Social Sciences Project Abstract
THE COLD WAR CONFLICT REFLECTED IN STAR TREK
Presenter:
Meghan Bannon, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, 1500 W. Sullivan Road Aurora, IL 60506;mb33doc@imsa.edu
Advisor:
James Victory, Ph.D., History and Social Science, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, 1500 W. Sullivan Road, Aurora, IL 60506; 630-907-5977; jvictory@imsa.edu
Abstract:
The fear and anxiety that American people felt because of the Cold War were reflected in the popular TV show, Star Trek. Many Americans feared the atomic bomb. Along with the apprehension of atomic warfare, issues of a communist take over pushed suspicion and dismay into the minds of the Americans. The creator of Star Trek, Gene Roddenberry, created characters of diverse ethnicities and used controversial topics to make Americans reflect upon their views. From the original 79 episodes, three were chosen to help identify the key emotions. Once identified, a background analysis of the Cold War was done to help link the two together.