The US-American TV-series STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE (1993-1999) claims to be humanist, multicultural and politically correct, just as other STAR TREK series and films did before. Gene Roddenberry’s humanist philosophy is analysed critically, as well as humanism and enlightenment in general. In STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE, an alien ‚race‘ called ‚FERENGI‘, who are described as the profitmakers, the ’shylocks of space‘, are characterised by using antisemitic stereotypes and myths. Old and new stereotypes and images can be found, concerning their outlooks, their behaviour, as well as their functions in the STAR TREK society: they are ugly, greedy merchants with huge ears. Their only motivation is profit. Those characteristics are criticised as socially constructed and the FERENGI are not taken as real ’natural‘ representatives for Jewish people. Antisemitism is understood as a basic ideology of bourgeois-capitalist society. Thus it is not surprising that the use of antisemitic stereotypes is widespread and can be found where no one would expect it. The FERENGI are approached here by analysing the tradition of science fiction aliens, the STAR TREK tradition as well as a general socio-political context.
Die Ferengi. Kaufleute, Geldverleiher und Profit-Geier aus der Fernsehserie Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Eine kommunikationsiwssenschaftliche Untersuchung zum Einsatz antisemitischer Stereotype und Mythen in 'multikultureller' Science Fiction