Announcing an Online Lecture Series - Warp Speed Woke: How Star Trek Took on Society
Hey there, Trekkies, nerds, and lovers of history! 🚀
I’m so excited to announce a new online lecture series, Warp Speed Woke: How Star Trek Took on Society, where we’ll dive deep into the political and social messages hidden in everyone’s favorite sci-fi franchise.
Many of you already know this, but I wrote my Master’s thesis on this exact topic. Yep, I spent hours (and hours!) at Leiden University dissecting Star Trek to uncover how this “futuristic” series mirrors our history and tackles big issues. You can check out the whole thing if you’re curious about the nitty-gritty—click here to read my thesis.
Course Overview: What’s in Store Each Week
Week 1: The Original Series – Beam Me Up, Out of the Cold War
We’ll explore how TOS tackled civil rights and Cold War fears, from racial integration to radical visions of unity.
Week 2: The Next Generation – Diplomacy, Gender Benders, and Late ’80s Optimism
Dive into TNG’s post-Cold War vibe, as the crew faces issues like terrorism, diplomacy, and gender identity.
Week 3: Deep Space Nine – Space Religion, Dark Wars, and the Imperialist Complex
DS9 doesn’t shy from gritty topics like war, religion, and moral ambiguity, making us question our values in conflict.
Week 4: Voyager – Glass Ceilings and Space Feminism
Join Captain Janeway and Seven of Nine as we discuss feminism, leadership, and the challenges of representation in the ’90s.
Week 5: Enterprise – Trek After 9/11: Paranoia, Terror, and All-American Angst
Enterprise reflects post-9/11 anxieties, shifting to a militaristic tone that examines America’s fears and ethics in crisis.
Pricing and Access
Each live session will be $5 (or $20 for the full series). Recordings and bonus content will be available exclusively to premium Substack subscribers, perfect for anyone who can’t attend live. There will be a lecture and Q&A time.
How to Pay:
Access to the live lectures (held on Zoom) will be provided via a link. You can pay for the course via paypal. Please include the email address you’d like to receive the link through when paying (or email me at professormeredith@outlook.com with a screenshot of the payment to verify.)
If you are only paying to attend one session, please specify which session you wish to attend.
If you wish to view the recorded lecture here on Substack, you will need to subscribe to the paid option ($5 a month) to access them here.
Date/Time:
The lecture series will be held in January and February (so you have plenty of time to subscribe and/or give it as a gift for the holiday season if you have a Trekkie in the family).
January 12th - Week 1: The Original Series – Beam Me Up, Out of the Cold War
January 19th - Week 2: The Next Generation – Diplomacy, Gender Benders, and Late ’80s Optimism
January 26th - Week 3: Deep Space Nine – Space Religion, Dark Wars, and the Imperialist Complex
February 2nd - Week 4: Voyager – Glass Ceilings and Space Feminism
February 9th - Week 5: Enterprise – Trek After 9/11: Paranoia, Terror, and All-American Angst
Time: 2pm EST (11am PST)