Star Wars vs Star Trek. This Ends Here. This Ends Now.

Let’s look at the facts, shall we?

Creator’s Original Intended Audience

Star Wars: George Lucas simply wanted to make movies for the young and young at heart, similar to the movie serials he watched when he was a kid. Serials such as “Flash Gordon” and “Radar Men From The Moon.” There was no intent to create a “mythos leading to a paradigm shift in global human consciousness.” Many like to think of Star Wars as being something important. And it is in many ways. But it’s for kids. And for grownups that want to keep the kid within them alive. That’s it.

Hmmmmm. Where have I heard the name “Cody” before?

Star Trek: Although presented to producers as a “Western in space,” Gene Roddenberry’s actual intent was to create a show that challenged cultural, political and religious norms. The stereotype of Star Trek being “for geeks, living in their parents’ basement, because they don’t understand the world” is absurd. Trekkies probably have a better understanding of what a truly balanced and enlightened world is, based on reason and shared humanity, than most people that claim to be “good” because of whatever religion they practice. Star Trek is for grown-ups.

Genre

Star Wars: Fantasy. With a few strokes of a pen, Star Wars could easily be converted to a realm of magic, knights on horses and wizards carrying wands. It is not science-fiction. When questions of science arise, there is one cure-all: bypass the main power drive.

Star Trek: Science Fiction. Everything in Star Trek is based on actual science. Even if flawed. Even if only a pipe dream that humankind can only hypothesize about right now. Science. Nothing mystical.

Midi-chlorians need not apply.

Body of Work

Star Wars: 7 feature length films (including the animated “Clone Wars,”) 108 episodes of the television series “Clone Wars,” approximately 23 main characters.

Star Trek: 12 feature films, five different series, over six hundred episodes (including the animated series), approximately 43 main characters.

The amount of data for either franchise is significant. Regardless of one’s background or general inclinations, there are awesome things about both. Simultaneously, there are things within both realms that just really….really….should never have been put on the screen. <coughKazoncough> <coughHaydenChristensencough>


Part of the Brain Affected? 

Star Wars: Emotion. It deals with grand, all-encompassing, archetypal themes to which almost every human being can relate. Although many sub-themes can be found, it can all be boiled down to good vs evil. Intellect not required. Which is not a bad thing.

It’s ok to explore both.

Star Trek: Reason. Consistently puts under a microscope countless moral and ethical issues. “Aesop’s Fables” for our times. The constant theme of what it means to be a “good” humanoid in a universe where grey areas constantly intersect the actions of those within it.

Final Conclusion?

Do you prefer Pink Floyd’s theme-laden concept albums that wrench your heart out? Or “Never Mind the Bullocks” by the Sex Pistols, which is short, intense and rips at the social fabric? Do you prefer Beethoven’s symphonies with their massive movements and recurring themes that hit you on a gut level? Or maybe his shorter sonatas and chamber pieces, each individually evoking specific thoughts or emotions?

Do you prefer the buffet? Or just nuking a Hot Pocket?

Star Wars is a fantasy series, addressing the grand yet simple theme of good vs evil, reaching you on a gut level. Star Trek is a science fiction franchise that challenges one to think critically about many issues that affect humanity on multiple levels.

Comparing the two, although fun, is a waste of energy. An exercise usually carried out by those who love one franchise and just might not fully grok the other.

So next time someone asks you “Which is better? Star Trek or Star Wars?” You can simply respond, “That question is illogical. They both have their flaws. They both have their strengths. They’re both awesome. And only the Sith deal in absolutes.”

                                         

Stephen Sumner is the science fiction columnist for Action A Go Go. His favorite sci-fi series include Firefly, Battlestar Galactica and Star Trek. He can be followed on Twitter at https://twitter.com/VierLights or on the Tumblr machine at http://vierlights.tumblr.com/