Barded

Last week a professor wrote on Facebook that they’d been experimenting with Google’s AI chatbot (“Bard”), and the news was not good. Bard had successfully produced college-level essays with appropriate citations. So they were throwing in the towel and would, from now on, be exclusively using blue book exams.

Now, my experience with ChatGPT has been that it does a poor job with content for my ‘normal’ political-science classes. But does do a better job when with material for my ‘politics of science-fiction class.’ That is, I was able to use it to produce middling, superficially plausible essays. I assume that this is because of the sheer volume of science-fiction analysis in its dataset.

So how did Bard do? For one thing, I didn’t need to pull any tricks. I just asked it straight out to give me a five-paragraph essay comparing the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode ‘The Outcast” to the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds episode, “As Astra Per Aspra.”

Here’s a sample of what Bard delivered:

Star Trek, throughout its long and storied history, has served as a mirror reflecting the evolving values of society. Two episodes, “The Outcast” from The Next Generation and “Ad Astra Per Aspra” from Strange New Worlds, stand as testaments to this evolution, exploring themes of prejudice and identity through the lens of distinct social issues. While both episodes confront discrimination, they do so in ways that showcase the franchise’s growth in its treatment of complex social justice issues and representation.

“The Outcast” grapples with the nascent question of android sentience and its implications for individual rights. Data, the beloved android officer, faces societal skepticism and legal challenges as he seeks the right to marry and be recognized as a sentient being. The episode’s focus on Data’s individual struggle, while poignant, reflects the early stages of Star Trek’s engagement with diversity. The narrative largely revolves around a clear-cut moral conflict between Data and Starfleet, with the resolution offering a hopeful glimpse into future acceptance.

“Ad Astra Per Aspra,” however, delves deeper into the systemic roots of prejudice and the complexities of identity in a colonial context. Una Chin-Riley, the ship’s First Officer, finds herself court-martialed for being genetically modified, a practice outlawed in the Federation. The episode tackles the issue of prejudice against those deemed “unnatural,” but unlike “The Outcast,” it presents a far more nuanced and morally ambiguous situation. Both sides of the argument hold merit, forcing viewers to confront their own biases and the historical legacies of discrimination. The episode’s ending, while less definitive than “The Outcast,” reflects the ongoing nature of the fight for equality, leaving the audience to grapple with the challenges that lie ahead.

Furthermore, the evolution of representation in Star Trek is evident in the way these episodes center marginalized identities. “The Outcast” primarily focuses on Data’s struggle, with other marginalized groups receiving less attention. In contrast, “Ad Astra Per Aspra” showcases Una’s identity not only as genetically modified but also as a woman of color, highlighting the intersectionality of discrimination and the need for multifaceted representation. This shift reflects the franchise’s commitment to inclusivity and its recognition of the interconnectedness of social justice issues

In conclusion, “The Outcast” and “Ad Astra Per Aspra” serve as valuable case studies in the evolution of Star Trek’s social commentary. While both episodes explore themes of prejudice and identity, they do so in ways that reflect the changing landscape of social discourse. “The Outcast” laid the groundwork with its focus on individual rights and clear-cut moral conflicts, while “Ad Astra Per Aspra” delves deeper into the complexities of systemic prejudice and intersectionality. By showcasing this evolution, Star Trek continues to serve as a powerful force for social justice, prompting viewers to confront their own biases and engage in critical self-reflection as they navigate the ever-challenging quest for a more equitable future.

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