Bit on-the-nose, no?
The moment Trump’s “Space Force” was announced, the idea was considered so absurd that it instantly inspired a Netflix comedy. Maybe Steve Carell should have waited a bit longer, as every additional announcement seems sillier than any comedic exaggeration. On Friday, Vice President Mike Pence announced that members of the U.S. Space Force will be officially be referred to as “Guardians,” a name “chosen by space professionals, for space professionals,” according to the tagline. Clearly, said space professionals are really, really into Marvel movies. At least, that was the reaction from Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn, who tweeted: Of course, the rest of Twitter joined in the fun, crafting jokes, memes, and comparing the institution to the imaginings of Hollywood screenwriters: Not to mention, the official Space Force logo bears a striking resemblance to that of the Star Trek franchise – it appears as though the institution is deliberately embracing pop culture tropes, perhaps an attempt to muster enthusiasm from an earthbound public, who are (understandably) more concerned with issues closer to home.
