Much more than sci-fi, Star Trek is a multigenerational social engineering tool.
Rather than focus on just one particular movie or TV series, I decided to do a general outline of themes of psychological influence that pervade the entire franchise.
Psychological Themes In Star Trek Series (Movies and TV shows)
1. One world government as the only way to the stars.
2. Collectivism (Spock’s famous line – The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few)
3. Order-following as necessary and virtuous
4. Atheism
5. Non-conformists purveyed as evil.
In Star Trek, all “advanced civilizations” (ones capable of interstellar travel) are shown to have a centralized world government. This is done intentionally to propagandize the viewer not only by reinforcing the harmful belief that “external government is good”, but also it plants the seed that overt world government is inevitable, and desirable.
This, of course, in practice, would be incredibly harmful and destructive to the human condition.
Why?
If we look at the history of the 20th century, we can learn that large, central governments were (and still are) responsible for the highest numbers of unnatural deaths. This was proven in a detailed study by Professor R.J. Rummel at the University of Hawaii.
https://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/MURDER.HTM
Based on this pattern, how could it be conceivable that by centralizing more, over the entire planet, that suddenly this enormous, murderous cult would become benevolent and lead humanity into the stars, for the benefit of all? Utter nonsense.
Number Two. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. This is collectivism.
This begs the question: What about the natural rights of everyone?
A striking example of collectivism at its darkest is in China. For decades, people with more than one child were literally chastised for “taking food from others mouths”. Having a second child was perceived as selfish and “harmful to the collective”. Neighbors would rat each other out to “government”. Then some psychopaths from “government” would show up and murder the baby.
Spock’s famous line sounds good in theory, but in practice, is an utter horror show.
Number 3, order following as a virtue. Military terminology is clearly used in Star Trek, despite the claim that they’re on a peaceful journey of exploration.
News flash: Order-following is NOT a virtue. Order-following is one of the root causes of all misery in human history. Soldiers and police blindly following orders (and then having the audacity to try and justify it by saying they were “just following orders”) and suppressing the rights of others. Not only that, but murdering countless lives down through history.
Number Four. Atheist symbolism stares the viewer right in the face during every Star Trek story. The communicator on each crew member’s chest has a design eerily similar to Atheist symbolism. The two symbols are far too similar to be mere coincidence.
Star Trek Badge
Atheist Symbol
Finally, non-conformists are shown to be evil in Star Trek. The most common one throughout the various series is the Klingons. They are viewed as outsiders because they do not wish to join the “United Federation of Planets” (collective). And, of course, they’re shown to be crude and overtly violent, which presents the viewer with the simple connotation that “outsiders are bad”.
Bitter clingers, anyone? They’re called Kling-On for a reason, because they cling onto their lifestyle and traditions and don’t want to join the collective. Therefore, they’re the number one enemy of the collective.
One last thing I’d like to note. In all Star Trek series, the symbol of the collective (United Federation of Planets) is basically a UN symbol. I’m sure that’s just a coincidence, though, for all the coincidence theorists out there. There isn’t any psychological purpose behind it. (dripping sarcasm)
United Nations Symbol
United Federation of Planets Symbol from Star Trek
Thanks for your time and attention!
Just say "NO" to slavery!
All above images are from wikipedia and wikimedia.
I literally have never thought about it that way before. I know a lot of movies manipulate their stories to pass their views but it never occurred to me Star Trek was one of them. Thank you for this. I don't know if I agree 100% yet, but I'll definitely go reflect on this
Thanks for the kind comment. If one studies symbolism and psychology, it's amazing what can be found embedded in Hollywood films.
It's all about what you are looking for and your perspective going into the viewing.
I do think you are right about all of the points you mentioned about the series, but at the same time I believe Hollywood writes everything as a double edged sword: to weaken the masses who don't have access to metaphysical knowledge, and strengthen the elite who do.
The reason the 1% parasitical elite are in the position of power that they are in is because they have access to, are taught and understand metaphysical principles that are kept as "secrets" from the general masses. These principles are taught and communicated through Hollywood productions obviously to those who are privy to the metaphysical knowledge along with the affirmation of a feeling of being in control and accepting responsibility for everything that happens in the physical universe, while simultaneously are designed to weaken, instill fear and lead the unsuspecting entity down a rabbit hole of confusion and an overwhelming feeling that outside influences control your life in this physical existence.
Not that I endorse or condone logging or using trees for construction, for metaphorical purposes, imagine you are able to expand your vision and when you see an acorn, instead of thinking "Food for Squirrels" or maybe even "Trees!" you think... "Buildings" "Hotels" or even "Cities," then you are practicing depth of vision.
Apply the same depth of vision to observations like film.
Look beyond the trite physical implications.
For example, Star Trek does an excellent job of implying that when the ingenuity of technology has been exhausted even to the extent of interstellar human travel, there is still an unexplainable level of existence and energy that can physically effect them and put them into situations they can't control or explain with scientific validation, but it remains undeniably real. For example, take Que in Next Generation. An exaggerated comical rendition of an extradimensional being interacting with third dimensional reality.
Maybe observing the fictional day to day interaction with various non-human lifeforms across the universe could be used as a subtle form of disclosure, gently preparing the average person for the reality that they aren't the only intelligent lifeform in the cosmos.
You, the observer, are always in complete control of the psychological implications of what you are observing, unless you give that power away by your own choice... which, admittedly, most people do.
Take 100% responsibility for everything that happens in your life, both good and bad. You are the Maestro, and the physical life experience you observe is your canvas. The calvary isn't coming. No one is coming to save you. No one is coming to destroy you. Everything that comes into your experience, whether you perceive it as "positive" or "negative," you created. So take responsibility for it, and stop giving away your power to the parasitical elite that are using it against you. Not directed at you personally, meant as a general "you" to the people reading. :)
Thanks for the very detailed and thorough comment. You make many salient points. There is one thing you mention, in the final paragraph, which seems to be false. I am not, nor is anyone else, 100 percent responsible for everything that happens in their own personal life. There are billions of other people on the planet that make choices and take actions that do effect me, and all others, to a certain extent.
I am 100% percent responsible for everything that happens in my life. The billions of people forming the collective experience only have an effect on me if I allow them to by reacting to their stimulus with my thoughts and emotions. It is solely my reaction or response to the outside stimulus that creates my experience, not them influencing or having power over me.
Wow. I recently saw this video about Star Trek Federative of Planets being fascist.
Like Ayn Rand said, communism and fascism are two thugs fighting for the same flag: collectivism.
No matter under what light you see it, you can see
... and so on.
Great post that made think deeper in this funny subject.
Thanks @sansoncarrasco, for the insightful comment. The Fed as provider of justice slipped past me, but you're right. Another centralized theme in the series......How about live long and disobey?
Long live and DISOBEY!!!!
That's great, by the way, as a weird fact, here in Venezuela a governor-elected took his oath using the vulcan salute:
Source
LOL, wow! Thanks for sharing.
OMG I grew up watching Star Trek and was my favorite show. They implanted ideas of fascism and NWO ideology into each show. I can see it now. Boy was I naive. Clever to get a generation hooked on these ideas. There should be a capitalist counterpart to combat this. Thanks @steeminganarchy for making m even more awake.
Thanks @enjoywithtroy. I also grew up watching Star Trek. The Next Generation was part of my routine. I still enjoy a good Trek flick, but now, thankfully, I have intellectual self-defense to dodge the propaganda effects.
Thank you for this article- I've always known about Star Trek's one world order message and of course this ties in with all of the psy-ops behind Hollywood- but this article is fantastic for taking two specific things that I happen to love (Star Trek and anarchy), and breaking it down in an informative and thought provoking manner.
Thanks very much. Yeah, there's no shortage of authoritarian messages coming out of Hollywood. I started this movie analysis series in order to contrast the toxic messages from Hollywood with true liberty. Hopefully this work will help more people come to an understanding of true anarchy, morality, and liberty. Thanks for reading, and for caring!
"The strange phenomenon of our times—one which will probably astound our descendants—is the doctrine based on this triple hypothesis: the total inertness of mankind, the omnipotence of the law, and the infallibility of the legislator. These three ideas form the sacred symbol of those who proclaim themselves totally democratic."—Frédéric Bastiat, 1850.
Gene Roddenberry was an idealistic socialist who took the idea of benevolent progressive government as a given. One of the things I liked about DS9 was how it stripped away a lot of the idealism from Roddenberry after his death, and at least alluded to some of the problems the Federation presented.
Wow, @jacobtothe, thanks for that awesome Bastiat quote! It's funny, I didn't read Bastiat until after I learned about Natural Law. "The State" and "The Law" were great reads. His writing style, superb.
Re fucking steemed because Anarchy!
i like your idea,i like movie,movie nature,movie place etc
Okay... I think this is your best analysis yet.
Thanks, man. Yeah, I'm pretty happy with it. It turned out well.