Abstract
Star Trek has long used its unique situation as a socially and politically engaged television show to approach contemporary, historical, and futuristic ideas of race, labor, gender, nature, landscape, and place . The concept of alternate perceptions of history continues to provide engaging insights into historical representation . This paper explores how Star Trek, as an example of performance, media, and popular culture, contributes to dialogues of alternate pasts, presents, and futures . It builds upon these concepts to engage with and influence geographical dialogues of public space, nature, geopolitics, and societal structure . I explore examples from the television show and the wider universe, particularly two episodes from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine that are both influenced by historical f igures and events and, through time travel, reveal their own historical narratives . While Star Trek continues to operate in fictional space, constructing an ‘idealized’ future and imagined landscapes, this paper recognizes that its influence shapes an experienced and an embodied sense of alternate past, present, and future
Recommended Citation
Rhodes II, Mark Alan
(2017)
"Alternative Pasts, Presents, and Futures in Star Trek: Historical Engagement and Representation through Popular Culture,"
The Geographical Bulletin: Vol. 58:
Iss.
1, Article 4.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/thegeographicalbulletin/vol58/iss1/4