"Boldly Going": Star Trek's Vision and the Spirituality of Fandom

Star Trek has shaped modern fandom in numerous ways that have had profound impacts on popular culture. I argue that fandom in general is best understood as a type of spirituality, a type of communal experience that provides key tools to the project of life integration. The Star Trek fandom in particular demonstrates this as the optimistic vision of Star Trek provides the necessary conditions for a fandom to thrive in the first place. This inclusive and diverse vision has shaped modern fandom as a whole, enabling it to be places of intense community and shared imagination. This is spirituality precisely because fandom is so central to the lives of millions, and Star Trek has influenced this like few other franchises.