Star Wars has more iconic music

The argument

A compelling argument for Star Wars over Star Trek is the unrivalled iconic status of its music. John Williams's score for Star Wars is among the most famous and beloved film music ever composed — a sweeping, symphonic body of work whose principal themes are instantly recognisable to people the world over, including many who have never seen the films. The main title fanfare, the 'Imperial March' associated with Darth Vader, the Force theme and 'Princess Leia's Theme' have entered the global cultural consciousness, played by orchestras, quoted in countless contexts, and recognised as shorthand for adventure, villainy and heroism themselves. The argument holds that this musical achievement is both artistically significant and central to the saga's power. Williams revived the grand symphonic tradition of film scoring, using recurring leitmotifs to give each character and idea its own musical identity, and the result is music that does much of the emotional work of the films — elevating their mythic scope, deepening their drama and binding the whole saga together. The score is not mere accompaniment but a defining element of what makes Star Wars feel epic, and its themes have proven extraordinarily durable, remaining as recognisable and stirring decades after they were written. While Star Trek has its own memorable themes, proponents argue, none has attained anything close to the universal recognition and cultural saturation of the Star Wars music, which stands among the greatest and most influential scores in cinema history. Music is a core part of what makes a saga moving and memorable, and here Star Wars is unmatched. Because Star Wars has more iconic music than Star Trek, this argument holds, Star Wars is the better of the two.

Premises

Counter-arguments

Critics reply that iconic music is one element among many and doesn't settle which franchise is 'better.' Star Trek's case rests largely on ideas — optimistic humanism, ethical and philosophical storytelling, and cultural and scientific influence — none of which a memorable score outweighs. They add that Star Trek has its own widely recognised themes, from the original series fanfare to Jerry Goldsmith's Next Generation music, so the musical gap is narrower than claimed. Choosing 'more iconic music' as the yardstick, they argue, cherry-picks a Star Wars strength while ignoring the dimensions on which Trek is often judged superior, so it doesn't establish overall superiority.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P1] Iconic music is one element among many and doesn't settle which franchise is 'better'; Star Trek's case rests on ideas — humanism, ethical and scientific storytelling — that a score doesn't outweigh. [Rejecting P2] Star Trek has its own recognised themes (the original series fanfare, Goldsmith's Next Generation theme), so the musical gap is narrower than claimed. [Rejecting P3] Choosing 'more iconic music' as the yardstick cherry-picks a Star Wars strength while ignoring the dimensions on which Trek is often judged superior, so it doesn't establish overall superiority.