The making of the Gypsy

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

Roma are the largest minority in Europe, with almost 12 million people who identify themselves with this ethnic group. Yet, very little is known about this diverse community, and the scarce knowledge is mediated by images and information that build on and perpetuate prejudices and stereotypes. In order to separate the pejorative portrait from the voices of the Roma, we will be using the term Gypsy to tackle the imagined figure, while we will employ Roma to refer to the real people with experiences and struggles. This course will examine the construction of the Gypsy as the embodiment of the Other in different European cultural productions, but mainly focusing on Spain and Italy. Through the close reading and analysis of different texts (academic articles, theatre plays, films, poems, news) we will attempt to understand the creation and impact of the imaginary Gypsy, as the foundation of Antigypsyism. Simultaneously, we will explore the responses from the Roma community. Our perspective will not only observe Roma as objects of representation, but as authors, directors, and activists, as agents of change.