The final frontier

The idea of delving deep into the territory of the unknown has inspired any a mind
throughout the centuries to create grounds for understanding things “beyond” (Poe’s opioid-
infused dreams, M. Shelley’s horror story, Lovecraft’s works, Neil Gaiman among many
others). While history is full of the idea of venturing into strange lands, one of the most
influential pieces of graphic art was only created in 1966.
“Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year
mission: to explore strange new worlds. To seek out new life and new civilizations. To boldly
go where no man has gone before!”1
There are no grander words to open a series on exploration and endless adventure than
the ones spoken by the main protagonist of the original Star Trek2 television series. The series
itself depicts the journey of a starship and its crew through the distant depths of space –
travelling at (and above) the speed of light towards distant galaxies, being the forerunners of
human civilisation, its emissaries, if you will – all on their own, left to their technology, their
wits and occasionally, their brawn.
The series, eventually becoming a global franchise, acquiring millions of fans and
followers, with its sequel series “The Next Generation”3 becoming one with late-20th-century
computer intellectualism (and smelly nerds who live in their parents’ basements and only see
daylight on their way to a Star Trek convention) nevertheless represents the ever-growing and
adaptive idea of the American Frontier perfectly.
The idea of the spaceship Enterprise, a vessel with a set crew exploring the vastness of
space reminds one of the settlers of the old west, setting off with their close relatives or
friends in a chariot or small group of chariots to faraway places seeking their future. While the
aim of the aforementioned expeditionary ship was not to settle but to explore, the motive
aside it marks a resemblance to the process itself – travelling large distances, exploring
unknown land, encountering unknown obstacles and overcoming them relying mostly on their
wits and ingenuity.
Since the series itself ran from 1966 to 1969, several traits of the idealized “Wild West”
characters can be found in its protagonists. The narrative sequence of each episode can be
simplified (extremely) into the following: crew meets unknown, crew encounters difficulties,
crew overcomes difficulties. With this, the series drives home the idea of a mix of an explorer
who goes against the wild, who has to survive in nature and the rugged hero struggling against
other civilized beings.
 The protagonists fall into several categories that could be interpreted as a trait of the
hero of the old west. In the leading role is the strong captain who is witty, definite masculinity
coming off of him in waves, capable of commanding respect and admiration and defending
what belongs to him either with bare hands or with phasers*. The first officer represents
intellectual superiority and strength unparalleled, while the main cast includes the strong,
independent woman of great use to her shipmates, the haggard doctor known for his
individualism and the ingenious engineer without whom everything would go downhill.
This team, supported by the obligatory sacrificial crewman accompanying them to
dangerous missions, grows into a family and expands the horizons of the Federation of
Planets* – and after all, that is what the notion of the American Frontier represents: we as
individuals are strong, and through our strength we have forged something greater than
ourselves: The United States of America.

1
J.T.Kirk, USS Enterprise, actor: William Shatner; Star Trek, Created By Gene Roddenberry;
September 8, 1966 – June 3, 1969, NBC
2
Star Trek; Created By Gene Roddenberry; September 8, 1966 – June 3, 1969, NBC
3
Star Trek: The Next Generation, Created By Gene Roddenberry; September 28, 1987 – May
23, 1994; Paramount Pictures
*23rd century laser guns pew pew
**Federation of Planets: definitely not to be confused with any kind of confederation, because
confederation is bad, hurr durr