STAGING ETHNICITY: CULTURAL POLITICS AND MUSICAL PRACTICES OF ROMA PERFORMERS IN BUDAPEST (original) (raw)
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The dissertation explores the concepts of authenticity and ethnicity implied in the music of Latvian Roma. The hybridity of Romany music does not it the national romantic, puristic idea of authentic ethnicity. Yet, authenticity is an essential concept of music and music-making for the Latvian Roma. This can be observed in the meaning of the Romany word "čačipen" (truth, genuineness), in the contemporary Romany discourse of ethnic identity and assimilation, as well as in the public “Gypsy music” image to which both Roma and non-Roma equally contribute. The research is based on fieldwork sessions with Latvian Roma, mostly lotfitka roma in Kurzeme region, that took place between 2002 and 2013. The dissertation follows up and discusses observations and ideas by Michael Stewart, Irén Kertész-Wilkinson, Allan Moore, Fredrik Barth and others. Keywords: Roma, music, authenticity, ethnicity, identity
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