It was once the case that science fiction was an intellectual art form, pioneered by those interested in telling thought-provoking stories about the future of humanity. Titans of the industry like Arthur C Clarke, Frank Herbert and Isaac Asimov traded visions of the future, and we, the audience, marvelled at their ability to envision what had not yet come to pass.
Today, science fiction is a landfill. A corporately-dominated art form focused on producing straight-for-streaming children’s drivel.
In spite of this state of affairs, there is one remaining beacon of creativity in the arid desert of modern culture. This beautiful light in the darkness is sixty years old today, and it’s name is Star Trek.
Created in 1966 by visionary television screenwriter Gene Rodenberry, Star Trek was one of the most groundbreaking, progressive television programmes of the twentieth century.
A favourite of Martin Luther King Jr., the series was rife with discussion of philosophy and ethics, touching on complex issues like colonialism, race relations and wartime politics.
It starred characters who, unlike the oafish gunslingers of the Star Wars universe, were pacifists, intent only to explore the universe, and learn more about the worlds they inhabit.
The franchise’s original series, simply titled ‘Star Trek’ remains its most iconic iteration, but even today there are new additions to the franchise being made that are just as high quality and cerebral as the original adventures of Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock.
It may be that Star Wars and other franchises have translated better to the high octane, low attention span world of streaming and social media, but it is Star Trek which retains the true spirit of science fiction.
