The Voyages of Star Trek: A Mirror on American Society Through Time

Star Trek emerged alongside mini-skirts, bellbottoms, and VW vans; flourished in the shadow of Madonna, big hair, and greed; and expanded with computers, Beanie Babies, and religious revitalization. Star Trek survived the culture shock of 9/11 and experienced a revival in the era of yoga pants, hybrid cars, and Starbucks. After more than 5 decades, Star Trek is alive and well, still voyaging through space and time. But, why is that? How has this science fiction franchise managed to anticipate and adapt to such rapid culture change? In The Voyages of Star Trek: A Mirror on American Society through Time, authors K. M. Heath and A. S. Carlisle, investigate the enduring appeal of Star Trek, noting how it has mirrored, foreshadowed, and adapted to contemporary American culture from 1966 to the present. Through anthropological analysis, the authors examine the evolution of Star Trek by tying its storylines to events and developments in the U.S., assessing the extent to which the visual image of Star Trek is reflected on the screen from "snapshots" of randomly selected episodes and all of the films. By examining how Star Trek addressed contemporary social issues through a sci-fi lens over time, the authors postulate, Americans can better understand their own changing culture. If StarTrek can continue to anticipate and adapt to our rapidly changing world, then it should remain a part of the cultural landscape for another 50 years, truly going where few franchises have gone before.

Author: K. M. Heath, A. S. Carlisle
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Published: 11/16/2020
Pages: 228
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.05lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.56d
ISBN: 9781538136966


Review Citation(s):
Library Journal 08/28/2020 pg. 1
Booklist 10/23/2020
Choice 10/01/2021

About the Author
Kathleen M. Heath is an associate professor of anthropology at Indiana State University and the author of numerous articles on topics in archaeology, evolution, behavioral ecology, culture, and genetics. She merges her academic training in anthropology with her lifelong interest in science fiction and fantasy to explore how imaginary worlds can capture the hearts of millions of people from mainstream cultures, to counter-cultures, to sub-cultures. Ann S. Carlisle has a B.A. in anthropology. While a student at Indiana State University she began integrating her academic concentration in cultural diversity with her keen interest in science/speculative fiction, ultimately researching Star Trek as a phenomenon of American culture.