The writing of (different) Romanies/Gypsies: Roma/Gypsy studies and scientific construction of Romanies/Gypsies
2009; University of Niš; Volume: 33; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês
ISSN
1820-7804
Autores Tópico(s)Soviet and Russian History
ResumoUsing the example of two Roma/Gypsy groups in the multiethnic Transylvanian village of Trabesh, the paper reconsiders the contribution of various anthropological approaches (essentialist and constructivist) to the theoretical foundation of Roma/Gypsy studies. The author reminds the reader that anthropologists may provide deep insight into individual cases, but they have to abstain from generalizing their data and assessing Romanies/Gypsies as a singular group. Therefore, the author concludes it is the task of anthropology to explain the process of Roma/Gypsy differentiation without any codification of Roma/Gypsy ethnicity. In describing the diametrically different markers of Trabesh Nomads and Gypsies in defining their own Gypsiness (manele music, Ţigani de matase /Silk Gypsies/, conversion to Pentecostalism), the author calls for a relational and flexible analysis of Roma/Gypsy diversity and gradual advancement of multidisciplinary Roma/Gypsy studies toward an interdisciplinary field.
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