“At it’s absolute worst, Star Trek is a plaid-pants, golf course, Republican version of the future, where white men and American values always predominate (despite blatant tokenism) and gun-boat diplomacy saves the day.”
To be fair, when people who hold this type of attitude are allowed the reigns to the franchise, it results in something very far removed from the spirit of Star Trek.
And yet...the quote is from Nicholas Meyer in 1991 in an article for Omni Magazine during the then-upcoming release of ST VI: TUC.
Meyer was the one who got the TOS film franchise back in track and directed the most popular TOS film, if not most popular ST film of all time, ST II: TWOK.
I bought this old magazine in a comic shop and just read it last night. I was surprised that that particular criticism of Star Trek was made way back in 1991, and not today.
I’ve noticed a lot of YouTube critics make what seems like politically conservative arguments against modern Trek. That’s fine, if done respectfully. But they come across as ignorant to the history of Star Trek and film criticism/analysis in general. Even back then an “outsider” was making what would be considered an “SJW” criticism of Star Trek, and yet he made two of the best installments in the TOS film franchise. I found it pretty interesting and enlightening.
Criticism is fine, but provide some context and knowledge if you’re going to do it in a professional capacity.