The vision of the future.
Star Trek has touched many, many people with its socialist, humanist, atheist, progressive, enlightened vision of our future. Trek is at its best when it is moralising, philosophising and posing ethical conundrums [it's what gives a place like this forum so much to talk about]. If you look at Trek's best episodes [Measure of a Man, Inner Light, Far Beyond the Stars] they aren't about violence, villains, lens flare, cheap sexuality [OH HI JJ!] but about exploring the human condition and a great many difficult issues.
To me, that is why Trek has endured. Sure people say "da cool ships!" and "the technology!" but I think those things DON'T seperate Trek from other Sci-Fi [Star Wars, BSG, B5 etc] it is that outlook, soaked in positivity, that allows Trek to endure.
Star Trek has touched many, many people with its socialist, humanist, atheist, progressive, enlightened vision of our future. Trek is at its best when it is moralising, philosophising and posing ethical conundrums [it's what gives a place like this forum so much to talk about]. If you look at Trek's best episodes [Measure of a Man, Inner Light, Far Beyond the Stars] they aren't about violence, villains, lens flare, cheap sexuality [OH HI JJ!] but about exploring the human condition and a great many difficult issues.
To me, that is why Trek has endured. Sure people say "da cool ships!" and "the technology!" but I think those things DON'T seperate Trek from other Sci-Fi [Star Wars, BSG, B5 etc] it is that outlook, soaked in positivity, that allows Trek to endure.
