What the Ferengi Can Teach Us About Leisure: An Inter-galactic Learning Experience

Abstract

Peeling back the layers of ancient societies reveals rich stories of pastimes. The art styles of the Kingdom of Kush, the foot races of Ancient Greece, the bread and circuses of the Roman Empire, the theatrical presentations in Ancient China, and the poetry of the early empire of Muhammad (Russell, 1999) all give students a peak at the depth and breadth of the history of leisure. But why stay in this Galaxy to study leisure? The planets of Betazed, Ferengi, Klingon, Cardassia, and Bajor offer opportunities to explore other dimensions of leisure in diverse societies. These Star Trek societies are the offspring of Gene Roddenberry and his colleagues. While there are many societies presented in the television series and movies of Star Trek, these five societies work particularly well when studying leisure.