Star Trek and Presidential Politics

[alpha_leonis]

A friend and I had a discussion recently, revolving about how you can track the development of Star Trek in parallel with who was serving as President at the time, and how the country in general viewed itself in relation to the ongoing American political reality.

Here's the breakdown:

• Johnson: first 2 and a half seasons of TOS
• Nixon: Last half-season of TOS
• Ford: TAS
• Carter: TMP
• Reagan: TOS movies II through IV; first season and a half of TNG
• Bush the First: TOS movies V and VI; last half of TNG season 2 through first half of season 6
• Clinton: End of TNG plus movies VII through IX; the entire run of DS9; first six and a half seasons of Voyager
• Bush the Second: The last TNG movie; the last half season of Voyager; the entire run of Enterprise
• Obama: The first two Reboot movies, with number 3 coming out next year

Based on this my friend and I decided

• Johnson served during the "best part" of TOS, which coincided with the hippie idealism of the late 60s.
• Nixon saw the end of that idealism, and transitioned into the "fallow period" of Ford and Carter.
• Reagan (Morning in America) saw the beginning of the resurgence, when TOS movies came into their own, and "round 2" was started (in the form of TNG) with optimistic hopes.
• Bush Senior saw the continuation of that resurgence, combined with the "aging out" of the original crew.
• Clinton oversaw a booming economy, which coincided with the most active phase (so far) in Star Trek's history: three movies plus two series running in parallel
• Bush Junior oversaw the end of that booming period with the ending of Voyager, and the full run of the worst performing Trek series since the first run of TOS.
• Obama was elected with ideas of "hope" and "change", and has seen a new resurgence in the form of a "modern-style" reboot of the classic series.

The next president, whoever they are, may oversee the next reboot movie or two, plus the recently announced CBS streaming series. What would it be like? Would there be any similar metaphor based on *which* candidate gets elected in the end?

My cynical sense of humor predicts, if Donald Trump is elected (gods I hope not), we'll get something like "Star Trek: Ferengi".

 

[T'Girl]

My cynical sense of humor predicts, if Donald Trump is elected ...

There'll be a stronger neutral zone, and the Romulans will pay for it's construction.

 

[suarezguy]

I think there are some interesting parallels between the American politics and entertainment (including or, because of its themes, especially Trek) of different eras.

The original series reflected both the optimism and realism of both Kennedy and Johnson, belief that we could accomplish a lot but not pretending it would be easy or that we wouldn't encounter opposition.
TNG and to a lesser extent Voyager reflected the End of History beliefs and associated neoliberalism of Reagan, Bush and Clinton, the idea that the American political-economic system (liberal individualism, democracy and capitalism) had clearly proved superior to the others, future challenges would not be so severe, we can persuade still others to be more like us and we should take the principles of our system further and further. That there was so much Trek in the '90s I think relates to emphasis on individual choice and thus cable and niche programming.
DS9, Enterprise and the reboot movies reflect Clash of Civilization discourse (that more intense conflicts can emerge even without the conflicts being about economics) and, with Bush Jr. and Obama, associated emphases on security and nostalgia, more awareness that conflicts and dilemmas will continue but insistence that we don't have to and shouldn't compromise too much (somewhat sincere in the shows and more like an attempt to avoid debates by the presidents). There's more awareness that individual choice won't avoid or solve problems (including decreasing audience interest) and so there's a need to go back to what worked before.

With the next series being developed now, I doubt it will differ much from the preceding/current era but it probably will reflect more doubts about whether technology, individualism and inalienable individual rights will be adequate to solve problems but it won't be too dark, it will instead say we can gradually solve problems with unity/teamwork under the direction of a captain/president, much like the reboot movies have (which could be viewed as criticism of the Congress for not supporting past presidents and either Clinton or Trump).

 

[galad2003]

• Obama: The first two Reboot movies, with number 3 coming out next year

Thanks Obama!

 

[T'Girl]

Star Trek Eleven was produced largely while Bush was in office, iirc.

The new series will be aired under the next President (unless Obama signs a executive order giving himself a third term).

 

[JirinPanthosa]

I don't think the elected president will affect the show as no matter who wins the culture will be the same. Social progressiveness winning the cultural fight while the bitter old men react to it by digging deeper into their trenches. Fiscal conservatism combatting with entitlement culture in the center.

Just if hell froze over and Trump did win we may see more Admiral Leyton style villains. There's serious life imitates art going on here with Homefront.