Hope at the Frontier: Firefly and the Value of Space Exploration

Abstract

Space is often defined as the final frontier. Historically, the development of the American frontier was an important pursuit that not only expanded the physical boundaries of the nascent nation, but led to the development of uniquely American values that came from overcoming the challenges associated with frontier life. As we begin to expand into the final frontier, it is likely that this pursuit will have a similar affect on the culture of a spacefaring humanity. Firefly, the 2002 television series created by Joss Whedon, draws out the analogy between space exploration and the frontier. Following the crew of a spaceship, Serenity, Whedon explores the kinds of values that are associated with life at the frontier, and reimagines them in a new context. This examination serves as a useful reminder of the consequences of exploration, and the possible effects it could have on defining a new culture.