Since its first airing in 1966, the television series Star Trek has become a worldwide phenomenon. Over the last five decades, Star Trek has mirrored and reflected on many socio-political...Show moreSince its first airing in 1966, the television series Star Trek has become a worldwide phenomenon. Over the last five decades, Star Trek has mirrored and reflected on many socio-political developments in American culture. Two critical socio-political aspects of post-war American culture that are explicitly explored within the various incarnations of Star Trek are the changing roles and identities available to women as well as concerns about the increasing complexity of racial identities in an increasingly multi-cultural and multi-ethnic America. This thesis explores the themes of gender and racial identity in three generations of the Star Trek series: The Original Series (1966-69), The Next Generation, (1987-94) and Discovery (2017-18).Show less
