A fascinating article, thank you. The term ‘world latrine culture’ is something I will be dropping into casual conversation now :)
I don’t know Romania at all but have some familiarity with chalga, the Bulgarian equivalent mentioned in passing here, due to a past relationship and visits to the country, so this was an engaging read.
I very much like your point about a ‘meta-culture’ under which we can list any vaguely ‘subaltern’ subculture celebrating violence and hedonism etc.; I would add to this an even broader anti-western meta-culture, something on display in the response to the recent Israel-Gaza crisis.
I think that this is quite a stupid article by an embittered expat, a common thing that love can do (for so many reasons that I can’t even begin to list — especially the point about Turkish suzerainty and genetic change), but I certainly agree that old barriers are rapidly breaking down nowadays.
The only thing you didn't mention is the 'VIATA MEA!' balladic subgenre.
People underestimate (do they? I think so) the influence this 'culture' had on support for Brexit. The thing is that this music, the aspirations it expresses and the manners and mores of its practitioners are near-hegemonic among Romanians (i.e. not only Gypsies) of a certain class.
A fascinating article, thank you. The term ‘world latrine culture’ is something I will be dropping into casual conversation now :)
I don’t know Romania at all but have some familiarity with chalga, the Bulgarian equivalent mentioned in passing here, due to a past relationship and visits to the country, so this was an engaging read.
I very much like your point about a ‘meta-culture’ under which we can list any vaguely ‘subaltern’ subculture celebrating violence and hedonism etc.; I would add to this an even broader anti-western meta-culture, something on display in the response to the recent Israel-Gaza crisis.
"intermarriage between Romanians and Romani gypsies was (and still is) otherwise very rare."
Would that it were true!
Was--yes, is--no...
An earlier article dealing with the topic, by somebody with whom I am completely unconnected:
https://www.amren.com/features/2017/12/is-romania-part-of-the-west-gypsy/
I think that this is quite a stupid article by an embittered expat, a common thing that love can do (for so many reasons that I can’t even begin to list — especially the point about Turkish suzerainty and genetic change), but I certainly agree that old barriers are rapidly breaking down nowadays.
NB: This is the editor, I did not write the article.
There is of course an easy solution to all this, just not very tasteful or kind by modern standards.
On re-reading I infer that you are not Romanian. But plainly you know the place *almost* as well as I do...
STRONG like
You MUST be Romanian no?
The only thing you didn't mention is the 'VIATA MEA!' balladic subgenre.
People underestimate (do they? I think so) the influence this 'culture' had on support for Brexit. The thing is that this music, the aspirations it expresses and the manners and mores of its practitioners are near-hegemonic among Romanians (i.e. not only Gypsies) of a certain class.