Creating and comparing myth in twentieth-century science fiction: Star Trek and Star Wars

This article examines the myths central to the science fiction films Star Trek and Star Wars. Both films not only take historical facts and make compelling stories from them, they also use culturally inherited myths and symbols synonymous with the very roots of western civilization. Myth is an important mode through which histories can be written and told, and the use of myth in Star Trek is no different. Star Trek is not alone in the manipulation of mythical science fiction; the Star Wars trilogy created by George Lucas was an attempt to bring back hope to a nation when it seemed in short supply in 1977.