Star Trek vs Star Wars

posted on July 5th, 2011, 10:47 pm

Oh yeah, well I raise a B5 and call.

posted on July 7th, 2011, 5:07 am

Hm. I'd have to say that Star Wars is (and always has been) the more popular in the public eye, perhaps because it is primarily based in movies rather than series. Anyone can just sit and watch a movie, but Star Trek is based in series and you have to "work" to watch a series. It's also more focused on action and adventure, good vs. evil where as Trek has always been more about ethics and philosophy and relations.The former will always appeal to a larger audience than the later. How each does in the future I think depends on what direction they go.

The thing about SW is that it's really a closed story. It effectively revolves around about half a dozen people and to do a movie or series even about characters other than those characters could easily backfire. Add on top of that the fact that the events of what could be Episodes 7, 8, and 9 have been covered in hundreds of books. (I do believe though that Lucas had written up outlines or something for a 7, 8, and 9) And if Lucas were to make 7, 8, or 9 many could see it as some see JJ Trek - destroying, contradicting, and otherwise overwriting the books.

The difference with Trek is that it's less about the characters and more about the message; the series are not necessarily dependent on each other. You can easily explore and expand the Trek universe without damaging what was already created (as long as you're careful of course). I think what Abrams has done to Trek was a mistake. To trash the existing universe and create a new one will (and has) just drive people away. Better to create a whole new crew and chart the unknown. I'd say that the future of Trek will be determined by this next movie. Unless JJ does something to draw the fans of the existing series in it could easily tank Trek.

posted on July 7th, 2011, 5:29 am

@Atlantisbase

The Star Trek Universe is trashed so much it's a wonder why this sort of thing hasn't happened sooner. JJ's trek takes place in an alternate universe. Not only did that black hole send Nero and Spock back through time, but into a splitting universe. If you don't believe that look back into an Episode of TNG (Season 7) called "Parallels". Each and every action has a universe for every possible reaction. In one universe Nero never did this, and in another he did. The differense between standard Trek and JJ's Trek.

posted on July 7th, 2011, 5:13 pm

I know that, and I know all about the parallel universe theory; but I don't think it was necessary. The Star Trek universe is hardly so scrambled - and I don't really think it is at all - that you need to play the alternate universe card just to make a new Star Trek anything. JJ could have easily come up with a new crew in the existing universe and could even use that as a platform to launch a new series. All I'm saying is that I think it was a big mistake on his part.

posted on July 8th, 2011, 1:08 am

Yes he could have, but he wanted to reuse well established and well known characters.

posted on July 8th, 2011, 2:59 am

Well, are there any new star wars movies that are planned to come out?

I would have to go to star trek... I don't know if this is biased or not...

Star Wars has that cartoon series.

Star Trek has a fresh new movie thing (even if it is JJ).

Does star wars actually have a bigger fan base?

In summary, I have no idea.

posted on July 8th, 2011, 5:34 am

Yes he could have, but he wanted to reuse well established and well known characters.

Ok, but the point still stands, he did not need to play the alternate timeline card to do it. Granted it would be harder, but do-able.

posted on July 14th, 2011, 8:20 pm

Well, are there any new star wars movies that are planned to come out?

I would have to go to star trek... I don't know if this is biased or not...

Star Wars has that cartoon series.

Star Trek has a fresh new movie thing (even if it is JJ).

Does star wars actually have a bigger fan base?

In summary, I have no idea.

No, star wars oes not have a larger fanbase, just a more socially accepted one.

posted on July 14th, 2011, 9:42 pm

No, star wars oes not have a larger fanbase, just a more socially accepted one.

Really? To be honest, I've found that both have been accepted and acknowledged since I was a kid; and haven't noticed anyway be looked down on for liking one or the other. That's continued right up 'til now at Uni', where just about everyone will get a Trek or Wars reference.

posted on July 14th, 2011, 10:09 pm

I actually think its easier for a trek geek to blend into society, however there are lot more things making fun of trek than wars, most of which seem to revolve around spock. 

I would say that it is more socially accepted to be a star trek fan, and more obvious if you are a star wars uber geek.

[Tyler]

posted on July 14th, 2011, 10:14 pm

Last edited by Tyler on July 14th, 2011, 10:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Probably depends largely on where you live, I'd imagine things are less likely to be mocked in places they're more prominent. I usually wore a Star Trek shirt to college and barely got more than an odd look.

posted on July 14th, 2011, 10:17 pm

True, but shirts don't always get alot of attention. Where I live, you could where a Boba fett shirt and people would say 'cool' as they pass, and I could where my red 'expendable' shirt and get equal attention.  I think shirts are a bad example.

posted on July 15th, 2011, 1:58 am

Well, I can honestly say that almost everyone here is an anomaly in any fandom