From its groundbreaking premiere in 1966 to its modern reimaginings, Star Trek has boldly gone where few shows have gone before offering a varied and often critical lens into the complexities of race, gender, identity, otherness and the intricacies of authority.
This seminar will explore how Star Trek negotiates key cultural topics through strategies such as an interracial cast (The Original Series), engaging with xenophobia and depictions of otherness (The Next Generation, Enterprise), questioning colonialism and imperialist politics (Deep Space Nine), the inclusion of non-binary and queer relationships as well as presenting the dangers and potentials of A.I. and posthumanism (Discovery, Picard, Lower Decks).
Through a mixture of selected episode viewings, critical readings and seminar discussion this seminar will offer a rich exploration of how Star Trek has critically reflected key cultural process and developments over the span of six decades!
There will be a moodle room for this seminar containing additional information and the texts. |
