Star Trek vs Star Wars
Although Star Trek and Star Wars are often confused due to the similarity in their names and the fact that they both explore space travel, they are in fact quite different. Star Trek is a science fiction drama, whereas Star Wars is a science fiction fantasy. Both have been made into movies, but their stories and themes are distinct from one another.
Key Takeaways
- Star Trek is an American television series created by Gene Roddenberry in 1966, focusing on the adventures of a Starfleet crew in space, and addressing themes such as imperialism, loyalty, sexism, class warfare, feminism, human rights, and peace.
- Star Wars is a movie franchise created by George Lucas, inspired by the Flash Gordon adventure serials, and set in a fictional galaxy with princes, princesses, and battles between good and evil. It deals with the concept of “the force” as an energy found everywhere, and its characters sometimes possess supernatural powers.
- While Star Trek emphasizes progressive and egalitarian ideals, Star Wars has more of an elitist and authoritarian philosophy.