Stargate SG-1 is a lot more anarchic than Star Trek ever gets. Most of its episodes are about a group of people that almost always relies on knowledge/expertise rather than rank for decisions, trying to do their best to give societies the tools for their own liberation.
In Star Trek, it is presented as enlightened that the protagonists will let a genocide happen if its victims are too primitive to have rights (“prime directive”). In Stargate, every injustice is worth fighting against and every person is worthy of fighting it.
In Star Trek, challenging a captain’s bad decision is misconduct. In Stargate it’s common sense. In Star Trek, slavery gets being reinvented by the good guys because beings aren’t worthy of rights until proven otherwise. In Stargate, slavery requires a revolt.
The main propaganda of Stargate is that the US would facilitate this behavior, rather than seeking its own imperial supremacy.
I understand doubting whether people have this interpretation. At least an uncritical watcher of Star Trek will act like a white savior starfleet officer and help until they find some reason to judge you. Uncritical Stargate watchers might actually believe the US military tries to help people structurally and support them.
Formenting in-group-friendly regime change can be good or bad, depending on what sort of behavior is construed as “-friendly”. Some of my best friends forment in-group-friendly regime change.
SG-1 destroyed what would have been a very profitable ally because they were space nazis, and they helped space native Americans protect their land against destructive US mining practices.
Like with any show it’s best to enjoy it critically. I enjoy SG-1 despite it positively depicting a space CIA just like I enjoy TNG despite it positively depicting a space British Royal Navy flagship.
Suspected rabid imperialist of their favorite air force propaganda less than zero trust.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’d like to draw your attention to this particular exchange from SG-1 S01E16:
They were always a little coy about the propaganda angle.
Stargate SG-1 is a lot more anarchic than Star Trek ever gets. Most of its episodes are about a group of people that almost always relies on knowledge/expertise rather than rank for decisions, trying to do their best to give societies the tools for their own liberation.
In Star Trek, it is presented as enlightened that the protagonists will let a genocide happen if its victims are too primitive to have rights (“prime directive”). In Stargate, every injustice is worth fighting against and every person is worthy of fighting it.
In Star Trek, challenging a captain’s bad decision is misconduct. In Stargate it’s common sense. In Star Trek, slavery gets being reinvented by the good guys because beings aren’t worthy of rights until proven otherwise. In Stargate, slavery requires a revolt.
The main propaganda of Stargate is that the US would facilitate this behavior, rather than seeking its own imperial supremacy.
I understand doubting whether people have this interpretation. At least an uncritical watcher of Star Trek will act like a
white saviorstarfleet officer and help until they find some reason to judge you. Uncritical Stargate watchers might actually believe the US military tries to help people structurally and support them.Shal’kek nem’ron.
Alternative interpretation: SG-1 team is basically the galaxy class cia, fomenting usa-friendly regime change on every planet they encounter.
Formenting in-group-friendly regime change can be good or bad, depending on what sort of behavior is construed as “-friendly”. Some of my best friends forment in-group-friendly regime change.
SG-1 destroyed what would have been a very profitable ally because they were space nazis, and they helped space native Americans protect their land against destructive US mining practices.
Like with any show it’s best to enjoy it critically. I enjoy SG-1 despite it positively depicting a space CIA just like I enjoy TNG despite it positively depicting a space British Royal Navy flagship.
Yup.