Abstract
As one of the most enduring television franchises of the late 20th century, Star Trek has had an unparalleled influence on the popular culture representation of humanity’s future as ultimately utopian . In this paper, however, I argue that even as the on-screen text of Star Trek was condemning the narrow parochial interests of nationalism, greed, xenophobia and fear, the narrative subtext throughout the fifty years of the franchise supported the idea of the expansion of western hegemonic power . The paper utilizes examples from all f ive series and the thirteen films to illustrate the ways in which western liberal ideas such as individualism, self-determination and economic integration are woven throughout the on-screen narrative . This sub-text of the superiority of western liberalism both mirrors the geopolitical realities of American power in the late 20th century and recapitulates the manifest destiny narrative of 19th century US western expansion .
Recommended Citation
Davidson, Fiona M.
(2017)
"Owning the Future: Manifest Destiny and the Vision of American Hegemony in Star Trek,"
The Geographical Bulletin: Vol. 58:
Iss.
1, Article 2.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/thegeographicalbulletin/vol58/iss1/2