More than 50 years ago, Star Trek began its journey when it premiered as a television program in 1966. Since then it has spawned several motion pictures, most recently Star Trek Beyond (2016), as well as a number of television series. Star Trek as a franchise became a cultural phenomenon, making its way into popular culture with phrases such as “beam me up”, conventions for fans, and recognizable characters such as Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock. Created by Gene Roddenberry (1921–1991), the longevity of Star Trek speaks not only to its popularity but its willingness to address controversial topics. The series Star Trek: The Next Generation featured Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard, a captain of the starship Enterprise, and that cast was featured in four motion pictures released from 1994–2002. Eighteen years after their final film, CBS All Access premiered a 10-part, streaming series in 2020 titled Star Trek: Picard.
This podcast contains **SPOILERS**
This Postmodern Realities episode is a conversation with Journal author Robert Velarde about his online-exclusive TV review, “Star Trek: Picard and Transhumanism — Where No One Has Gone Before“.
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