The series came amidst the time of the Cold War where people were living in an environment full of conflict and change. Global empires were collapsing. Racial theories that were long upheld and supported are suddenly torn down. Liberation movements among colored races were gaining momentum. It was a time that saw the assassination of such historical figures such as John F. Kennedy and Malcolm X.

First, in this time of chaos, people were searching for a glimmer of hope. The show presented a uniquely utopian scenario of our science and technology in the future. This was a futur

In the field of psychology, it was theorized that the character of Mr. Spock had a surprisingly large appeal for women because of his intelligence and way of resolving conflicts. He goes about resolving conflicts through communication and cooperation instead of the more forceful or violent means. This is also parallel to the female process of conflict resolution. Also, the female audience may understand Spock's feeling of being alien. He is said to have a quality of 'otherness' that women also feel in their own societies.

Finally, after airing on television for more than twenty years, the characters on the show are like old friends. All these years, they have not changed their basic premise. It has remains true to itself, faithful to the world that it has created. "Characters are constant and don't suddenly act out of character". They are constant and offer no wild surprises for its audiences. It is not unusual complaints to pour in from avid fans concerning unusual star dates or mistaken lines. The world has changed at an alarming rate, but audiences always know that Star Trek will be there offering fodder for intelligent conversation, logic and reason. In the words of Russ Steffens, a Star Trek fan, "It seemed to me... that the world around me was totally out of control...But in the universe of Star Trek, everything seemed so sane."

Seventh, when Star Trek first aired in 1966, it lacked competition. Though termed as the Golden Age of science fiction, media was chock-full of detective stories, westerns and horror films. They explored ray guns and flying saucers but completely ignoring the possibility of space travel and the promise of adventures in space. Also, the series' contemporaries, Twilight Zone (1959) and Outer Limits (1963), were obviously meant to be stand-alone shows where each episode was independent of the other unlike Star Trek that took its viewers on a saga. Furthermore, it targeted an adult market as opposed to shows that appealed to the children's sense of imagination and fancy such as Lost in Space (1965). "Thus, from about 1970 to 1977 (release of Star Wars) Star Trek's playing field was enviously empty."

Third, Star Trek did not shirk the issues that it found in society. Instead, it tackled them. It acted as a social commentary for its audience. It addressed civil rights and put a black woman in a leading role in a major series for the first time. It was in this series that the first televised interracial kiss happened between a white Capt. Kirk and African-American Lt. Uhura, to the shock of many people. As a result, many people could identify with the situations presented in the series. Though it was set among the stars and in a future that would ideally occur four hundred years from that time, the problems and questions of morals and ethics were still present in the show. In the worlds of Patrick Stewart, better known to audiences as Star Trek: The Next Generation's Capt. Picard, when asked if Star Trek could work purely as science fiction without the morality content, "No...There was always an element of the parable sewn into every episode. The underlying themes and myths were often about 20th century society or larger philosophical or poetic themes. If you diluted that from Star Trek, you'd be left with a very ordinary series."

These are only some of the areas where the universe of Star Trek has infiltrated and influenced our own. Until now, it continues to show its audiences a mirror of themselves. Ultimately, it is the human factor that is credited for the show's longevity. The audiences see themselves and their own woes within the confines of the hour long show.

B. What changes has Star Trek: The Original Series made in society?

Second, the series provided common ground for its audiences. Together, they can discuss the stories, plots, themes and whatever they can read into the shows. Through it, they are able to unders

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