‘…to build that optimistic future that is Roddenberry’s essential vision?’ That is very much going to be at the heart of Starfleet Academy.
I certainly hope so. Star Trek should be optimistic. The Federation is a utopia. We don’t need grungy pessimism. Every other sci-fi is already doing that.
I don’t totally disagree, but I don’t agree either. Star Trek touches on a lot of issues of today, just from a futuristic perspective. It uses aliens to talk about race, for example. It doesn’t ignore race issues because their society isn’t racist anymore. It just recontextualizes it so people of today will see it and internalize it, but they won’t be offended by it.
The thing that makes great sci-fi is using their lense to examine real topics of today. If it doesn’t do this then it can only be mediocre at best.
I certainly hope so. Star Trek should be optimistic. The Federation is a utopia. We don’t need grungy pessimism. Every other sci-fi is already doing that.
I don’t totally disagree, but I don’t agree either. Star Trek touches on a lot of issues of today, just from a futuristic perspective. It uses aliens to talk about race, for example. It doesn’t ignore race issues because their society isn’t racist anymore. It just recontextualizes it so people of today will see it and internalize it, but they won’t be offended by it.
The thing that makes great sci-fi is using their lense to examine real topics of today. If it doesn’t do this then it can only be mediocre at best.