Exemplary Romas and their Identification Patterns

Povedák, István (2016) Exemplary Romas and their Identification Patterns. In: Religion, Culture, Society. MTA-SZTE Vallási Kultúrakutató Csoport, Szeged, pp. 116-133.

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Abstract

The aim of the study is to present exemplary figures found in Roma cul - ture. The author distinguishes two main types: Roma exemplary figures arising from official knowledge and from informal knowledge. He includes in the former category historical heroes, artists and stars, while the latter comprises everyday heroes (unheroic heroes). One of the main conclusions of the study is that the Romas either have only superficial knowledge of the Roma exemplary figures existing in official knowledge (e.g. historical heroes, artists), or they project a ste - reotypical image of Romas (e.g. celebs), that make them unsuited to promoting Roma integration. Then, through the example of the community-shaping influ - ence of the Cursillo chorus of the Gypsies in Szendrőlád who have converted to Catholicism, he shows how everyday heroes can provide the identity-shaping influence that is present only superficially in the cult of historical heroes, and as a consequence how they can become foundation stones of Roma integration.

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