the space shuttle Challenger back in 1986.

It took "Enterprise" 20 months to debut an allegorical episode on the tragedy of 9/11 with its second season finale, when all other networks had been paying homage to and covering news continuously beyond the aftermath of the grave tragedy for 9 months straight, because UPN did not want to court controversy.

UPN dropped the ball on embracing the tragedy of 9/11, because the network did not want to court controversy.

Shame on you UPN and your cowardice.

 

[Cyke101]

ANNNNYWAYYYY...

I think President George Clinton would be great for Star Trek.