Dark Mysterious Wanderers: The Migrating Metaphor of the Gypsies I. Representation in literature a. Often not given the respect of the capital letter in Gypsy i. The lower case “gypsy” is a derogatory slur1. Reflects the attitude that the Roma are not an ethnicity ii. The upper case signifies them as an ethnicity b. Slangs that are commonly i. “gyp” 1. To swindle or cheat c. The positive images of Gypsies i. The wanderers – they are passionate, mysterious and free1. These qualities are what make them romantic 2. What the Gadje value and long for II. The metaphors of the Gypsies in Media and society a. The metaphors go and back and forth between the Gadje and the Roma and affect both cultures i. Western culture won’t give up the idealized image (romantic) of the Romaii. The Roma may also not want to lose the image because it is a means of power1. They use reverse economic exploitation a. Ex: The Romani women play to the Gadje as being single mothers destitute needing to take care of children in order to get more money from the Gadje they sell to 2. Reinforces group cohesiveness a. Gives them all something to bond over – what ties them together as a people b. Many Gypsy subgroups do not share a common language and are in opposition together but these images gives them commonality III. The Erotic/Romantic Characterization of Male/Female Gypsies in Popular Fiction and Folklore a. the Male Gypsy i. tends to have a seductive quality ii. intended mainly for female audience 1. ex: romantic novels which tend to use “Gypsy” characters as the main romantic figure who is “dark, mysterious, and passionate”iii. the darkness characteristic of Gypsies 1. does not only refer to their generally darker skin but to their ‘dark’ associationsa. i.e. outlaw savagery – writers tend to use to create the attraction in the story 2. danger is associated with him and anyone who associates with him3. b/c of this he is an ideal lover and fulfills the seductive fantasy of stealing away the repressed housebound woman iv. tend to be antiquated rural travelers with horses v. how representation started 1. is threatening representation to non-Gypsy men 2. in Europe the Gypsy men were in close to the Gadje so this representation may have been created out of the fear that Gypsy men were home wreckers vi. the romantic depiction has fueled other derogatory stereotypes 1. thieves and criminals is the second most common a. thought to be credited to the sexual threat that non-Gypsy men feltb. this representation appealed to the Gadje women – backfired on the men b. the female Gypsy i. the sexualization is far from the reality of Roma culture 1. the Gypsy women have taken this and used it as an advantage ii. in Europe the Gypsy are presented as sexual, sensual, provocative and enticing 1. this came from non-Gypsies transferring their suppressed and unvoiced fears2. nothing about her is ordinary a. if she is pretty made outstandingly beautiful b. if she is old made into a crone c. if unmarried made to have extreme sexual attraction iii. the Roma’s reaction to the Gadje’s view of Gypsy women 1. they view Gadje women as identical to how the Gadje view Gypsies a. erotic and tend toward prostitution 2. they reinforce the Gypsy’s moral codea. the codei. they must remain a virgin until married ii. sexually faithful to her husband or risk being ostracized by her people iii. subordinate to husband’s orders iv. never alone in the company of another man v. dress restrictively iv. they are given in the economic world of the non-Gypsy 1. she is the main provider who sells goods and services to Gadje a. but because contact with the Gadje is seen as polluting to the Gypsy way the women are highly regulated2. women in the Gypsy culture are seen as dangerous and powerful between the clean (gypsy) and the unclean (non-gypsy) a. When they interact with the Gadje they are aggressive, manipulating powerful, and play to the erotic stereotype3. They will use stereotypes to give off the desired impression to the Gadje a. They manipulate the Gadje stereotype of women being the weaker sex in order to get a higher pay out b. They will adopt the “gypsy dress” in order to i. express their passionate personalities or to ii. identify with the erotic/exotic myth4. they are experts at giving the Gadje customer what they want by exploiting a. erotic paraphernalia b. religious symbolism c. new age mysticism d. changing their ethnic identity e. tailoring advertisements v. How the representation started 1. Because of differing cultural interpretation of sexuality a. Gypsies interpretation i. Breasts are not considered to be provactive or erotic1. May expose her breasts to anyoneii. The sight of her legs is shameful and disrespectful vi. The reason for restrictive gypsy codes of conduct and dress1. Made to ensure that group boundaries stay intact a. To a Gypsy you have to born into it i. i.e. you cannot become a Gypsy b. sexual relation with a Gadje is considered to be grounds forbanishment c. parentage with a Gadje is considered to be a dilution of group identity IV. How the Gadje and the Roma use the representations a. They exchange the images between the two culture tailoring it to their views and valuesb. the gypsies manipulate the Gadje with the lure of eroticism for more prosaic reasoni. have them buy fortune-telling services with no intention of delivering the sexual service 1. The standard storefront is actually attached to the house that the Gypsy family live. The store and the house are separated by a curtain to ensure that both the Gadje man’s behaviors and the woman’s behavior are sacrosanctc. The practice of fortunetelling drew hostility from the church and government officials i. They reacted so negatively because the uneducated were extremely attracted to the Gypsies’ power of predictable abilities and magical powersii. The practice became a justification for discrimination that developed into anti-gypsy laws and practices d. Gypsy men and image of royalty i. Use to get power and influence 1. Ex: visiting privileges at hospitals, space in funeral home and cemeteries2. They are given clout with police, social workers, judges, politicians ii. This came from rom baro meaning “big man” 1. The leader who handles internal problems and has a practical ability to deal effectively with the Gadje authorities 2. The role is not hereditary and the title of king was added for glamour and
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