New Soviet Gypsies

Nationality, Performance, and Selfhood in the Early Soviet Union

Nonfiction, History, Eastern Europe, Asian, Russia
Cover of the book New Soviet Gypsies by Brigid O'Keeffe, University of Toronto Press, Scholarly Publishing Division
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Brigid O'Keeffe ISBN: 9781442665873
Publisher: University of Toronto Press, Scholarly Publishing Division Publication: December 6, 2013
Imprint: Language: English
Author: Brigid O'Keeffe
ISBN: 9781442665873
Publisher: University of Toronto Press, Scholarly Publishing Division
Publication: December 6, 2013
Imprint:
Language: English

As perceived icons of indifferent marginality, disorder, indolence, and parasitism, “Gypsies” threatened the Bolsheviks’ ideal of New Soviet Men and Women.  The early Soviet state feared that its Romani population suffered from an extraordinary and potentially insurmountable cultural “backwardness,” and sought to sovietize Roma through a range of nation-building projects. Yet as Brigid O’Keeffe shows in this book, Roma actively engaged with Bolshevik nationality policies, thereby assimilating Soviet culture, social customs, and economic relations.  Roma proved the primary agents in the refashioning of so-called “backwards Gypsies” into conscious Soviet citizens.

New Soviet Gypsies provides a unique history of Roma, an overwhelmingly understudied and misunderstood diasporic people, by focusing on their social and political lives in the early Soviet Union. O’Keeffe illustrates how Roma mobilized and performed “Gypsiness” as a means of advancing themselves socially, culturally, and economically as Soviet citizens. Exploring the intersection between nationality, performance, and self-fashioning, O’Keeffe shows that Roma not only defy easy typecasting, but also deserve study as agents of history.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

As perceived icons of indifferent marginality, disorder, indolence, and parasitism, “Gypsies” threatened the Bolsheviks’ ideal of New Soviet Men and Women.  The early Soviet state feared that its Romani population suffered from an extraordinary and potentially insurmountable cultural “backwardness,” and sought to sovietize Roma through a range of nation-building projects. Yet as Brigid O’Keeffe shows in this book, Roma actively engaged with Bolshevik nationality policies, thereby assimilating Soviet culture, social customs, and economic relations.  Roma proved the primary agents in the refashioning of so-called “backwards Gypsies” into conscious Soviet citizens.

New Soviet Gypsies provides a unique history of Roma, an overwhelmingly understudied and misunderstood diasporic people, by focusing on their social and political lives in the early Soviet Union. O’Keeffe illustrates how Roma mobilized and performed “Gypsiness” as a means of advancing themselves socially, culturally, and economically as Soviet citizens. Exploring the intersection between nationality, performance, and self-fashioning, O’Keeffe shows that Roma not only defy easy typecasting, but also deserve study as agents of history.

More books from University of Toronto Press, Scholarly Publishing Division

Cover of the book Collected Poems by Brigid O'Keeffe
Cover of the book Skyscrapers Hide the Heavens by Brigid O'Keeffe
Cover of the book Universal language schemes in England and France 1600-1800 by Brigid O'Keeffe
Cover of the book April in Paris by Brigid O'Keeffe
Cover of the book Staying Human During Residency Training by Brigid O'Keeffe
Cover of the book The Complete Short Stories of Natalia Ginzburg by Brigid O'Keeffe
Cover of the book Strange Truths in Undiscovered Lands by Brigid O'Keeffe
Cover of the book Inscribed Power by Brigid O'Keeffe
Cover of the book Making North America by Brigid O'Keeffe
Cover of the book Raising the Workers' Flag by Brigid O'Keeffe
Cover of the book Mike by Brigid O'Keeffe
Cover of the book The Expansion of the Educational System by Brigid O'Keeffe
Cover of the book The King's Body by Brigid O'Keeffe
Cover of the book Working Families by Brigid O'Keeffe
Cover of the book The Age of Projects by Brigid O'Keeffe
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy