Changes

==Political themes==

==Political themes==

Producer Gene Roddenberry emphasized his “utopian vision” of humanity’s future. Following this vision, humanity is considered to have achieved perfection in Star Trek. This includes overcoming greed, hate, jealousy, as well as ethnic and national rivalries.<ref name=walker>Walker, J., [http://thiswastv.com/2012/08/29/same-as-it-ever-was-star-trek-after-gene-roddenberry/ Same As It Ever Was?: Star Trek After Gene Roddenberry], ''This Was Television''</ref> This is illustrated with the use a Russian man and a black woman as regular minor characters (Chekov and Uhura).

Producer Gene Roddenberry emphasized his “utopian vision” of humanity’s future. Following this vision, humanity is considered to have achieved perfection in Star Trek. This includes overcoming greed, hate, jealousy, as well as ethnic and national rivalries.<ref name=walker>Walker, J., [http://thiswastv.com/2012/08/29/same-as-it-ever-was-star-trek-after-gene-roddenberry/ Same As It Ever Was?: Star Trek After Gene Roddenberry], ''This Was Television''</ref> The vision is illustrated by the use a Russian man and a black woman as regular minor characters (Chekov and Uhura).

Negative characteristics are generally found only in alien races. In a typical episode, one alien race is trying to enslave another, and the Enterprise intervenes to restore balance. The principle of equality is thus applied universally, with the Declaration of Independence sometimes mentioned explicitly. In these episodes, the Federation stands in for the United States, while the villain species stands in for Communists or Nazis.<ref name=Cantor>Cantor, Paul A., ''Gilligan Unbound: Pop Culture in the Age of Globalization'', p. 46.</ref> In other episodes, an alien species is used to comment on imperfections in contemporary America. “Let This Be Your Last Battlefield” (Jan. 10, 1969) depicts a species divided into two races by skin color. For one race, the left side is white, and right side is black. For the other race, these colors are reversed.<ref name=Cantor/>

Negative characteristics are generally found only in alien races. In a typical episode, one alien race is trying to enslave another, and the Enterprise intervenes to restore balance. The principle of equality is thus applied universally, with the Declaration of Independence sometimes mentioned explicitly. In these episodes, the Federation stands in for the United States, while the villain species stands in for Communists or Nazis.<ref name=Cantor>Cantor, Paul A., ''Gilligan Unbound: Pop Culture in the Age of Globalization'', p. 46.</ref> In other episodes, an alien species is used to comment on imperfections in contemporary America. “Let This Be Your Last Battlefield” (Jan. 10, 1969) depicts a species divided into two races by skin color. For one race, the left side is white, and right side is black. For the other race, these colors are reversed.<ref name=Cantor/>

The early seasons of ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' suffered even more severely from the Roddenberry vision.  The character Q is used to parody God. Roddenberry’s skeptical view of religion is detailed in several dialogs between Q and Picard.<ref name=walker /> When Roddenberry’s health declined, he was replaced with Rick Berman. Berman created the ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''. This show breaks with the Roddenberry tradition by including various flawed human characters.<ref name=walker /> We even learn of secret Starfleet agency called Section 31, said to be responsible for various atrocities.   

In the original series, the military nature of Starfleet and the need for dramatic conflict limited the influence of Roddenberry's left-wing views. The early seasons of ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' suffered more severely from them. For example, the character Q is used to parody God. Roddenberry’s skeptical view of religion is detailed in several dialogs between Q and Picard.<ref name=walker /> When Roddenberry’s health declined, he was replaced with Rick Berman. ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'', a Berman creation, dramatically breaks with the Roddenberry tradition. It includes various flawed human characters, and we learn that Starfleet has a secret agency called Section 31 that is responsible for various atrocities. <ref name=walker />  

As the people of the Federation have access to goods in unlimited supply, it does not have a conventional economy. However, various characters are depicted as running small businesses such as vinyards and restaurants, presumably just for the fun of it.<ref>Yglesias, Matthew, “[http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2013/11/18/star_trek_economy_federation_is_only_mostly_post_scarcity.html The Star Trek Economy: (Mostly) Post-Scarcity (Mostly) Socialism]", ''Slate''. Nov. 18, 2013.</ref>

As the citizens of the Federation have access to goods in unlimited supply, it does not have a conventional economy. However, various characters are depicted as running small businesses such as vinyards or restaurants, presumably just for the fun of it.<ref>Yglesias, Matthew, “[http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2013/11/18/star_trek_economy_federation_is_only_mostly_post_scarcity.html The Star Trek Economy: (Mostly) Post-Scarcity (Mostly) Socialism]", ''Slate''. Nov. 18, 2013.</ref>

== Relationship Views ==

== Relationship Views ==