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Barbie success as progressive media (Dean Obeidallah scan and opinion) stands out as Paramount seems to be less confident in representation in Star Trek. (www.cnn.com)

submitted 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Barbie has been a summer juggernaut as a cinematic feature despite outrage from the right in the United States. Dean Obeidallah argues that conservative boycotts and backlash only have traction in specific niches where their adherents are the majority of the market.

One wonders if Paramount will take note as they strategically rebrand their streaming offerings. Unfortunately, it seems they’ve been headed in the other direction.

While Discovery led the way in representation across many diverse groups, some of us have been concerned that Picard season three pulled back to more traditional gender roles and an emphasis on white cis-male heroes. SNW has a large female main cast, but the OG female command officer Number One doesn’t seem to be getting much opportunity to show heroic leadership.

Thought this conversation might be less fraught over here at Quark’s.

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[–] [email protected] 14 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Interesting point. I do find it curious how Disco in particular caused such a massive brouhaha (even among existing fans) for being overtly sanctimonious when it was SO much quieter about it's politics compared to the other series. On TOS Kirk would essentially look directly into the camera and demand race-integrated schools. TNG's preachiness reached after school special levels of eye-rolling half the time. But Disco shows two gay men brushing their teeth and that's what upsets you?

Another example: I don't think it was possible for Adira's five-second coming out scene to be any more concise or unremarkable than it was and yet "shoved down our throats" was a common refrain. What exactly was shoved? I don't expect reactionary media to be logical, but I also don't know how anyone who actually watched the show could call it more performatively political than the previous series.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 years ago

Succinctly well said, and I agree.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Lower Decks is quite progressive. On SNW some of the characters and ranks were created in the 60’s. I think they’re doing a great job.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

Star Trek has been super progressive through this era - Discovery, Lower Decks and Prodigy.

It’s the cancellation of Discovery and Prodigy that’s giving people pause along with Picard season three’s in repentant targeting of the vocally unhappy mostly male YouTuber old fans.

The concern that I seem to be seeing is around whether the announced a corporate shift in strategy at Paramount to target the middle American popular market means less representation and less progressive Star Trek.

The franchise is one of Paramount’s biggest. With Paramount’s its stated streaming strategy reliant on ‘ Franchises, Familiar Faces and Fandoms, how could there not be pressure on Kurtzman to shift the shows towards serving that middle popular demographic.

Put that in the context of an active attempt to sell off BET, pulling back on the MTV brand, and one can appreciate why fans in diverse countries would be uneasy.