Star Trek is often derided among the masses, but the truth is Star Trek has had an undeniable impact on American society. From the oft repeated, “Beam me up Scotty!” from the original series, to the “Resistance is futile” heard from the Borg from the Next Generation, Star Trek is everywhere. Not everyone wants to admit that they are a Star Trek fan, sometimes it is regarded as a guilty pleasure akin to watching daytime drama or the like. Perhaps the reluctance to admit ones enjoyment is linked to the common stereotype of the typical Trekkie fan. One usually envisions the Trekkie as a convention attending, Spock ear wearing nerd with hobbies of collecting Trek memorabilia, video games, or the serialized books. This is not always the case, and the fans cross all spectrum’s of American society, as the cultural impact of Star Trek shows up in many places.

Many of the references are taken from the original series starring William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy. Everyone is familiar with “beam me up Scotty” an oft repeated line from the show. It became so popular that during the 1980’s bumper stickers could be seen on automobiles sporting the quote, “Beam me up Scotty there is no intelligent life here.” Also, who hasn’t heard a dramatic reenactment of Capatin Kirk’s defiant scream of “Khaaan!” taken from Star Trek II the Wrath of Khan? How many times has a comedic portrayal of anyone overacting not been linked to William Shatner’s Captain Kirk? These are commonly seen in American culture. Similarly, the concept of “beaming” anyone anywhere is a direct reference to the series, as is the concept of warp speed to facilitate space travel.

While the original series and the movies that followed were beloved of the first fans, the second series, the Next Generation, opened up Star Trek to a whole new generation of fans. With Patrick Stewart cast as Captain Jean Luc Picard, the fans saw a calmer more collected Captain of the Enterprise. Similarly, despite Patrick Stewart’s lack of hair, many female fans found the new captain quite attractive, which doubtless served as a small inspiration for men suffering from hair loss everywhere. It was during the Next Generation that fans were introduced to the Borg, a race of aliens who would replace the Klingons as the “bad guys” of the galaxy. It is from them that we get the often heard, “Resistance is futile” line that has crossed over into American pop culture.

After the Next Generation, Star Trek fans were treated with other series as well. Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise are all well appreciated by fans. With the impending release of the new Star Trek movie in May, new and younger fans may be attracted to the franchise as well. These younger movie goers may be witnessing Star Trek for the first time, and prior to the screening may only know of the franchise through pop cultural references.