Star Trek

san francisco, ca

John Putman at http://whatculture.com says it way better than I could
Star Trek’s commercial influence—disappearing transporter coffee mugs, replica ships models, action figures, t-shirts, and even the Klingon bat’leth I have hanging on my office wall—would be impressive enough. Yet, even academics ranging from sociologists and physicists to religious studies scholars have produced numerous articles, books, and dissertations scrutinizing the meaning and impact of Star Trek. College students can take anthropology, sociology, information studies, and even history courses like mine that use Star Trek to explore American culture and society. Science fiction shows like Star Trek offer a unique avenue to investigate important issues or ideas because the genre has traditionally attracted authors and artists who wish to offer social and political commentary. Star Trek creator Eugene Roddenberry, for example, consciously developed his series to address important issues like war, race, sex, technology, and the human condition that 1960s television largely ignored.