Description

For many people the word Gypsy evokes an air of mystery and romance and scenes of unbridled dancing, fortune-telling, music, and brightly painted caravans of horse-drawn carriages.

The word “Gypsy” has become synonymous with the kind of wanderlust and exhibitionism we find tempting and dangerous, fantasies kept hidden deep within ourselves, rarely acted upon. No other ethnic group in the world has its name so popularly used as an adjective by an artist (all too often written with a small “g”) and advertisers to sell their products or alternatively, as a pejorative. The classes in this series will examine who the Roma (coming from the Sanskrit word for man) people really are and their unique place in European history and world culture.

Wed., April 3: The History of the Roma from Rajisthan to Europe (1000-1700)
This lecture will focus on the origins of the Roma and their dispersion throughout Europe from the British Isles to the Ural Mountains. We will also look at why certain negative stereotypes about the Roma began.

Wed., April 10: The Porajmos: The Roma and the Holocaust (1933-45)
We will examine the origins of the Porajmos (Romani for devouring) where some half a million to one million Roma were murdered.

Wed., April 17: Romani Life in the East Bloc (1945-89) **This session begins at 12:00 PM and ends at 1:30 PM**
Examine how the Romani Holocaust survivors rebuilt their lives during the Stalinist years in the East Bloc. This lecture will also look at how the Roma and Jewish survivors interacted with each other, particularly the klezmer and Roma musicians in Eastern Europe.

Wed., April 24: The Roma and Music
The lecture will examine how Roma musicians and dancers have created many genres of music in the world. From Gypsy jazz to flamenco to classical music, the Roma have had an enduring influence.